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Serbia national rugby league team

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Serbia
Badge of Serbia team
Team information
NicknameWhite Eagles (Beli orlovi)
Governing bodySerbian Rugby League
RegionEurope
Head coachDarren Fisher
CaptainStevan Stevanović
Most capsDalibor Vukanović (34)
Top try-scorerStevan Stevanović (26)
Top point-scorerDalibor Vukanović (207)
Home stadiumMakiš Stadium, Belgrade
IRL ranking11th
Uniforms
First colours
Team results
First international
 Lebanon 102–0 Serbia 
(19 October 2003)
Biggest win
 Germany 6–90 Serbia 
(22 April 2011)
Biggest defeat
 France 120–0 Serbia 
(22 October 2003)

The Serbia national rugby league team represents Serbia in the sport of rugby league football. They have competed in international competition since 2003 under the administration of the Serbian Rugby League.

They are coached by Englishman Darren Fisher, and captained by Stevan Stevanović.

The Serbian national team is now set to take on Wales in the World Cup Qualifiers. They have been hailed for making a brave, but brilliant selection in 20-year-old talent Sasha Cornelius Popovic. Popovic looks to establish himself strongly on the international stage, leading the team to their first World Cup.

History

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1950s–1960s

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Rugby League was first played in Serbia in 1953 when it was introduced by Dragan Marsicevic, secretary of the Yugoslav Sport Association.[citation needed] Two French teams toured later that year, and in 1954 the clubs Partizan and Radnički were formed. These clubs played their first match on 26 April 1954. In 1961 a Yugoslav Rugby League team played its only game against a French Select XIII team in Banja Luka. The French team won 13–0. The sport died out soon afterwards due to the communist regime banning the sport.[citation needed]

2000s

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

Serbia has participated in the Mediterranean Cup competition in 2003 and 2004. Serbia won the 2006 and 2007 Slavic Cup after beating Czech Republic 36–28 in Prague and 56–16 in Belgrade, respectively.

2008 World Cup Qualifying

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Main article: 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

Serbia failed to qualify for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, losing to Holland, Russia and Georgia in 2006, to be eliminated from the qualification process. Serbia won the 2007 and 2010 European Shield tournaments, by beating both Germany and Czech Republic on both occasions. Serbia took part in then European 2nd tier competition Euro Med Challenge in 2008. After being defeated 4-30 by Russia in Novi Sad and 14-20 by Lebanon in Bhamdoun, Serbs finished third. Serbia was a participant in the 2009 European Cup, having been drawn in a group alongside Wales and Ireland.

2013 World Cup Qualifying

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Main article: 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

Serbia participated in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers in October 2011. They played games against Italy, Lebanon and Russia, but were defeated in all three matches and so were ultimately unsuccessful in qualification for the tournament.

2014 Balkans Cup

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Main article: 2014 Balkans Cup (rugby league)

Serbia participated in the inaugural Balkans Cup tournament held in their own country. Serbia finished second in the tournament after a defeat to Greece who had a full squad of Australian born players in the final.[1]

2017 World Cup qualifying

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Main article: 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

Serbia participated in the qualification for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. The first stage of qualifying involved having to finish in the top three in their 2014–15 European Shield competition. During their qualification, Serbia created history after beating Russia for their first ever time on their eighth time of asking.[2]

The final qualification tournament consisted of six teams: the top three teams from the European B tournament, the winners of the European C tournament and seeded nations Wales and Ireland. The tournament featured two groups of three teams playing in a single round-robin format. The winners of each group qualified for the World Cup, while the runners-up faced each other in a play-off match on 5 November 2016 to determine the final spot. A seeded draw took place to determine the groups on 5 November 2015. Serbia were placed in Group A. They took on Wales on 15 October 2016, in Llanelli Wales and Italy in Belgrade on 22 October for a place in the 2017 World Cup.[3]

In the lead up to the World Cup qualifiers, Serbia played Spain in Valencia and ran out 64-4 winners a dominant display in the first ever meeting between these two nations.[4]

In the first World Cup qualifier against a Wales side full of Super League and Championship players, Serbia lost, 50–0, proving that there is still a long way to go but that there was some slight improvement from last time the two nations meet in 2009 when Serbia lost 88–8.[5]

In the second and final game of World Cup qualifying Serbia needed victory over Italy to send them through to a one-game playoff against Russia but lost the game at the Makiš Stadium in Belgrade, 14–62, which was a result against an Italian team with many NRL and English Super League players who were Australians of Italian heritage.[6] On 10 November 2016, 15 years was celebrated since the re-forming of Serbian Rugby League a milestone occasion.[7]

2021 World Cup qualifying

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Serbia were eliminated very early in qualifying, but caught a lucky break when Russian Rugby League Federation were disqualified due to internal issues. Serbia reluctantly took Russia's place in the final stages of qualifying but were easily eliminated losing on 26 October 2019 to Scotland 86–0 in Glasgow , then losing the deciding match in Belgrade to Greece on 9 November 2019 by another embarrassing score-line of 6–82.

Coaching history

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Also see Category:Serbia national rugby league team coaches.

Current squad

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  • The 21-man national team selected for the 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers.
  • The club listed is the club for which the player last played a competitive match prior to the call-up.

Nicholas O'Meley (Burleigh Bears), Nick Cotric (Catalans Dragons), Andrej Mora (Dorcol Tigers), David Nofoaluma, Sasha Popovic (Glebe Dirty Reds), Jake O’Meley (Lakes United Seagulls), Ilija Cotric (Mounties), Jesse Soric (NZ Warriors), Aleksandar Pavlovic, Djordje Krnjeta, Dzavid Jasari, Enis Bibic, Strahinja Stoiljkovic, (Partisan 1953), Jordan Grant (Penrith Panther), Stefan Arsic (Radnicki Nis), Marko Jankovic, Milos Calic, Nikola Djuric, Rajko Trifunovic, Vojislav Dedic, Vuk Strbac (Red Star), Joshua Coric (St George Illawarra).

Competitive Record

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Main article: List of Serbia national rugby league team results

Overall

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Below is table of the official representative rugby league matches played by Serbia at test level up until 27 October 2024:

Opponent Played Won Drawn Lost Win % For Aga Diff
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 1 0 0 100% 50 4 +46
 Bulgaria 2 2 0 0 100% 78 36 +42
 Canada 1 1 0 0 100% 36 8 +28
 Czech Republic 5 4 0 1 75% 186 82 +92
 France† 4 0 0 4 0% 22 284 –262
 Georgia 2 0 0 2 0% 22 89 –67
 Greece 5 2 0 3 25% 144 190 –46
 Germany 5 4 0 1 80% 238 61 +177
 Hungary 1 1 0 0 100% 50 0 +50
 Ireland 2 0 0 2 0% 16 106 –90
 Italy 8 4 0 4 100% 196 230 –34
 Lebanon 4 0 0 4 0% 24 282 –258
 Montenegro 2 2 0 0 100% 76 50 +26
 Morocco 3 0 1 2 0% 30 122 –92
 Netherlands 5 0 0 5 0% 66 180 –114
 Philippines 1 0 0 1 0% 12 18 –6
 Russia 9 2 0 7 22.22% 174 236 –62
 Scotland 1 0 0 1 0% 0 86 –86
 Spain 2 2 0 0 100% 88 24 +64
 Ukraine 5 5 0 0 100% 218 50 +168
 Wales 3 0 0 3 0% 8 186 –178
Total 70 29 1 40 41.43% 1,688 2,320 –632

†Includes matches played against the France Espoirs side.[8]

World Cup

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World Cup record
Year Round Position GP W L D
France 1954 did not enter
Australia 1957
United Kingdom 1960
Australia New Zealand 1968
United Kingdom 1970
France 1972
AustraliaFrance New ZealandUnited Kingdom 1975
Australia New Zealand 1977
1985-88
1989-92
England 1995
EnglandFranceIrelandWalesScotland 2000
Australia 2008 Failed to Qualify
EnglandWales 2013
AustraliaNew ZealandPapua New Guinea 2017
England 2021
AustraliaPapua New Guinea 2026
Total 0 Titles 0/14 0 0 0 0

European Championship

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European Championship record
Year** Division Round Pos Pld W D L
2007 B Champions 1st 2 2 0 0
2009 A Fifth place 5th 2 0 0 2
2010 B Champions 1st 2 2 0 0
2012-13 B Third place 3rd 6 2 0 4
2014-15 B Champions 1st 6 5 0 1
2018 B Third place 3rd 2 1 1 0
2020 B Champions 1st 2 2 0 0
  Champions    Runners-up    Promoted    Relegated

Balkans Cup

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Balkans Cup record
Year Round Position GP W L D
Serbia 2014 Second place 2/4 2 1 1 0
Serbia 2017 Champions 1/3 2 2 0 0
Turkey 2019 to be determined
Total 1 Titles 2/2 4 3 1 0

Results

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Date Score Opponent Competition Venue Attendance
19 October 2003 0–102  Lebanon 2003 Mediterranean Cup Olympic Stadium, Tripoli
22 October 2003 0–120  France Municipal Stadium, Beirut
25 October 2003 4–58  Morocco Olympic Stadium, Tripoli
18 June 2005 10–26  Netherlands 2005 European Nations Qualifiers FK Radnički Novi Beograd, Belgrade
24 July 2005 44–12  Georgia Dinamo Stadium, Tbilisi 8,000
13 May 2006 10–45  Georgia 2008 World Cup Qualifying – Europe FK Radnički Novi Beograd, Belgrade 500
4 June 2006 6–44  Russia FK Radnički Novi Beograd, Belgrade 500
17 June 2006 26–38  Netherlands , Rotterdam 250
12 August 2006 34–26  Czech Republic 2006 Slavic Cup Ragbyove hřiště v Edenu, Prague
7 July 2007 38–6  Germany 2007 European Shield Fritz-Grunebaum Sportpark, Heidelberg 264
18 August 2007 56–16  Czech Republic FK Radnički Novi Beograd, Belgrade 650
20 September 2008 4–30  Russia 2008 Euro-Med Challenge FK Kabel, Novi Sad 500
5 October 2008 14–20  Lebanon Municipal Stadium, Beirut 1,000
18 October 2009 0–82  Ireland 2009 European Cup Spollanstown, Tullamore 295
25 October 2009 8–88  Wales FK Smederevo Stadium, Smederevo 93
8 November 2009 14–42  Italy Llynfi Road, Maesteg
17 July 2010 56–4  Czech Republic 2010 European Shield – West RK Petrovice, Prague 100
July 2010 40–14  Germany FK Radnički Novi Beograd, Belgrade 300
22 April 2011 90–6  Germany TuS Hochspeyer, Kaiserslautern
30 September 2011 10–4  Ukraine Milan Kosanovic Cup Ada Ciganlija Stadium, Belgrade
16 October 2011 4–96  Lebanon 2013 World Cup Qualifiers - Europe Olympic Stadium, Tripoli
23 October 2011 6–52  Italy Makiš Stadium, Belgrade
29 October 2011 28–36  Russia Makiš Stadium, Belgrade
12 May 2012 24–25  Germany 2012-13 European Shield Fritz-Grunebaum Sportpark, Heidelberg
6 September 2012 24–18  Italy Makiš Stadium, Belgrade 600
22 September 2012 20–21  Russia Nara Stadium, Naro-Fominsk
18 May 2013 46–10  Germany Makiš Stadium, Belgrade
25 May 2013 10–24  Russia Makiš Stadium, Belgrade
14 September 2013 20–32  Italy Stadio Augusteo, Este
17 May 2014 40–14  Ukraine 2014–15 Rugby League European Championship B Železničar Stadium, Niš 750
21 June 2014 6–20  Russia Nara Stadium, Naro-Fominsk
10 September 2014 45–6  Italy Makiš Stadium, Belgrade
17 October 2014 50–0  Hungary 2014 Balkans Cup Makiš Stadium, Belgrade
19 October 2014 50–22  Greece Makiš Stadium, Belgrade
16 May 2015 20–15  Russia 2014–15 Rugby League European Championship B Makiš Stadium, Belgrade
22 May 2015 8–68  France Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan
20 June 2015 21–14  Italy 2014–15 Rugby League European Championship B Stadio comunale di Tegilo Veneto, Gemona del Friuli
12 September 2015 64–4  Ukraine Avanhard Stadium, Uzhhorod
5 February 2016 12–18  Philippines New Era Stadium, Cabramatta
24 September 2016 64–4  Spain Quatre Carreres, Valencia
15 October 2016 0–50  Wales
22 October 2016 14–62  Italy Makiš Stadium, Belgrade
8 October 2017 50–8  Greece , Belgrade
8 October 2017 50–20  Bulgaria FC Heroj Polet, Belgrade
13 October 2018 18–36  Russia , Moscow
20 October 2018 24–20  Spain , Belgrade
26 October 2019 0–86  Scotland Lochinch Sports Ground, Glasgow
9 November 2019 6–82  Greece Makiš Stadium, Belgrade
6 June 2021 50–4  Bosnia and Herzegovina 2021 Serbia tour of the Balkans Bosnia and Herzegovina NK Rijeka, Vitez
19 June 2021 28–16  Bulgaria Bulgaria FC Trebich, Sofia
27 June 2021 22–12  Montenegro Montenegro FK Arsenal Stadium, Tivat
4 July 2021 22–12  Albania Albania Kompleksi Zmijani, Shkodër ≈100
3 October 2021 66–10  Russia 2021 European Championship B Serbia City Stadium, Paraćin ≈500
9 October 2021 54–18  Ukraine Serbia FK Heroj Polet, Belgrade ≈150
13 May 2023 40–6  Greece Friendly Greece Nea Smyrni Stadium, Athens ≈1,000
27 May 2023 52–4  Italy Friendly Italy Rugby Club Pasian di Prato, Udine
26 August 2023 28–16  Czech Republic Friendly Czech Republic Městský Stadion, Krupka
25 September 2023 10–78  France Friendly Serbia FC Obilic, Belgrade
14 October 2023 10–40  Netherlands Friendly Netherlands RC Zwolle, Zwolle
17 February 2024 52–34  Montenegro Friendly Serbia Stadion u Parku, Tivat
28 September 2024 6–52  Netherlands Friendly Serbia FC Masinac, Niš
22 October 2024 0–48  Wales 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers France Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne
26 October 2024 50–10  Ukraine Friendly France Stade Municipal, Saint-Estève

IRL Rankings

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IRL Men's World Rankings
Official rankings as of December 2024
Rank Change Team Pts %
1 Steady  Australia 100
2 Steady  New Zealand 86
3 Steady  England 84
4 Increase 1  Tonga 63
5 Decrease 1  Samoa 54
6 Increase 1  Papua New Guinea 53
7 Decrease 1  Fiji 44
8 Steady  France 30
9 Increase 2  Serbia 23
10 Steady  Cook Islands 22
11 Increase 1  Netherlands 22
12 Increase 5  Wales 18
13 Increase 2  Malta 17
14 Increase 6  Ukraine 13
15 Decrease 1  Greece 12
16 Decrease 7  Lebanon 12
17 Decrease 4  Italy 11
18 Decrease 2  Ireland 9
19 Decrease 1  Jamaica 8
20 Increase 1  Czech Republic 8
21 Increase 2  Chile 8
22 Decrease 3  Scotland 7
23 Increase 4  Philippines 7
24 Increase 7  United States 7
25 Decrease 1  Poland 5
26 Increase 2  South Africa 5
27 Decrease 5  Germany 5
28 Decrease 3  Norway 5
29 Increase 4  Brazil 4
30 Decrease 4  Kenya 4
31 Increase 10  Canada 4
32 Steady  Montenegro 4
33 Increase 2  North Macedonia 3
34 Increase 15  Argentina 3
35 Increase 5  Albania 2
36 Steady  Bulgaria 2
37 Decrease 7  Ghana 2
38 Decrease 9  Nigeria 2
39 Decrease 5  Turkey 1
40 Decrease 3  Cameroon 1
41 Decrease 2  Japan 1
42 Decrease 4  Spain 1
43 Decrease 1  Colombia 1
44 Decrease 1  El Salvador 0
45 Steady  Russia 0
46 Increase 1  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
47 Increase 3  Hong Kong 0
48 Increase 3  Solomon Islands 0
49 Increase 8  Vanuatu 0
50 Steady  Niue 0
51 Decrease 1  Latvia 0
52 Increase 2  Denmark 0
53 Increase 2  Belgium 0
54 Decrease 4  Estonia 0
55 Decrease 9  Sweden 0
56 Decrease 12  Morocco 0
48 Decrease 9  Hungary 0
Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "RLEF." www.RLEF.eu.com. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  2. ^ "RLEF." www.RLEF.eu.com. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Wales to take on Serbia in Llanelli". WalesRugbyLeague.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  4. ^ "RLEF." www.RLEF.eu.com. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Wales overcome Serbia in World Cup Qualifier - Total Rugby League". TotalRL.com. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  6. ^ "RLEF." www.RLEF.eu.com. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  7. ^ "15 година Рагби 13 федерације Србије - www.ragbiliga.rs". RagbiLiga.rs. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Head to Head". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 14 January 2021.


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