On the back of a successful European Championships tournament in 2022, the Greek Women’s rugby league team will play their first ever full international in Australia against the Philippines at Lidcombe Oval in Sydney, with Australian based players. The team’s aim with the match against the Philippines is to take a core group of heritage players to Europe and combine them with the league’s best Greece based players to form a team that will be competitive in the 2025 World Cup qualifying matches to be held later this year.
“In 2019 we formed a very inexperienced Greek national team with domestic players and travelled to Turkey where we were beaten 40-4,” head coach Stuart McLennan told Neos Kosmos.
“After that we put together an Australian based squad in 2021 to play in the Sydney 9s tournament. We made the final and unfortunately we were beaten in the last seconds by Lebanon. Last year we put significant effort into developing a national squad again in Greece and reaped the rewards with two victories and finishing top of our group in the European Championships.”
Greek Rugby League Manager Terry Liberopoulos has been actively recruiting female rugby league players with a Greece born parent or grandparent who wish to play for their heritage nation but he says there is still an opportunity if anyone qualifies and is keen.
“We have around 20 players who have responded but there may be some unavailable or unable to play due to injuries, ” Liberopoulos said.
“It’s pleasing that we have five players returning from two years ago when we played in the Sydney 9s tournament. We have a mixture of experience in the squad.
McLennan believes Greece has a tough mission against a Philippines side that has already played an international match in Australia against Malta but he says there is one special factor that will drive his team.
“It won’t be easy as we have only just formed another squad in Australia and we will go into the match with just two training sessions under our belt. The ‘Sampaguitas’ look to have a good squad and boast at least one NRLW level player.
Having coached and watched a number of Greek sides, McLennan knows there is a special spirit that embraces the players when they pull on the blue and white jersey.
“I am confident we will put in a good showing,” he added.
“We would love to see all you Greek supporters come to Lidcombe Oval on Saturday 28 January and get behind us.”
Greece vs Philippines Women’s Rugby League International. Lidcombe Oval, Saturday 28 January at 5pm.
Female talent with Greek heritage wanting the opportunity to represent Greece, please email terry@rugbyleaguereview.com
