text:
Rugby league in France

Rugby league has been played in France since 1934. As with rugby union, rugby league was introduced by the English and the heartland of the game is in the south of France.

During the Second World War, in association with the French Rugby Federation (FFR), the sport was banned by the Vichy government, an act from which the code has struggled to recover. There has been a recent resurgence of the sport following the admission of Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique to the professional RFL system, with Catalans a mainstay in the Super League who most recently made the Grand Final in 2023.

In 2012, there were approximately 30,000 active participants.

Introduction of the sport to WWII
Rugby football was introduced into France by the British in the early 1870s. It began to flourish quickly in the poorer, more rural south. The French rugby clubs remained aligned with the Home Nation unions when rugby split into Rugby Union and Northern Union (later renamed Rugby League) in 1895.

Allegations of professionalism and on-field violence in internationals led to France's suspension from the rugby union Five Nations Championship in 1931. Following development work by both Harry Sunderland (on behalf of the Australian Rugby League) and the British Rugby Football League, the Australian and British Test teams played an exhibition game at Stade Pershing in Paris in late December 1933. An earlier exhibition match between the two teams had been attempted to be played in Paris during the 1921-22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain, but this had been blocked by the FFR. Then in 1934, Jean Galia took a French team that had never played rugby league to Yorkshire and Lancashire in England. The French Rugby League was formed on 6 April 1934.

With France's continued suspension from the Five Nations Championship preventing its players from participating in quality international competition, many began to consider the newly introduced 13-man code. With rugby league's acceptance of professionalism and spectator-friendly rules, the French viewed it as a modern and innovative game, and it grew quickly in popularity. Within five years, the number of rugby league clubs was approaching the number of rugby union clubs. By 1939, the French league had 225 clubs and the national side beat England and Wales to take the 1938-39 European Championship, their first. In the same year, three leading rugby union clubs – Narbonne, Carcassonne and Brive – switched to rugby league.

The invasion of France by Germany in May 1940 divided the country into Occupied France in the north and a southern pro-Nazi Vichy France, the latter of which roughly corresponded to the rugby-playing heartlands. The Vichy Government under Philippe Pétain associated rugby league with the pre-war socialist government, the United Kingdom and General Charles de Gaulle. Some of the French Rugby Union's senior administrators took advantage of their close relationship with the new regime to have rugby league outlawed as a "corrupter" of French youth. All funds as well as grounds and equipment belonging to the French Rugby League Federation were confiscated and handed over to rugby union. The figure of assets stripped has been estimated at two million 1940 French francs, none of which was ever returned. In addition, rugby league players were forced to switch to rugby union or other sports or quit sport altogether.

The federation was reinstated in September 1944, but the damage caused by the Vichy Government's actions proved to be long-lasting and rugby league struggled to regain its pre-war momentum.

Post-war to the present

On 10 July 1947, a "gentleman's agreement" was signed between the Ligue Française de rugby à treize (Paul Barrière as representative), the French republic and the French rugby union for division of the Ligue Française de rugby à treize in two parts: a Federation française de jeu à treize as the governing body of the amateur game and a Ligue de rugby à XIII as the governing body for the semi-professional game. Although the ban on rugby league was lifted, it was prevented from using the word rugby in its title from 24 April 1949 until 26 June 1991, having to use the name Jeu à Treize (Game of Thirteen). Rugby league remained banned in schools and was limited to 200 professional players under this dubious arrangement.

After the war the French game was re-established and the French became one of rugby league's major powers. France was the driving force behind the establishment of the Rugby League World Cup following the war. The first Rugby League World Cup was held in France in 1954; the final at Parc des Princes was narrowly lost by France 12-16 to a young, underdog Great Britain. France played major international series against Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. In 1951 and 1955, the France national team toured Australia and won both Test series 2-1; these squads are still regarded as two of the strongest sides ever to tour Australia.

The French maintained an excellent record in international rugby league until the 1980s, triumphing over Australia again in the home 1967-68 series and finishing as runner-up to Australia in the 1968 Rugby League World Cup. The Chanticleers also defeated Australia in the home 1978 Test series by 2 Tests to nil - a feat not repeated over Australia by another international team until the 2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations series win by New Zealand. Their competitiveness against Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand began to decline in the 1980s and they have yet to recover their former strength, with their last win over one of those teams being in 1990 against Great Britain.

The original proposal for the Super League in 1995 was for two French clubs, with both Paris and Toulouse being proposed. This was subsequently reduced to one, after much discussion among clubs. In February 1996, a French team, Paris Saint-Germain was formed to take part in the otherwise English Super League. The players being drawn from the French league. It was abandoned in October 1997, partly because Paris was not in the southern heartland of French rugby league and partly because the players had the double burden of playing for both Paris and their original club.

In 1998, XIII Actif were formed under the Chairmanship of French rugby league historian Robert Fassolette, to put pressure on the French government over the Vichy banning of the sport and the return of stolen assets. The French Minister of Sport commissioned an enquiry, which found in favour of XIII Actif but nothing concrete.

The Court then ruled that only the French rugby league federation could take action under its former name - a name it had been forced to change.

Professional rugby league returned to France in February 2006 when Perpignan-based club Catalans Dragons joined Super League. They provided French rugby league with a major boost by demonstrating their prowess before nearly 85,000 people at Wembley in the Final of the 2007 Rugby League Challenge Cup. In 2018 they won the RL Challenge Cup, beating Warrington Wolves 20 - 14 before a 50,672 crowd at Wembley.

In 2022, France were awarded hosting duties for the 2025 Rugby League World Cup. However, in 2023, they withdrew as hosts.

Governing body
Since 26 June 1991 the governing body for rugby league in France has been the Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII (i.e. formerly Ligue Française de Rugby à XIII then, Fédération Française de Jeu à XIII). The Federation is a founding member of and a full member of the Rugby League International Federation (i.e. IRLB Jan. 1948) and of the Rugby League European Federation (i.e. May 2003).

Competitions

The French Rugby League Championship has been the major rugby league tournament for semi-professional clubs in France since the sport was introduced to the country in the 1930s. The championship is divided into several divisions; the top league being Elite One Championship, below that is the Elite Two Championship. There are several lower and regional divisions below them. The premier knock-out cup is the Lord Derby Cup and there is the Coupe Falcou for National Division One and Federal clubs.

At its height, the French Championship maintained teams from the big cities of Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux and Toulouse, as well as the passionate smaller rugby league towns of Carcassonne, Avignon, Lezignan, Albi, Villeneuve and Perpignan.

French teams in the RFL

French teams may apply to the RFL to play in tiers one, two, or three of the British rugby league system (providing they meet certain criteria) as this is generally considered a higher standard of rugby league.

In addition French teams also take part in the Rugby League Challenge Cup, with Catalans Dragons (formerly known as Union Treiziste Catalan), Toulouse Olympique, Limoux Grizzlies, and Pia having done so.

In terms of league membership, Catalans Dragons play in the Super League, and have done so since 2006. Toulouse Olympique also bid for a Super League franchise in 2009 but were rejected. They were however accepted in the second-tier Championship, and played two mostly unsuccessful seasons in that league before returning to the French league in 2012. Toulouse Olympique later returned to the British league system, beginning play in the third-tier League 1 in 2016 and earning promotion to the Championship for 2017. The city of Toulouse maintains a presence in the French leagues through Toulouse Olympique Broncos, which have been the official reserve side for Toulouse Olympique since being taken over by that club in 2012.

In 2021, Catalans and Toulouse made history as both sides won the League Leaders' Shield for the Super League and Championship respectively. This marked the first time that a French side had won either division. Toulouse later went on to win the Million Pound Game, thus gaining promotion to the Super League. Toulouse were relegated in 2022.

Teams that have played in RFL leagues are summarised below:

Popularity

Rugby league is most popular in the south of France. The game struggles for attention in the national media, but it is covered by regional outlets in the south. However, the introduction of Catalans Dragons into Super League in 2006 and Toulouse Olympique into RFL Championship in 2009 has seen increased coverage with articles appearing in national newspapers such as L'Équipe, Libération and Le Figaro. It has also contributed to the rise in playing numbers to the current number of approximately 30,000.

The Men's national team

Locally, the France national rugby league team are often nicknamed les Bleus, after the colour of their home jersey or as les Tricolores. They have competed in every World Cup and Rugby League European Cup, as well as playing in other tournaments such as the Victory Cup.

In 2009, it was announced that France would enter the Tri-Nations tournament as a fourth team (necessitating its renaming to the Rugby League Four Nations), playing alongside Australia, New Zealand and England. The introduction of Catalans Dragons into the Super League and recent strong performances from the international side led to this decision. Until the tournament's suspension in 2017, the winner of the Rugby League European Cup qualified as the fourth team when the competition was held in the northern hemisphere and the winner of the Pacific Cup was the fourth team when it was held in the southern hemisphere. 2009 remains the only year France has played in this tournament.

The French territory of New Caledonia had its own rugby league team from 2003 to 2006, which was run by the Fédération Francaise de Rugby à Treize.

The Women's national team
The France women's national rugby league team, also known as the Chanticleers ( for the Anglophone media) or locally as Les Tricolores, represents France in Women's rugby league. They are administered by the French Rugby League Federation.

Television
Unlike, for instance, the BBC, France Television don't offer any program to the French public about Rugby League. This has been a real issue for the game. Explanations usually given are the low number of participants in France but also pressure which would be made by the Union authorities on the French Public Television Group.

In the early 2000s, Orange TV showed every Catalans Dragons home match live. Selected games from the Elite Championship were also broadcast live on Orange TV and summaries of each match Elite 1 were available to subscribers. They also broadcast some of Toulouse Olympique's home games live. Orange TV had also secured to rights to broadcast Super League, the Four Nations and the European Cup in 2009.

In 2010, Direct 8 gained the rights to four international matches involving France: a test match against England on 12 June and the three French games of the 2010 European Cup. This marked the first time rugby league has been shown on French free-to-air television for at least two decades.

Afterwards, in the 2010s, Rugby League was confined to the pay television again: Beinsport has been broadcasting the NRL games and televised the Catalan Dragons Super League matches with an interruption in 2019.

In the early 2020s, some Elite 1 games are televised by a local channel Vià Occitanie; this is a free-to-air channel in the South of France but they are also available on the internet and via the triple play internet devices. Therefore, they offer, indirectly, a nationwide coverage of the domestic championship.

Presently, French clubs have to fund the broadcast of their own games (e.g., Dragons Catalans) or to televise their own matches themselves via the social networks or Youtube.

Radio
Radio Marseillette has rugby league debate and news every Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00. They also have exclusive live commentary of all Catalans Dragons home matches and Toulouse Olympique home matches. They also have commentary on some Elite League games.

Radio France Bleu Roussillon carries commentary on every Catalans Dragons away match played in the UK.

Press
The French national mainstream media barely follow the game. Very occasionally, some articles about the sport are published in newspapers such as Le Monde, Le Figaro or the national Sport newspaper L'Équipe.

Nevertheless, there is undoubtedly a French specificity : the Weekly Rugby Union magazine Midi Olympique has a one-page section devoted to Rugby League. However, only two local newspapers genuinely cover the game ; L'Indépendant ( based in the South of France) and la Dépêche du Midi ( based in the South west of the country).

title: Rugby league in France


text:
Rugby league in Greece

Rugby league is a team sport that is relatively new to Greece.

History
The Greece national team was formed in 2003 by Greek Australians. Rugby league was subsequently introduced to Greece in 2006. The first match played in Greece was contested by the Olympus Eels and Attica Tigers, with the teams consisting of a mixture of local rugby union players and Greek Australians. A few days later on 28 October 2006, Athens hosted an international match against, which Greece won 44–26.

The initial attempt to find a Greek RL Federation, started by Colin Mylonas, in 2003. Mylonas and his associates spent a lot of money until 2007, but they failed to form a Greek-based Federation. Colin Mylonas was involved with the continued development of the game until 2010. This included Greece playing in the 2008 University Rugby League World Cup after Russia pulled out. Greece was made up of 10 Australian based players with Greek heritage and 10 players from Greece were flown out to Australia. They achieved great success beating France in the plate Final. In the same tournament, Greece beat Scotland Ireland and came very close in beating England only losing on the bell. This put Greece on the map in playing rugby league. Other achievements included winning the Mediterranean Cup in 2010 played in Sydney beating Italy in the final, in front of 3000 people. Greece also played Fiji in Sydney in 2009 losing but gaining respect as a nation on the rise.

Colin Mylonas in 2010 had decided to withdraw from the organisation due to differences in the direction of the Greek Rugby League.

In 2012, Anastasios Pantazidis, Konstantinos Tzevelekos, Ioannis Mavros, Matthew Ashill and Iordanis Bilikaidis have become the first Greek coaches to gain their Level 1 qualification after completion of a two-day course in Nikaia, North of Piraeus, the port area of the capital, Athens. It was organised following co-operation between the Greek rugby league committee and the Serbian Rugby League Federation.

The Hellenic Federation of Rugby League (HFRL) was founded in 2013 by Anastasios "Tasos" Pantazidis. The body was recognised by an Athens court and was therefore accorded observer status within the RLEF in August 2013. In February 2014, the HFRL was granted affiliate member status by the RLEF.

In April 2016, the HFRL was suspended from the RLEF following a year-long investigation for "wilfully acting in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the RLEF and international rugby league." The HRFL was expelled from the RLEF in August 2016 for failing to meet membership requirements. The HFRL continued to organise a domestic competition through the Hellenic Federation of Modern Pentathlon (HFMP) with the recognition of the Ministry of Culture and Sports. Meanwhile, the RLEF ran a separate, recognised competition in the 2016/17 period.

In March 2017, the Greek Rugby League Association (GRLA) was recognised by the RLEF as the official governing body for rugby league in Greece, and was granted observer status. The conflict between the HFRL/HFMP and the RLIF continued until August 2022 when the GRLA was finally recognised as the official body for the sport by the Greek government.

In December 2017, national team captain Stefanos Bastas became the first Greek domestic player to sign a professional playing contract when he secured a one-year deal with the Hemel Stags.

Greece competed at the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup in which it was their first time qualifying for the tournament, they had a very hard draw coming up against host nation England, eventual runners up Samoa and France who have competed in international Rugby league for over 50 years - led by captain Billy Magoulias along with other established NRL stars lachlan Ilias and Peter Mamouzelos they performed valiantly especially against the French - with a stunning try from Greek Centre Nick Mougios on the final siren. Although the Greek side failed to win a match, they performed strongly with many semi professional players, young talent and nrl stars sprinkled in to try and help the team perform credibly.

HFRL clubs
The domestic XIII competition for 2017/18.

9's Teams
http://www.rugbyleague.gr/omicronmualphadeltaepsilonsigma-teams.html

Promitheas, AEKK and Pegasus, participated in a regional 2012–2013 championship of Athens. In the 2013/2014 Promitheas, AEKK, Pegasus, Aris and Knights participated in the A' Division. Knights won the championship. In the B' Division, Neapoli, AEKK B', Promitheas B', Aris B' and Pegasus B' participated. Nepoli won the championship. For the 2014/15 season, there were ten teams taking part: Division 1: Rhodes Knights, AEK Kokkinias, Aris Petroupolis, Pyrrihios Aspropyrgou (1st team) and Pegasus Neos Kosmos. Pegasus won the championship. Division 2: Neapoli Lakonias, Argos Wolves, Haidari Lions, Pyrrihios Aspropyrgou ('B' team) and Promitheas Rentis. For the 2015/16 season, a new formation was planned. South Group: AEK Kokkinias, Pyrrihios Aspropyrgos and Agios Thomas. Pyrrihios won the tournament. North Group: Filippos Vereea and 2 teams from Thessaloniki. Finally, the tournament did not operate. As a result, Pyrrihios was named 2015–2016 Greece Champions. Two RL 9's tournaments took place: a) in Nikaea, Piraeus (AEK Kokkinias won vs Pyrrihios and Agios Thomas) and b) in Thessaloniki (Agios Thomas won vs Lions/Kavala, Pyrrihios and Thessaloniki).

In 2016–2017 season, four teams participated in the XIII tournament: Pyrrichios Aspropyrgou, Aghios Thomas Goudi, A.O. Kavala and ASP Chalkidonikos http://www.rugbyleague.gr/epsilonpiiotasigmaetamuepsilonsigma-deltaiotaomicronrhogammaalphanuomegasigmaepsiloniotasigma--official-tournaments.html In the 9's tournaments, five teams participated (Promitheas, Pyrrichios, St. Thomas, Nemesis, and Kavala). Pyrrichios won 2 of the cups and St. Thomas 1.

In 2017–2018 season, three teams participate in the XIII tournament: Pyrrichios Aspropyrgou, Promitheas Rendi and A.E.K.. http://www.rugbyleague.gr/epsilonpiiotasigmaetamuepsilonsigma-deltaiotaomicronrhogammaalphanuomegasigmaepsiloniotasigma--official-tournaments.html In the 9's tournaments, five teams participate (Promitheas, Pyrrichios, A.E.K., Nemesis, Kavala. A.E.K. won 1 cup and Promitheas 1.

An unofficial 7's tournament was also played on 9 February 2013. Participating teams apart from Promitheas and AEK PK included the newly formed team "Neapoli Lakonias" that was created in Peloponnese in 2013. Promitheas won the tournament.

National team
The first representative game involving Greece was played in 2003 against New Caledonia with Greece winning 26–10. The first representative game played in Greece was played in 2006 with Greece defeating Serbia 44–26 in Athens. These teams were not recognised by the Greek sports Authorities. In 2011 a touring GB Student "Pioneers" team played a game vs an unofficial "national" team consisting of players from the two Rhodes teams in Rhodes island. The Pioneers won. In October 2013 the Greece National Team (under the authority of the newly formatted HFRL) played an international against Hungary in Budapest. The Greek team was a mixture of local players from the fledgling Greek national competition and heritage players from Australia. Greece won the game 90–0.

In 2014, Greece participated in the RLEF European Championship C. Greeks won the tournament (32–18 vs Malta and 68–16 vs the Czech Rep.). In 2014, Greece won the Balkan Cup in Belgrade, Serbia (58–4 vs Bosnia/Herzegovina and 50–22 vs Serbia). In 2015 Greece withdrew from the RLEF European Championship C in Malta, due to financial reasons. Greeks played the home match vs Spain (lost by 4–76). That was the first Greece national team consisted only by domestic players. After the recognition of the sport by the Ministry of Culture and Sports in 2016, the Hellenic federation of Modern Pentathlon, formed a rugby league committee. As a result, the first recognised by the country's highest sport authority National Team, played twice vs Italy in L'Aquila and in Nikaea Piraeus. The opponent LIRFL is the only RL governing body recognised in Italy by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).

The Greek Men’s side made history by advancing to the final 16 of the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup, they had a very hard group with host nation England and eventual runners up Samoa in their pool and France who have played international rugby league for over 50 years.

A women's national team was established in 2019 and played in the 2022 Rugby League Women's European Championship B.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Rugby league in Greece


text:
Windows CE 5.0

Windows CE 5.0 (codenamed "Macallan") is a successor to Windows CE 4.2, the third release in the Windows CE .NET family. It was first released on July 9, 2004. Like its predecessors, Windows CE 5.0 is marketed towards the embedded device market and independent device vendors. Windows CE 5.0 is billed as a low-cost, compact, fast-to-market, real-time operating system available for x86, ARM, MIPS, and SuperH microprocessor-based systems.

Windows CE 5.0 builds on previous Windows CE releases in its adoption of shared source. Since 2001, Microsoft has been steadily expanding the available Windows CE source tree with embedded system developers. Windows CE 5.0 is the most open Microsoft operating system to date, though not all of the system is available under shared source agreements. Developers have the freedom to modify down to the kernel level, without the need to share their changes with Microsoft or competitors.

Windows CE 5.x is the base OS for Windows Mobile 6.0, 6.1 and 6.5. On the x86 platform, Windows CE 5.0 competes against Microsoft's other embedded operating systems, Windows XP Embedded and its predecessor Windows NT Embedded.

Platform Builder IDE for Windows CE 5.0 is the last builder tool available as standalone product.

Windows CE vs. Windows XP Embedded
According to Microsoft, Windows CE is preferable to Windows XP Embedded in situations where demanding wireless and multimedia requirements need to be met. The following are the primary considerations for “choosing the right version”:
 * CPU architecture: Windows CE supports an extensive array of architectures, including x86, whereas Windows XP Embedded only supports the x86 architecture.
 * Real-time applications: Windows CE is a real-time operating system, while Windows XP Embedded is not by default.
 * Existing Win32 applications: Windows CE cannot use Win32 binaries, libraries, and drivers without modification.
 * Memory footprint: The minimum footprint of Windows CE is 350 kilobytes. The minimum footprint of Windows XP Embedded is 8 megabytes, making it over 23 times larger.

There is also a difference in cost.

title: Windows CE 5.0


text:
Rugby league in Italy

Rugby league is a team sport played in Italy.

History
Rugby league was established in Italy prior to the 1950s, during which they played a host of other European teams.

Jean Galia's efforts in the mid-1930s to persuade his fellow countrymen in France to adopt rugby league soon attracted the attention of a trainee commercial lawyer and rugby union player in Turin, Vincenzo Bertolotto. But an exhibition game suggested for Rome did not materialise.

But after the Second World War, discontent with the policies of the Italian rugby union in refusing to strengthen their game to put it on a level with France, led to thoughts of alternatives and the Italian Rugby League was launched in 1950 after several years of talks between then RFL secretary, Bill Fallowfield, and a group of Italian rugby union dissidents.

The first game in Italy, an exhibition match in Turin by two French sides, was attended by over 4,000 fans. A local resident, Dennis Chappell, once of Wakefield helped to foster the "rebels", among them one Vincenzo Bertolotto, then an elder statesman of Italian rugby at 38 years old.

Together, they organised a six-game tour to England and Wales which included a game against a "South Wales 13" at the Brewery Field in Bridgend, future home of Celtic Crusaders. Around 2,500 attended to see South Wales win comfortably 29-11 with Ystradgynlais' Les Lewis notching a hat-trick of tries. The Italians went on to lose all of their matches but on returning home, a Turin-based side joined the French league.

The 1950s were a high point in international rugby league, after which a few European teams would lose interest. Despite playing host to the World Champions twice in 1960 when Australia defeated Italy 37-15 in Padua and defeated Italy again 67-22 at Treviso, by 1962 the game had died out due to pressure on players from the Italian Rugby Union threatening to ban anyone caught playing rugby league. It would be left to two pioneering Australians to get the game back up and running when international rugby league began to expand again in the late 1990s.

In January 1960 at the end of their 1959–60 Kangaroo Tour, the Australian national rugby league team played two internationals against an Italian representative team. The first game, played on 23 January at the Stadio Appiani in Padua in front of 3,500 curious fans, saw the Kangaroos defeat Italy 37–15. The second game played the next day at the Stadio Omobono Tenni in Treviso, saw Australia win 67–22 in front of 3,105 fans.

Italian rugby league national team was revived in 1995 in Australia through the passion of a couple of enthusiasts by the names of Domenic (Mick) Pezzano and John Benigni. Both, were determined to have a rugby league team representing their origins compete again on the world stage, with a team formed with athletes from Australia and some from Italy. This dream was soon realised when the Italian team was invited to play in the 1995 World Sevens, which was Italy's first game since the 1960s. Pezzano coached the Italian team in the 1995 Coca-Cola World Sevens in Sydney and 1996 Super League Nines in Fiji. Other Coaches of the Italian National Team have been; David Riolo, David Penna, Craig Salvatori, Carlo Napolitano, Cameron Ciraldo and Leo Epifania.

Italy went on to record their first win, in their first year and play many other international tournaments such as the Super League World Nines and the 1997 World Sevens to name a few. There were also a number of one-off international appearances against a Lebanese Sevens team, a Lebanese 13 a side team in a promotional match for the Mediterranean Cup and in 2004 when Italy played Greece in Sydney.

In 2006 the Federazione of Italia Rugby League (FIRL) was founded. The Federazione of Italia Rugby League was officially moved to the "official observer" status by the Rugby League European Federation from an unranked position on 15 April 2008.

Governing bodies
Federazione Italiana Rugby League (FIRL) is the governing body for rugby league in Italy and has had "full member" status with the Rugby League European Federation since 2017.

Domestic competitions
The Italian Rugby League Championship is an amateur rugby league competition called the r-Evolution League that began in 2010. There are three conferences, north, central and south.

National teams
The Italy men's national team were winners of the European Championship B in 2008 and 2009. They made first World Cup appearance in 2013. The wheelchair rugby league national team made their first World Cup appearance in 2017 where they finished fourth in the tournament. The women's national team won the Mediterranean Cup in 2017, defeating Lebanon 22–0 in Jounieh.

title: Rugby league in Italy


text:
Bush Christmas

Bush Christmas (also known as Prince and the Great Race) is a 1983 Australian Christmas drama film and a remake of the 1947 film of the same name. The film marked actress Nicole Kidman's first feature film role. It was filmed on location on the Lamington Plateau, Queensland. It is also notable for music by the Bushwackers.

Plot
In rural Queensland, the Thompson family, struggling to keep its farm from foreclosure, hopes their horse, Prince, will win the New Year's Cup so that they can use the winnings to pay off the debt. However, two struggling lowlifes, Bill and Sly (John Ewart and John Howard), find out about the horse and steal it, escaping into the nearby mountain range.

With the father off droving cattle and the thieves having sabotaged all forms of transportation and communication before escaping, the Thompson children Helen (Nicole Kidman) and John (Mark Spain), and their English cousin Michael (James Wingrove), saddle up their own horses and go after the crooks on their own, with Manalpuy, a local Aboriginal who works on the farm, assisting them.

Production
At one stage Howard Rubie was announced as director and he was involved in casting. However, for a time it seemed the film might not go ahead so Rubie accepted a chance to direct The Settlement instead.

The movie was shot in Queensland in Beaudesert and Rathdowney. Funding came in part from the Australian Film Commission, the Film and TV Institute (WA) and Queensland Film Corporation.

Box office
Bush Christmas grossed $122,035 at the box office in Australia, which is equivalent to $322,172 in 2009 dollars.

Home media
Bush Christmas was released on DVD by Umbrella Entertainment in December 2012. The DVD is compatible with all region codes and includes special features such as the theatrical trailer, press kit stills and the script.

title: Bush Christmas


text:
L. M. Clayton Airport

L. M. Clayton Airport is a public airport three miles east of Wolf Point, in Roosevelt County, Montana, United States. The airport is served by one airline, subsidized by the Essential Air Service program. Reportedly, it is the smallest airport in the 48 contiguous states with scheduled air service.

The Federal Aviation Administration says this airport had 321 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008, 900 in 2009 and 494 in 2010. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a general aviation airport (the commercial service category requires at least 2,500 enplanements per year).

Scheduled air service temporarily ceased on March 8, 2008, when Big Sky Airlines ended operations in bankruptcy. Great Lakes Airlines was given USDOT approval to take over Essential Air Service (EAS) and flights began in 2009. Service is currently provided under EAS contract by Cape Air.

The first airline flights were Frontier DC-3s in 1954–55; Frontier pulled out in 1980.

Facilities
L. M. Clayton Airport covers 290 acres (117 ha) at an elevation of 1,989 feet (606 m). Its one runway, 11/29, is 5,091 by 100 feet (1,552 x 30 m) asphalt.

In 2011 the airport had 5,975 aircraft operations, average 16 per day: 53% general aviation, 47% air taxi, and <1% military. Eight aircraft were then based at the airport, all with five or less engines.

Other sources

 * Essential Air Service documents (Docket DOT-OST-1997-2605) from the U.S. Department of Transportation:
 * Order 2005-12-20 (December 30, 2005): selecting Big Sky Transportation Co., d/b/a Big Sky Airlines, to continue providing essential air service at seven Montana communities (Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Lewistown, Miles City, Sidney, and Wolf Point) for a new two-year period beginning March 1, 2006, at a subsidy of $6,838,934 annually.
 * Order 2007-11-21 (November 26, 2007): selecting Big Sky Transportation Co., d/b/a Big Sky Airlines, to continue providing essential air service at seven Montana communities for a new two-year period beginning March 1, 2008, at a subsidy of $8,473,617 annually.
 * Order 2007-12-22 (December 21, 2007): allowing Big Sky Transportation Co., d/b/a Big Sky Airlines, to suspend its subsidized essential air services at seven Montana communities on the date that Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd., begins replacement service, and selecting Great Lakes to provide those services at subsidy rates totaling $8,201,992.
 * Order 2011-1-27 (February 2, 2011): selecting Gulfstream International Airlines, to provide subsidized essential air service (EAS) with 19-passenger Beechcraft B-1900D aircraft at Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Lewistown, Miles City, Sidney, and Wolf Point, Montana, for a two-year period beginning when the carrier inaugurates full EAS at all seven communities through the end of the 24th month thereafter (two-year period ended May 31, 2013), at a combined annual subsidy rate of $10,903,854. Aircraft: 19-passenger Beech 1900-D. Destination: Billings. The subsidy and level of service for each community is as follows: Lewistown $1,325,733 (12 nonstop round trips each week), Miles City: $1,621,821 (12 nonstop round trips each week), Sidney $2,932,152 (17 nonstop round trips each week), Havre $1,162,329 (12 one-stop round trips each week), Glendive $1,193,391 (12 one-stop round trips each week), Glasgow $1,166,049 (5 nonstop and 7 one-stop round trips each week), Wolf Point $1,502,378 (7 nonstop and 5 one-stop round trips each week).
 * Notice (June 28, 2013): from Silver Airways of its intent to discontinue scheduled subsidized Essential Air Service between Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Lewistown, Miles City, Sidney, Wolf Point, Montana and Billings, Montana. Commensurate with the end of subsidy eligibility, Silver Airways will end service to Lewistown and Miles City on July 15, 2013. Further, Silver Airways hereby serves 90-day notice of its intent to discontinue service to the communities of Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Sidney and Wolf Point, Montana effective September 27, 2013.
 * Order 2013-6-3 (June 4, 2013): extending the contract established under Order 2011-1-27, issued on February 3, 2011, for Silver Airways, Inc. (formerly Gulfstream International Airlines), to provide Essential Air Service (EAS) operations at Lewistown, Miles City, Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Sidney, and Wolf Point, Montana, from June 1, 2013, until further notice.
 * Order 2013-9-4 (September 5, 2013): selecting Hyannis Air Service, Inc., d/b/a Cape Air, to provide Essential Air Service (EAS) with 9-passenger Cessna 402 aircraft at Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Sidney, and Wolf Point, Montana, for a two-year period beginning December 1, 2013, through November 30, 2015, at a combined annual subsidy of $11,950,426. The subsidy and level of service for each community is as follows: Glasgow $2,046,800 (2 trips per day), Glendive $1,944,467 (2 trips per day), Havre $2,036,254 (2 trips per day), Sidney $3,777,579 (5 trips per day), Wolf Point $2,145,326 (2 trips per day). Scheduled service: to Billings. Aircraft Type: Cessna 402 (9 passenger seats).
 * Order 2013-12-1 (December 2, 2013): Cape Air will commence full EAS at all five of the above communities beginning December 10, 2013, thereby establishing an end date for this contract of December 31, 2015.

title: L. M. Clayton Airport


text:
User talk:TwoMonaghans

Accidental block
Hi, I recieved your email regarding the accidental block. I did not actually block your username, apparently what happens is that when a blocked user (in this case the original vandal I was blocking) attempts to reedit, the IP he is editing from is autoblocked. Unfortunetely the vandal was using AOL which randomly assigns new IP's every time the user logs in, as luck would have it, you ended up with his blocked IP when you signed on. I have unblocked the IP's in question, and I apologize for the inconvenience. Please let me know via email if this did not solve the problem -Loren 06:22, 21 August 2005 (UTC)

title: User talk:TwoMonaghans


text:
Rugby league in Malta

Rugby league is an emerging full-contact team sport in Malta. The first game played at Marsa in 2005 by a largely Australian-Maltese touring team from the East-coast of Australia. The Maltese team opened with a successful 366 victory over England Lionhearts and featured one local Maltese player, Robert Bonavia.

History
The Maltese Rugby League Association (MRLA) was formed in April 2004 at the Russian Club in Strathfield, Australia.

Malta made their international debut on 25 September 2004 when they defeated British Defence Forces at Melita Stadium, Sydney, Australia.
 * Score: Malta won 78-0
 * Crowd: 120

Malta's first rugby league international played on home soil was on Saturday October 2005 against England Lionhearts at Marsa Sports Complex, Marsa.
 * Score: Malta won 36-6
 * Crowd: 500

The first domestic rugby league match in Malta was on Saturday 13 October 2007 between San Giljan Dragons and Birkirkara Warriors at Floriana Stadium. (Match played in nines format).
 * Score: Draw 10-10
 * Crowd: about 100

Governing body
The Malta Rugby League (MRL) is the official governing body of rugby league in Malta. The MRL is an Affiliate Member of the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) and recognised by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF). The MRL is also a member of the Kunsill Malti ghall-iSport (KMS) - the national organisation responsible for supporting, developing and promoting sport throughout Malta and Gozo.

The organisation was formed in 2008 following the merger of the now defunct Maltese Rugby League Association (formed 2004 in Australia) and the local Kumitat Nazzjonali ta Rugby League f’Malta (2006), in a move that was designed to homogenise Maltese rugby league’s structure and further its European dimension.

Full European integration occurred in 2011 when the remaining Australian-based Directors resigned, paving the way for locals to take their place. A nine-person Board oversees MRL policy, with an operations manager from each club responsible for the day-to-day running of the sport.

Competitions
In October 2007 the first domestic rugby league competition, the Malta Rugby League Nines, was contested with fixtures at Floriana Stadium, Floriana. Participating teams were the San Giljan Dragons, Mosta Titans, Sliema Broncos, Qormi Sharks, Birkirkara Warriors and the Siggiewi Storm along with the British Royal Logistics Corps. A Malta selection were crowned champions after defeating the Royal Logistics Corps in the final.

Between 2009 and 2010, the MRL Championship took place with only four games played between "North" and "South". There is also a Wheelchair rugby league championship and an MRL Academy.

Popularity
The match against England Lionhearts was partly the catalyst for continued rugby league development on the Maltese Islands and has helped set up a domestic competition within Malta.

A crowd of approximately 750 were in attendance for the first rugby league match in Malta played at Matthew Micallef St John Athletic Stadium, Marsa.

The MRL's Australian links lie in the form of Maltese Heritage Rugby League that enables the foundation to promote the legacy across Australia, promoting and developing rugby league within the Maltese community. Maltese Heritage RL has teams catering for 12-year-olds through to seniors, via Academy, U16s, U18s and the Open Age Maltese Heritage RL team.

The national team
The Malta national rugby league team is made up of local rugby league players from Malta and Heritage players from England and Australia. The team is nicknamed the Knights.

Malta XIII is a national representative team for the Republic of Malta. Players must satisfy international eligibility criteria or be a resident of Malta or Gozo. Eligible players of Malta XIII can be selected for Malta Knights.

title: Rugby league in Malta


text:
Rugby league in Russia

Rugby league is a team sport in Russia. The Russian Association of Rugby League Clubs (ARLK) is the governing body of rugby league in Russia. After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Rugby League and European Rugby League banned Russia from all international rugby league competitions.

History
A Soviet delegation attended Dewsbury's 1973 English Championship win and suggested that exhibition games be held in Eastern Europe to gauge interest.

Rugby league returned in the late 1980s. Early success for Russian rugby league came in the form of one of the Locomotive Rugby Football Club's junior team of 1987 which was sent to England to compete in a series of matches. Maslov and his friend and President of the Russian Rugby Union, Edgar Taturyan, formed the RRFL.

Russian Rugby Football League
In May 1991, York and Fulham RLFC toured Russia.

Challenge Cup history
Kazan Arrows and Moscow Locomotive in December 2001 became the first Russian teams to feature in the Rugby Football League Challenge Cup. Since 2001 Russian clubs have travelled to England to take part in the tournament.

Cross roads of 2005
Despite all that happened early in the year, the RRFL went ahead with its annual championship, including the youth world cup, which was thought by many not to go ahead.

2022: ban
After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Rugby League and European Rugby League banned Russia from all international rugby league competitions.

Russian Championship
The Russian Championship (or Russian Super League or Championship of Russia) consisted of 6 teams in the 2008 season:
 * Locomotive – Moscow
 * Arrows – Kazan
 * Vereya – Moscow Region
 * Crystal – Rostov-on-Don
 * Kosmos – Moscow Region
 * Legion – Kharkiv (Ukraine)

Dinamo Moscow and St Petersburg Nevskaya Zastava started the season but failed to complete it. Saint Petersburg Lesteh and Volgodonsk Navy-Sphere entered the cup but did not participate in any league.

Championship NFRR-13 Premier League

 * Star – RVSN (Serpukhov)
 * Kubinka (Moscow Region)
 * Nizhegorodets (Nizhny Novgorod)
 * Arsenal (Tula)
 * RHZB (Kostroma)
 * CSK Cosmos (Moscow region)
 * Avtomobilist (Ryazan)
 * Svyazist (Ryazan)
 * VDV (Ryazan)
 * WU-CVM (Moscow)
 * MOSVOKU (Moscow)
 * Vereya Bears (Moscow region)

Major League Major League teams are divided into groups on a geographical basis

Central Group
 * Finance (Yaroslavl)
 * Voronezh
 * Tver
 * Iskra (Smolensk)

Southern Group
 * Stavropol
 * Novocherkask
 * Rostov on Don
 * Armavir
 * Krasnodar

Volga-Ural Group
 * Penza
 * Kazan
 * Wolski
 * Chelyabinsk
 * Saratov

North-West Group and military institutions of the North-west district
 * VIFK (St. Petersburg)
 * Mozhaisky Military Academy (St. Petersburg)

Challenge Cup
Two teams each year took part in the Rugby League Challenge Cup, along with four teams from France including Les Catalans, although the Challenge Cup is not considered a 'European Cup', more a domestic competition in the UK that invites these teams into the early rounds. However Russian teams have not played in the Challenge Cup since 2009 due to the funding crisis in Russian Rugby League, and their being banned in 2022.

Olympic status of Rugby Union Sevens and the expulsion of Rugby League from the State Register of Sports of Russia
By mid-2009 the three major clubs of Russian Rugby League had moved over to Rugby Union as a result of government pressure to achieve results in rugby union sevens, newly designated as an Olympic sport. These clubs were Kazan Arrows, Dinamo Moscow and the champions for the past eight years, Lokomotiv Moscow.

Russian Ministry of Sports order number 21 dated 20 January 2010 expelled the Rugby League from the State Register of Sports of Russia. The reasoning for the expulsion was reportedly due to the Ministry's view that Rugby League was not a separate sport from rugby union.

In February a new president of the RRLF was elected, Alexander Eremin. Eremin, the board members and employees of the RRLF are investigating the potential for the continuation of Rugby League in Russia with various government, civic and sports organizations, in particular the Ministry of Sports and Rugby Union of Russia.

After the turmoil of the RRLF losing clubs and players, Edward Taturian caused a split with the Rugby League Federation, to potentially form an Association of Rugby League Clubs.

The Association of Rugby League Clubs of Russia (ARLKR)
2010 began with no clear framework or competition, within this context the old figurehead Taturyan established the Association of Rugby League Clubs of Russia (ARLKR) seemingly independent of the RRLF. The following clubs joined the ARLKR association:

 * 1) Nevsky Gate
 * 2) Vereyskaya Bears
 * 3) Threshers
 * 4) North Moscow
 * 5) Nara
 * 6) Otradnoe
 * 7) Spartak-Losinka.

(In 1991, Taturian, the former coach of the Soviet Rugby team, split from the Russian rugby union and took over some teams to found the Russian Rugby League. The game grew and became known as the Russian Rugby League Federation.)

Current domestic competition
Rugby league is now played domestically in conferences. North, Central and South. At the conclusion of each conference's fixtures, the top teams enter into the national championship.

Media
Starting in 2009 NTV Plus Sport broadcasts live rugby league matches from the Super League competition.

The national team
The Russian Bears represent Russia in international rugby league tournaments and other rugby league fixtures.

title: Rugby league in Russia


text:
Rugby league in Serbia

Rugby league is a team sport that is played in Serbia, which now has almost 1000 registered players nationwide, many of which are juniors. Belgrade and Novi Sad are the two main bases for the sport, producing most of the country's players. The most successful Serbian club side are the Dorćol Spiders who have won the most premierships. The other club Red Star Belgrade who defeated Dorćol in the deciding game to claim the minor premiership.

History
Rugby league was introduced into Serbia in 1953, by then secretary of the Yugoslavian Sport Association, Dragan Maršićević. The first rugby league match in Serbia was held in Belgrade on November 26, 1953, between French students and Selection Provence. The game was part of an attempt by the French Rugby XIII Federation to stimulate interest in the sport in Serbia.

The first rugby league club formed in Serbia was Partizan, on November 1, 1953, followed a couple of months later by Radnički. The two teams played their first match on April 26, 1954, with Partizan winning 21-11. In 1961, the Yugoslav national team played their first and only match against a French amateur XIII, with the team going down 13-0.

While rugby league was played in Serbia, Croatia played the rival code of rugby union and Yugoslav authorities demanded that Serbian clubs switch to rugby union to unite Yugoslavia under one form of rugby football in 1964.

Rugby league officially returned to Serbia in 2001, with the formation of the Serbian Rugby League Federation at meeting held in Kruševac. Journalist Slaviša Milenković was voted in as president of the new federation. The inaugural Serbian Rugby League Championship was held on November 10, featuring teams Donji Dorćol Belgrade, Morava Belgrade, Novi Sad and Beli Orao Kruševac. Belgrade's Dorćol team won the event.

Dorćol is champion for the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 years. In late 2015 the European Rugby League federation granted Serbia a donation from their funds which in turn helped in producing at least 4 more junior clubs and having a flow on effect in other Serbian regions.

In 2013, Serbia helped spread the sport to the Serbian enclave of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially Banja Luka and Doboj.

In October 2016 Serbia has two remaining world cup qualifiers to contest against Wales in Llanelli and against Italy in Belgrade. The match against a prestigious opponent like Wales will be the most important game Serbia has played to date.

Major clubs in Serbia include Dorcol Spiders and Red Star Belgrade (Crvena Zvezda). Serbian club Red Star Belgrade will take part in the English Challenge Cup competition in 2019.

The National Team
The National Team, which has represented Serbia, has competed in the Rugby League Mediterranean Cup in both 2003 and 2004 and had shown great improvement on the second occasion.

In 2005 they also participated in a three-way qualification tournament for the Rugby League European Nations Cup with the Holland and Georgia.

In 2006 Serbia participated in a four-way Rugby League World Cup qualifications/ENC B tournament with Russia, Georgia and Holland.

During July 2006, the Serbian U-19 national team participated in the U-19 European Nations Cup in Northern Catalonia. The Serbian boys were the only team outside Home nations or France on that tournament. However, they finished sixth by losing to Scotland only 14-16 in the last minutes of their 5th place play-off encounter in Barcares.

On August 12, 2006, Serbia won its first trophy. They won Czech Republic in Prague and their captain Radoslav Novaković lifted the Slavic Cup. The Serbian team played without Serbian origin players from UK or Australia.

On October 28, 2006, Serbia played Greece in Athens an historic match as it was the first Rugby League match on Greek soil. Greece was at an advantage in this match, as 10 out of their 17 players were Australian-based Greeks. Although Serbia lost the match 44-26, they played well against a team that included much more experienced players. The Serbian players said it was an honour to play against Salford City Reds player Michael Korkidas. However, this did not stop the Serbian players from being as physical as possible against Korkidas. This match was watched by 250 spectators in Athens. The low crowd was due to Greek Rugby Union trying to stop the game from being played, it was not advertised.

Belgrade hosted the first U16 European Nations Cup from 27 June to 3 July. Serbian boys made great upset by beating Russia 22-10 in the first match of their pool. In the second round, England (later winners of the Cup) won Serbia 46-0 and in 3rd place playoff Serbia lost to European Celts 22-20. However, the fourth place of Serbian U16s is the greatest success of national Rugby League in the history of the game in the country.

In 2007 Serbia is taking part in European Shield, newly established European Rugby League competition. The first match, v Germany in Heidelberg, Serbia won 38-6 (tries by Pešić, Radovanović, Vukanović, Matejić, Jerković and Milanko and goals by Vukanović 6 and Matejić). The second match, v Czech Republic in Belgrade, Serbia won 56-16 (tries by Pešić 2, Mijušković, Radovanović 2, Jerković 2, Matejić, Brkić and Marko Milosavljević and goals by Brkić 5 and Novaković), and won the three-way competition with perfect record. Winning the match v Czech national team, Serbians defended Slavic Cup.

2008 saw the Serbia national team challenged in both the U18 and open age competitions. U18s won 6th place in European Nations Cup (European Nations Shield runners-up) held in Prague and Beroun after losing to Ireland 12-66 in preliminaries, defeating European Celts 38-32 in Shield semifinals and losing to Scotland 42-38 after golden point in the second extra-time of the Shield final. As failed to qualify to 2008 Rugby League World Cup, Serbia national team took part in Euro-Med Challenge during end of September and first week of October and finished third due to defeats to Russia (4-30 in Novi Sad) and Lebanon (14-20 in Bhamdoun).

In February 2016 Serbia toured Australia. were they participated in the Cabramatta 9s and played a full sanctioned test match against the Philippines losing 18-12, the Serbia squad consisted of 8 home grown players and the rest where Australian born lads of Serbian heritage, Serbia had a late try disallowed while the Philippines had a strong squad of mostly Australian born players. The tour and especially the test match where historical moments for Serbian Rugby League. On the 27th of June 2016 Serbia played the England Lion-hearts a select group of players from Yorkshire the stronghold of English Rugby League. Serbia lost 14-16 a very courageous and proud effort from the Serbian team against a prestigious opponent, the venue was the Radnicki stadium in Belgrade, Serbia showed it is a Rugby League country in the making pushing the Lion-Hearts to the brink of defeat.

Notable achievements
Serbia has wasted no time producing good Rugby League players. Impressive youngsters Dalibor Vukanović and Soni Radovanovic had stints with English National League Two side London Skolars in 2005, National League Three side Warrington Wizards and Russian 2nd runners-up Vereya in 2006. The boys were aged 19 and 17 respectively during their stint in England.

Tom Opacic of the Brisbane Broncos is one player of Serbian heritage playing in the strongest league in the world the NRL in Australia. Opacic will represent Serbia at the upcoming world cup qualifiers in October 2016, making him the first Serbia national team player ever selected from the NRL.

Other players of Serbian heritage in the NRL are two brothers Tom and Jake Trbojevic from the Manly Sea Eagles. They are two of the most talented youngsters in the NRL.

Zoran Pešić is arguably Serbia's best export so far. Zoran had a six-week stint with National League Three side Warrington Wizards with above-mentioned Vukanović and Radovanović. He was also one of three nominees for the award of Best Emerging Nations Player at the Rugby League International Federation awards in Sydney on November 20, 2006. This award was won by St George Illawarra Dragons' Wes Naiqama, who represented Fiji.

UK-born player of Serbian origin (and also Serbian RL international) Luka Simeunović lifted the English U-21 Senior Academy Cup as captain of the Halifax R.L.F.C. Academy team. He is one of the most successful Rugby League players with Serbian roots, alongside his older brother James, and he is a member of Halifax 27-men squad.

In March 2007, Serbian Rugby League national team have beaten the British Prison Service 44-24 and won Belgrade Trophy.

In 2007, some Serbian players have their sights set on breaking into the French Elite League, while others may be headed for Russia or England.

In 2014, Stefan Nedeljković and his fellow Serbian and Dorcol Spiders teammate Stevan Stevanović were selected to train with professional English Super League club, the Warrington Wolves. They travelled to Cheshire for some professional experience with a two-week training spell. Watch their training here=

In 2015, Stefan Nedeljković was offered a second trial with the Warrington Wolves and this time he made it clear that he wanted a professional contract with the club.

title: Rugby league in Serbia


text:
Rugby league in Estonia

Rugby league is a team sport emerging in Estonia.

The National Team
The first international was played on Estonian soil on 20 August 2005, when a Student Rugby League Chairmans Select XIII team consisting of 5 players each from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, played the Estonian national side, drawn from the capital Tallinn and the university city Tartu. This first match saw the national side impress to a 36-70 eventual defeat.

title: Rugby league in Estonia


text:
Rugby league in Georgia

Rugby league is a team sport, originating in England, formerly played in Georgia.

History
The history of rugby league in Georgia began in 1991 when a Georgian player was recruited by a Russian rugby league club. In 1993 a rural Georgian rugby union club team defected to the Russian Rugby League. The club and all of its players were banned from playing rugby union in the future.

Despite these previous endeavours rugby league was effectively unknown in Georgia until late 2004 when a French-based rugby enthusiast Paata Tsintsadze established the Georgian National Rugby League Federation (GNRLF). In June 2004 the GNRLF was incorporated, and recognised by the State Sports Ministry. Nodar Andghuladze was the first Chief Executive Officer and David Kilassonia the coaching manager.

Tsintsadze presented to the European Federation his proposal and plans for the GNRLF after which it was agreed that the GNRLF be recognised as the governing body for the sport in Georgia. Furthermore, Georgia became active participants in the European Federation's meetings and activities from then on.

Early in 2005, the GNRLF team set the ambitious goal of sending the national team, which had not yet been played a game, to the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

On 5 September 2005 the GNRLF were told that official observer status of the GNRLF would be withdrawn with immediate effect and given to the new Georgian Rugby 13 (GR13) organisation. Despite RLEF's decision to recognize the newly founded GR13F instead of the former GNRLF as official observers of the code in Georgia, the latter showed reluctance in handing over the under 16 matters to the GR13. This ultimately meant that Georgia were unable to attend the youth world championship.

Governing body
The governing body for rugby league in Georgia was the Georgian Rugby League Federation. It was founded in 2004 by former France rugby union player, Paata Tsintsadze.

National team
The Georgia national rugby league team represented Georgia in international rugby league tournaments. The national squad was entirely from Georgian-based rugby union players. Despite there having been no domestic rugby league the team attracted relatively large crowds for international matches, in the range of 10,000 spectators. However, they were expelled from the 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers for forfeiting a game in Russia, due to their players playing rugby union at the time and subsequently stopped playing the game and were expelled from the Rugby League International Federation and Rugby League European Federation.

title: Rugby league in Georgia


text:
Rugby league in Lebanon

The seeds of rugby league in Lebanon lie in Australia. A group of Australian-born rugby league players with Lebanese heritage, mostly from inner-city Sydney formed a team with a view to entering the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. They were accepted into the qualifying tournament on the agreement that they would aim to develop rugby league within the country they represent. They subsequently went on to win the qualifying competition, earning their place by defeating Italy and Morocco of the Mediterranean group before travelling to Florida to defeat the  USA, winners of the Pacific group.

In 2002 a domestic league was set up in Lebanon, initially with four university-based teams. Players from the domestic competition now feature in the national team. A team composed entirely from Lebanese domestic players, known as Lebanon Espoirs has been formed.

In 2011, Lebanon nearly qualified for 2013 Rugby League World Cup but lost to Italy who became the 14th and final nation to qualify for the event.

In 2011, the government of Lebanon promised to increase its support and funding for rugby league.

Governing body and competitions
The Lebanese Rugby League Federation is based in Safra, Lebanon. It is an associate members of the Rugby League European Federation and a full member of the Rugby League International Federation.

Lebanon Rugby League Championship
There are eight teams that play in the Bank of Beirut Lebanon Championship domestic league.

Media
Media representation of rugby league has grown dramatically with the domestic competition now covered by all ten marquee Lebanese newspapers, two prominent radio stations and the country's major television stations.

2007 Al Jazeera Feature on Youtube

The National Team
The Lebanon national rugby league team, nicknamed the Cedars, remains mostly composed of players of Lebanese ancestry from Australia. The Lebanon Espoirs team, made up of younger players from the domestic competition, has played a number of fixtures - this team has competed annually in the Rugby League Mediterranean Cup, which is hosted in Lebanon. Many of the Espoirs players have gone into represent Lebanon in full international matches. The team qualified and played in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, winning their first ever world cup game against France in the qualifying group stage which resulted in the team competing in the quarter-finals. The Cedars lost the quarter-finals to Tonga 24- 22.

Liban Espoir
Since the creation of a five-team domestic league in Lebanon in 2003, a second team was formed made up of players from that league under Head Coach Remond Safi. They are known as the Liban Espoir and regularly tour other countries. In 2003 the team toured Morocco. In 2005 they toured England and Wales, playing numerous matches against the England Lionhearts, Welsh Presidents XIII and Rugby League Conference teams. In 2006 they recorded their first victory on tour in Cyprus against a British combined services team. In 2007 they beat the main Serbian national team 16-14 and went on to defeat a Serbia Development XIII 50–0. In 2008 they played the United Arab Emirates of the Emirates Rugby League, the first game ever to be played by the nation. The match was played in Bhamdoun with the Liban Espoir eventually winning 48–18. In 2009, Liban Espoir played the UAE Falcons in a three-game series. The first game, played in Dubai at The Sevens stadium ended early with the UAE Falcons leading 16-6 because of a mass brawl. The remaining two games were played at The Sevens and Bhamdoun. In the second game, at The Sevens, The Espoirs were defeated 34–10.

Touch Football
The Lebanon national touch football team debuted in 1999.

title: Rugby league in Lebanon


text:
Mister Magic

Mister Magic is the fourth album by jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., released in February 1975. The album topped both the soul and jazz albums chart and peaked at number ten on the pop chart.

Critical reception
Reviewing for The Village Voice in 1975, Robert Christgau found the album "functional" and satisfactory for a commercially successful jazz album: "Washington plays a warm tenor in the pop jazz tradition of Gene Ammons, but the rhythm section percolates danceably, and the result is sexy background music only superficially marred by Bob James's strings."

In a retrospective review for Allmusic, Scott Yanow gave the album five out of five stars and said that it is "one of Grover Washington Jr.'s best-loved recordings and considered a classic of r&bish jazz." He found Washington to be in "particularly creative form" and called James' arrangements "colorful if somewhat commercial".

Personnel

 * Grover Washington Jr. – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
 * Bob James – acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, arrangements and conductor
 * Eric Gale – guitars
 * Phil Upchurch – bass (1)
 * Gary King – bass (2, 3, 4)
 * Harvey Mason – drums
 * Ralph MacDonald – percussion

Brass and Reed Section
 * Phil Bodner – baritone saxophone
 * Jerry Dodgion – tenor saxophone
 * Tony Studd – bass trombone
 * Wayne Andre – trombone
 * Jon Faddis and Marvin Stamm – trumpet, flugelhorn

String Section
 * Charles McCracken and Alan Shulman – cello
 * Alfred Brown and Emanuel Vardi – viola
 * Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Harry Glickman, Harold Kohon, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, David Nadien and Matthew Raimondi – violin

Production

 * Creed Taylor – producer
 * Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
 * Bob Ciano – album design
 * Alen MacWeeney – photography
 * Doug Ramsey – liner notes

title: Mister Magic


text:
Rugby league in Kenya

Rugby League in Kenya is a growing spectator and participatory sport.

History
During the 1990s attempts were made to introduce the sport of rugby league to Kenya. The catalyst for the attempt to introduce rugby league into Kenya came from Eddie Rombo, a former Kenyan rugby union player, who went on to play rugby league with British side Leeds Rhinos. After retiring from the sport, Rombo announced his intention to return to his native land and establish rugby league. In 2000, he did so, with the backing of a Kenyan businessman named Eric Murungi. Teams were formed, coaching sessions undertaken and a website set up. However the efforts came to nought, and no rugby league game was ever played.

In 2013, after seeing many of Kenya's youth missing the opportunity to participate in sport, Kenyan Caroline Jamieson along with husband Glenn Jamieson set up programs aimed at developing youth rugby league in Kenya, concentrating on the least fortunate. This new foray into the sport emphasized youth rugby league.

Kenya RL Premiership

 * AP Warriors
 * Centurion
 * Knights
 * Ngong
 * Rhinos
 * Ruffians
 * Sharks
 * Wolves

Kenya Women's League

 * AP Warriors
 * Wolves

National team
The Kenya national rugby league team represent Kenya in the sport of rugby league football. The team is trying to qualify into 2025 Rugby League World Cup for the first time.

title: Rugby league in Kenya


text:
Rugby league in South Africa

Rugby league is a team sport played in South Africa. There has been three dynasties of rugby league in South Africa that attempted to establish a thriving rugby league. Not all attempts were in the interest of South Africans; rather an interest in financial windfall. Others took to the townships and promoted the league at the grass roots, which saw some of the most successful periods of rugby league in South Africa. The game has changed over 50 years of involvement in South Africa and today is played by a small number of teams in three competitions—the Rhino Cup, Protea Cup and Western Province Rugby League—which are administered by the South African Rugby League.

The National Team
The South African national rugby league team is called the Rhinos. In addition to the national team, a representative team of South Africans living in the United Kingdom was formed in 2004 called the Wild Dogs (now defunct).

History
Rugby league in South Africa has a long and turbulent history, consisting of no less than three administrations over 40 years that attempted to establish the game of rugby league in South Africa. None, certainly the earlier attempts, were very successful.

The first attempted expansion of the code into South Africa was primarily put together by the English and encouraged by the French for the purpose of expanding the game into new nations, that would inevitably bring more tests to the English and French shores, ensuring a lucrative future. At least, that was the plan; however it was not to be, the South African public did not take to the sport and the expansion plans were stopped prematurely causing a third scheduled match in London to not be played.

The second attempted expansion was a strange double act in the 1960s consisting of two separate factions, known as the National Rugby League and South African Rugby League. Each fought for their own survival until the RLIF laid down the law that saw the NRL effectively shut down and its clubs moved to the SARL. All was looking good for SARL until a South African representative team toured Australia and were embarrassingly beaten.

In 1991 the South African Rugby Football League was established to promote amateur rugby league.

1998's World Club Challenge between the British and Australian champions was mooted as a showpiece fixture at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. However this didn't eventuate.

Since 2009, several South Africans have made their mark in the Australian rugby league. Notably, Jarrod Saffy has played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons, Allan Heldsinger for the Redcliffe Dolphins, and Willie Bloem for the Canberra Raiders. In 2010, the Sydney Roosters signed South African rugby union junior, JP Du Plessis. The National Rugby League (NRL) has expressed intentions to recruit more South African talent in the future.

The Sydney Roosters have successfully signed four South African rugby union players, a strategic move underscored by Peter O'Sullivan's commitment to personally bring them to Bondi. Similarly, the Melbourne Storm have ventured into recruiting talent from South Africa, expanding their roster with players from the rugby-rich nation. This initiative reflects the growing interest in South African athletes within the Australian rugby league scene.

In 2011 a host of changes were implemented by the remaining clubs, the first of which was to elect a representative board and establish a Commercial Entity to take the sport forward. The result is a new National Club Championship as well as several international tours next year. The South African Senior Side also played in the Rugby League World Cup Qualifier in 2011 and will hope to build in 2012 towards a strong showing in the 2012 and 2013 international seasons.

The South African Students will be competing in the Rugby League Students World Cup in July 2013 in England.

National Club Competitions
There are currently three competitions in South Africa, the Rhino Cup, the first division, consisting of 4 teams, the Protea Cup, the second division, consisting of 8 and the Western Province Rugby League, the third division, consisting of 8 teams.

The competition started in 2009 with only four teams from all provinces, with the Ermelo Tomahawks winning. In 2010 and 2011, the Rhino Cup was held with the Middelburg Tigers and the TUKS Reds coming out the victors. In 2012, there was no Cups held, instead, there were derby matches on different provinces; Western Cape, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng. In 2013, the Rhino Cup was reinstated and the Protea Cup and the Western Cape Cup was added as well. The TUKS Rugby League took the Rhino and Protea Cups in the 2013-14 season.

title: Rugby league in South Africa


text:
Hiller VZ-1 Pawnee

The Hiller VZ-1 Pawnee (U.S. Army designation; earlier Army designation: HO-1) was a unique direct-lift rotor aircraft, using contra-rotating ducted fans for lift inside a platform upon which the single pilot shifted body weight for directional control. The platform was developed starting in 1953 under an Office of Naval Research (ONR) contract to Hiller Aircraft, and flew successfully beginning in 1955.

Design and development
The original concept had been developed by Charles H. Zimmerman in the late 1940s. Further development followed, both by Hiller Aircraft and the De Lackner Company. There were two main models, the ONR model 1031-A-1, and the somewhat larger VZ-1 Pawnee model produced in 1956 for the U.S. Army. Three of each model were built as prototypes. Neither of the variants was put into production.

The smaller ONR model used two 44 hp Nelson H-59 piston engines, coupled to the propellers by a modified helicopter transmission built by the Industrial Power Division of Hall-Scott. The larger Pawnee model used three of those engines and had an extended duct area. The Pawnee had ineffective "kinesthetic control" and instead had the operator seated on a platform controlling the flight with conventional helicopter controls.

Testing and evaluation
Due to aerodynamic effects in the duct within which the propellers rotated, the platform was dynamically stable, even though the pilot and center of gravity of the platform were fairly high up. In testing, the prototypes flew well, but the U.S. Army judged them to be impractical as combat vehicles as they were small, limited in speed and only barely flew out of the ground cushion effect.

Two of the six prototypes are known to survive; both are ONR 1031-A-1 models. One is located at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, California, the other is at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. The latter platform was formerly on loan to the Pima Air & Space Museum. A replica of the 1031 platform is on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum.

title: Hiller VZ-1 Pawnee


text:
Rugby league in Canada

Rugby league football (Rugby à XIII) is a participation and spectator sport in Canada.

History
Games related to rugby football have been played in Canada since the 19th century, with the first Rugby Union being established in 1861. However, the rugby league made little headway in the country, where rugby union and later Canadian football were the dominant field sports. In 1928 the Great Britain Lions, Britain's national rugby league team, visited Canada on their way home from a tour of Australia and New Zealand. According to the Imperial Rugby League Board, a domestic competition using rugby league rules was held in Canada the following year.

From the late 19th century Canadian unions adopted rule changes, generally similar to changes made in the United States, which created the sport known as Canadian football. Through the 20th century football gained in popularity, displacing other codes. With support declining, the Nova Scotia Rugby Union, which governed the sport in Nova Scotia and the Maritimes, decided to adopt the rugby league code in hopes of saving rugby from the incursion of Canadian football. The switch was first discussed in 1945, but the lack of a rule book precluded any action. The switch was finally agreed upon in 1946, and the switch was made the following season.

With the exception of Halifax schools, which had adopted football, all competitions in the Maritimes, – the senior level, Maritime, high school, and university competitions – made the switch to rugby league. Unlike most rugby league competitions, the NSRU continued to be recognized by the Canadian Rugby Football Union, and all players remained amateur. Though attendance and participation increased in the first year, it did not last, and football continued to increase in popularity throughout the Maritimes. The universities all switched to football by 1955, and the senior league shrank to just four teams. Rugby league continued to be played in many Nova Scotia high schools until 1959, and was still played elsewhere in the Maritimes into the 1960s, but disappeared thereafter.

Revival
In the 1980s interest in amateur rugby league returned, and in 1986 a new competition, the Tri-Counties Rugby League, was established. Four teams competed in its first year, three from Canada, and one from the U.S., the New York-based Adirondacks club. Later, the Canada national rugby league team was formed, and participated semi-regularly in international competition from 1987–2000. The team competed in the 2000 Emerging Nations Tournament, but afterward went dormant as the governing body folded. Thereafter Canada's rugby league participation dwindled, though there were two regional rugby league nines tournaments as recently as 2003, one in Ontario and one in Manitoba.

In 2010, a new organization, Canada Rugby League, was formed with the intention of reviving the national team and building a new domestic competition. Under the CRL the national team played international games several times in 2010, including the American National Rugby League's annual "War at the Shore" event, hosting the Colonial Cup, and competing in the Rugby League Atlantic Cup in Jacksonville, Florida. Two domestic teams, the Toronto City Saints and the St. Catharines Bobcats, were established, and are set to be joined by two new teams in 2011. Super League teams St Helens R.F.C. and Salford City Reds have also formed partnerships with Canadian rugby league, and Rugby League Review, one of the leading rugby league magazines around the world came on board as a sponsor of Canadian rugby league. Setanta Sports will broadcast rugby league matches in Canada. Canada won its first international match of the revival era on July 31, 2011 defeating Jamaica 40-10 in Markham, Ontario.

In 2016, the 2025 Rugby League World Cup was jointly awarded to Canada and the United States, however both later withdrew.

In 2017, Toronto Wolfpack was formed as an expansion club of the British rugby league system, and competed for four seasons until the COVID-19 pandemic, entering the league system in League 1 and seeing two promotions in three years to finish in the Super League.

Post-covid, the Wolfpack formed their own competition within North America after the failed North American Rugby League.

Club competition
There are currently three (known) provisional competitions in Canada, the Ontario Rugby League Competition, the British Columbia Rugby League Competition, and the Alberta Rugby League Competition, all are amateur.

Canada attempted to launch the professional North American Rugby League along with the USA in 2021, however this never materialised. In 2023, Toronto Wolfpack, Canada's only professional club (who previously had completed in the British rugby league system) organised the Canada Cup, an international league for all of North America.

title: Rugby league in Canada


text:
Nathan Hauritz

Nathan Michael Hauritz (born 18 October 1981) is a former Australian cricketer who has represented Australia in Tests, One-dayers and Twenty20 Internationals. He is mainly noted for his off spin bowling. He was a part of the Australian squad which won the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

After representing Australia at Under-19 level and making his ODI debut in 2002 at the age of 20, Hauritz made his Test debut in 2004 in India, where he turned out a credible performance. Upon his return to Australia, however, his form at first class level did not live up to expectations and as a result he found himself out of the Australian side and struggling to hold a place in the Queensland side. As a result, he switched to playing State cricket for New South Wales in the 2006–07 season. Nevertheless, even after the move Hauritz's opportunities to play regularly in senior cricket were limited.

On the eve of the 2nd Test against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in November 2008, Hauritz found himself unexpectedly called into the Australian side, four years after making his debut, as Australia searched for a spinner to replace Shane Warne. He went on to play three Tests during the 2008–09 Australian home season and was subsequently selected for Australia's tour to South Africa. Although he did not play in any of the Tests, he played in all of the One Day Internationals. Later during Australia's one-day series against Pakistan, Hauritz was Australia's leading wicket-taker. These performances were enough for the Australian selectors to include Hauritz in the squad for the 2009 Ashes series.

In January 2016, Hauritz announced his retirement from competitive cricket.

Early life and career
Nathan Michael Hauritz was born in Wondai, Queensland on 18 October 1981. As a junior Hauritz played his cricket with the Hervey Bay Cricket Association, representing Wide Bay at the Under 12 to Under 15 levels before captaining the Under 14 Queensland Development side that toured New Zealand in 1996. Between the 1996–97 and 2000–01 seasons Hauritz represented Queensland at both Under 17 and Under 19 levels, as well as taking part in the Under 19 Australian side's tour to England in 1999 and the 1999–2000 Under 19 tour to Sri Lanka.

In 2000–01 Hauritz attended the Australian Institute of Sport in Adelaide during which time he played a number of matches against academy sides from New Zealand and Sri Lanka before captaining the Australian Under 19 side on its tour to Bangladesh.

In total Hauritz played six Youth Tests and 14 Youth One Day Internationals.

Domestic career
On the back of his performances at Under 19s level for Queensland and Australia in 2001 Hauritz was selected to play for the Queensland one-day side to play against Victoria at the Gabba on 19 January 2001. In a day-night game that Victoria went on to win, Hauritz took 0/38 off his ten overs and scored a duck with the bat. Nevertheless, he was selected again for the next match and played out the rest of the Mercantile Mutual Cup season for the Bulls.

Later in the year, in Queensland's opening game of the 2001–02 Pura Cup, Hauritz made his first class debut playing against Victoria at the Punt Road Oval in Melbourne on 24 October 2001. In a rain shortened match, Hauritz scored 41 after coming in at number ten in Queensland's first innings, before taking 1/35 off 16 overs and 0/36 off 12 overs with the ball.

Following this Hauritz played first class and one-day domestic cricket for Queensland with regularity between 2001 and 2005, however, following his inclusion in squad for Australia's tour to India in 2004, where Hauritz made his Test debut, he found himself struggling for form in the first class game, and his opportunities to play regularly for Queensland became more infrequent. In the 2004–05 domestic season he played just six matches and the following season he played only one. In the 2005 off season, Hauritz undertook a stint in the Lancashire League in which he played 24 matches for the Nelson Cricket Club.

Following criticism about his ability to spin the ball, Hauritz made the decision to move to New South Wales to play for the Blues, where he felt that he might have more opportunities to showcase his talents as a spinner on the traditionally spin-friendly Sydney Cricket Ground wicket. Nevertheless, opportunities at first class level remained elusive for Hauritz and in the 2006–07 Pura Cup season he played only three first class games, including the final against Tasmania, in which he played alongside his main rival Stuart MacGill and took 0/22 and 1/56 in a match that Tasmania won by 426 runs.

He encountered more competition for selection when left arm unorthodox spinner Beau Casson moved from Western Australia to New South Wales.

The following season Hauritz found himself out of favour once more, playing only one first class game for New South Wales, although he played in eight one-day domestic games as part of the Ford Ranger Cup. The 2008–09 season began only a little better for Hauritz, playing the first couple of matches of the Sheffield Shield competition and a tour game against New Zealand, however, he found himself not selected for New South Wales' next Shield game and it seemed once again that he might spend the rest of the season on the sidelines. A surprise return to the Australian Test team for the 2nd Test against New Zealand, however, seemed to offer him a lifeline and after a creditable performance against New Zealand in the Test at Adelaide, Hauritz found himself back in the New South Wales side, playing two more Sheffield Shield games in which he took ten wickets—including a career best 4/86—before being called for international duty in South Africa.

International career
Hauritz began his international cricket career when he made his One Day International debut against South Africa on 22 March 2002 at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. He subsequently went on to play seven more One Day Internationals between then and May 2003 before finding himself out of favour with the Australian selectors.

In November 2004, however, Hauritz and leg spinner Cameron White were surprise selections ahead of Stuart MacGill for Australia's tour of India. The reasoning given by the selectors was that as they intended to play only one spinner—Shane Warne—MacGill was unlikely to play so they would not lose anything by taking some young spinners instead, in order to gain experience.

However, Warne suffered an injury on the eve of the 4th Test at Mumbai, so Hauritz played, as it was too late to fly MacGill in. Hauritz took 3/16 in the first innings, including the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, and match figures of 5/103. Nevertheless, upon his return to Australia afterwards he found himself struggling to maintain a place in both the Queensland and New South Wales state first class sides and was not selected to play another Test again until four years later, when in November 2008 he was recalled back into the Australian squad for the 2nd Test against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval to replace Jason Krejza who had suffered an ankle injury. Hauritz went on to take four wickets in the match, but was not selected for the next Test, against South Africa at Perth, as Krezja had recovered by then.

However, after Australia's loss to South Africa Krejza was dropped and Hauritz called into the side to play the remaining two Tests.

Since Warne's retirement at the start of 2007, Australia had used Brad Hogg, MacGill, Casson, Krejza and White in Tests with limited success, and none played more than four in that period.

He played his third Test, the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and was found to be quite economical, bowling 43 overs in South Africa's 1st innings for only 3/98. In the 3rd Test at Sydney, Hauritz scored 41 with the bat and although he went wicketless in South Africa's first innings, in the second he took the important wicket of Hashim Amla as Australia went on to win the match by 103 runs.

Following his performances in the Tests against South Africa in Australia, Hauritz was selected for the reciprocal tour to South Africa, however, in the end he did not play in any of the Tests. Nevertheless, he played in all five of the One Day Internationals, taking a career best of 4/29 in the first ODI against South Africa on 3 April 2009. He also went on to play in all the one-day matches in Australia's ODI series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates where was Australia's highest wicket-taker, taking seven wickets in five matches. These performances led to his selection in squad for the 2009 Ashes series in England, where he has taken part in three of the five Tests that have been played to date, taking match figures of 6/158 in the first Test and 3/106 in the second. It was in the second Test, on 16 July 2009 that Hauritz suffered a dislocation of his middle finger on his bowling hand from the ball catching the tip during a "caught-and-bowled" catch attempt and was unable to bowl at a crucial stage of the innings. Although Hauritz came back and took two quick wickets, England later went on to win the match by 115 runs. Again strong in the 3rd Test with 1 for 57 off 18 overs in his only innings. Australia played out a draw in the rain affected match. For whatever reason the selectors chose, Hauritz's performances were overlooked and NSW fast bowler Stuart Clark was picked for the fourth Ashes Test. Australia won the 4th Ashes Test, leveling the series and needed a win in the fifth and final Test of the 2009 Ashes. Hauritz again was overlooked on what appeared to be a "spinners paradise" and Graeme Swann claimed 8 wickets for the match with England winning the match and regaining the Ashes. Selectors later admitted that not selecting Hauritz was a big error.

Hauritz was picked for the ODI series against England, where he performed well, playing all seven matches and taking nine wickets at an average of 28.77. He subsequently later took part in Australia's successful Champions Trophy campaign.

Hauritz remained a fixture in the Australian side during the 2009–10 season, fighting off injury concerns to play in Test series against West Indies and Pakistan. Most notably, he finished 2009 on a high with 5/101, his maiden five-wicket haul, against Pakistan at the MCG, and then replicated the effort in the next Test at the SCG against the same opponents, taking 5/53 in the second innings as Australia sealed a remarkable comeback victory.

Hauritz picked up his 50th Test Wicket in Hobart 2010.

Following the test series against Pakistan, the One Day Series against Pakistan and West Indies begun and Hauritz played every match, including 3/28 against the West Indies in the first ODI. The following tour was to New Zealand in which Hauritz played both tests, maintaining economical spells with regular important strikes. Notably was having New Zealand batsmen Ross Taylor pad up to a ball that turned back in sharply to strike him in front of the stumps, out LBW.

Due to an ankle injury, Hauritz could not take part in the test series in the neutral grounded test series against Pakistan in England and Steven Smith, the legspinning all rounder filled in for the two matches. Hauritz recovered from his injury to tour India the following tour, however bad lucked combined with mediocre bowling at times resulted in a poor series for Hauritz which India won 2–0. There was criticism over his ability against the Indian batsmen, who are notably good players of spin. Ironically Hauritz has a great record against Pakistan who are also considered excellent players of spin.

Upon the return to Australia Hauritz found himself out of favour with the selectors with a focus on left arm spin becoming more apparent. Left arm Spinner Xavier Doherty was given one day international experience, taking 4 wickets. Hauritz was then left out of the first test at Brisbane for the 2010–11 Ashes series, a series in which he was a certainty to play in favour of Xavier Doherty.

Nathan Hauritz returned to First Class Cricket for NSW and begun participating in the Sheffield Shield, hoping to gain a test recall. He was a strong contributor for the side notching his maiden first class hundred, 146, breaking a long-standing record for the most runs by a night watchmen in the Sheffield Shield and then followed that up with another hundred in the following game. He was also the shield's leading spinner at this stage with the ball taking 19 wickets at 26.78 including a career best 5/39 and match figures of 7/104 at the WACA. There were calls for an "S.O.S" style test recall as Xavier Doherty performed miserably however the selectors included uncapped spinner Michael Beer for the Sydney Test despite Hauritz's better performances. At the end of the summer Hauritz was recalled to the ODI match against England in Hobart. His regain to form had Hauritz set for a World Cup berth but he dislocated his shoulder in the outfield while fielding a ball at Hobart, which subsequently needed a full shoulder reconstruction, ruling him out of competitive cricket for some time.

Hauritz's domestic season was not prosperous for NSW in the 2011–12 season, with NSW sitting last on the Sheffield Shield ladder. Hauritz moved back to his original State, Queensland with fellow NSW batsmen Usman Khawaja.

Life after cricket
Hauritz now works as a cricket coach and consultant at schools. He coaches at Brisbane cricket club Northern Suburbs He lives in Bulimba. Nathan Haurtiz was spin bowling coach of Ireland Men's cricket team till July 2023.

title: Nathan Hauritz


text:
Rugby league in the West Indies

Rugby league is a team sport which is growing in popularity in the West Indies.

Participation
Rugby league participation in the Caribbean has only been possible as recently as 2005, with the introduction of the JRLA National Preimership. Despite the sports early beginnings, it has proved to be a large success, surpassing the most optimistic hopes of the games administrators.

The sport is most popular among young male adults. Currently, Jamaica is the only country to have a competition and enough interest to sustain future events. However, there are plans to bring similar competitions to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

Current Trends
Plans to run the first Caribbean rugby league competition had to be brought forward 12 months in 2005 because of the large amounts of interest shown in the sport. The sport in Jamaica is making good in roads which consists of 5 teams split into two divisions in the National Premiership.

The National Team
The West Indies rugby league team (nicknamed "The Wahoos") represents the Caribbean and the West Indies region in the sport of rugby league.

History
The West Indies were first introduced to Rugby League with the formation of the West Indies Rugby League Federation in 2003. One of the first things the WIRLF did was to find and invite league players from England who had a Caribbean background to join the West Indies team in future representative competitions.

The first games to be played by the West Indies team was the Middlesex Nines in 2004. Later in 2004 and 2005 they would also compete in the York Nines competition. The first thirteen-a-side game the West Indies played was against the South African Wild Dogs in London, September 24, 2004.

During 2005 the first local rugby league competition in the Caribbean took place in Jamaica, which is being hailed as a huge success for the WIRLF. The competition consists of the Vauxhall Vultures, Duhaney Park Sharks, Olympic Angels and the Jamaica Defence Force Warriors.

Jamaica Rugby League Association National Premiership
The JRLA National Premiership currently (2006) consists of five teams:
 * The Duhaney Park Sharks
 * The Vaxhaull Vultures
 * The Olympic Garden Angels
 * The Army (Jamaica Defence Force) Warriors
 * The Jamaica Constabulary Knights

Each team currently has a team playing in the Open Division competition.

All the teams (Sharks, Angels, Warriors, Knights and Vultures) are based within the nation's capital of Kingston. There are many players who are from adjoining parishes such as St Catherine and St Andrew. For further information visit Jamaica Rugby League Association

Results History

 * 2005 Grand Final - Vauxhall Vultures defeated the Duhaney Park Sharks 32 - 20

title: Rugby league in the West Indies