WHEN Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka took the first Fiji team to the World Sevens in 1992, there was no rugby league at all in the island nation. When Skipper Nuilevu arrived in Sacramento 26 years later as a first generation domestic Fijian rugby league player, there was none there either. So like the General, he started it. “The club started back in…
SUCH is the scope of rugby league’s gathering of the tribes in Las Vegas this week that when Matty Barron coached Ontario Ospreys to victory in the women’s division of the NRL Nines, the man who introduced him to rugby league in north-east England 25 years ago just happened to be in the crowd. The Ospreys downed fellow Canadians BC…
CAPTAIN-coach or player-coach is a dying – but still present – role in rugby league. But player-CEO? Former Queensland State of Origin star and England international Chris McQueen made his return to playing yesterday at the Las Vegas Nines, representing Brooklyn Kings. He almost played for the Kings when the ill-fated NARL was floated a couple of years ago. Now…
DUTCH club the Pitbulls have confirmed the date of this year’s Rotterdam Nines. One of Europe’s longest-running Nines tournaments, the event will be held on April 24. The Rotterdam Nines, drawing teams from across the continent, has been running since 2003. European Rugby League has announced that applications to compete have opened with interested clubs invited to contact the host…
NORWAY Rugby League has issued an open invitation to overseas teams for what it promises to be its “biggest ever Nines” in June. The Haugesund Nines are being staged on the first of the month for the Alt Heis Cup in what Norway tourism describes as the “home of the Viking kings”. “Still room for more teams … easy access…
AVATIU Eels have successfully defended their Rarotonga title with the slenderest of victories over Tupapa Panthers in a gripping final of the year’s first Nines tournament. Clive Nicholas’ men edged out the Panthers 14-13 at the end of two days play at the National Stadium, where New Zealand visitors Raukawa Kukis lifted the women’s title with a 21-4 win over…
THE Las Vegas Nines, to be run by the NRL next month, may become a global event in future years, feeding spectator numbers at the annual premiership double-header there. The Australasian league has signed a five year deal with local authorities to take two matches annually to the so-called entertainment capital of the world. The Nines tournament is later add-on…
NEW Zealand team Raukawa Kukis stunned the local sides on day one of the Rarotonga tour stop in the women’s division. The team, made up of New Zealand-based Cook Islanders, swept all before them on an unbeaten run which included defending champions Taupapa. The cup holders in the men’s division, Avatui Eels, were also undefeated. They downed Ngatangiia Matavera Sea…
