Serbia national rugby league team

The Serbia national rugby league team represents Serbia in the sport of rugby league football, has been participating in international competition since 2003.

History

Rugby League was first played in Serbia in 1953 when it was introduced by Dragan Marsicevic, secretary of the Yugoslavian Sport Association. Two French teams toured later that year, and in 1954 the clubs Partizan and Radnicki were formed. These clubs played their first match on April 26, 1954.

In 1961 a Yugoslav Rugby League team played its only game against a French Select XIII team in Banja Luka. The French team won 13-0. The game died out over the course of the next few years.

The Serbian Rugby 13 Federation was formed on November 10, 2001. There is now an eight team domestic competition between Dorcol Spiders, Morava Cheetahs, Red Star Belgrade, Belgrade University, Radnički Nova Pazova, Tsar Lazar, Soko, Stari Grad, and Niš.

Serbia has participated in the Mediterranean Cup competition in 2003 and 2004.

Serbia won the 2006 and 2007 Slavic Cup after beating Czech Republic 36-28 in Prague and 56-16 in Belgrade, respectively.

2013 World Cup Qualifying

Serbia will participate in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers in October 2011. They will play games against Italy, Lebanon and Russia. If Serbia qualify they will join Scotland and Tonga in Group C.

2008 World Cup Qualifying

See also 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

Serbia failed to qualify for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, losing to Holland,......
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