Portugal national rugby league team

The Portuguese Rugby League Association (PRLA) is responsible for the promotion and development of rugby league within the Portuguese community in Australia. Based in Marrickville, Sydney, the PRLA has established sporting links with the rugby union in Portugal and other Portuguese communities in France and South Africa. The captain of the team is Newcastle Knights' hooker, Isaac de Gois.

History

The Portuguese Rugby League Association (PRLA) was established in January 2005. Based in Marrickville, Sydney, Australia, the founder of the PRLA is an Australian born rugby league supporter, who married into a Portuguese family.

The first meeting of the PRLA was held at the Henson Park Hotel on early September 2005 and was attended by players who would form the nucleus of the team for the first match.

Portugal's first match was played against Fiji A, one month later, at Granville Park, on 8 October, 2005, as part of the Fiji National Day Celebrations.

The team was captained by Isaac de Gois, featuring his brothers Eric and Aaron, as well as their cousin, Fábio de Gois. Born in Madeira, Fábio was playing his first match of rugby league.

Ivan Pacho has the honour of scoring Portugal's first try, in a 40-4 loss.

In 2006, the PRLA entered the team in two sevens tournaments (VB Sevens @ St Marys and the Illawarra Sevens in Wollongong) as well as accepting an offer to play against touring teams from Britain (Great Britain Armed Forces and the British Royal Armoured Corps).

In 2007,...
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