Greece at the Rugby League World Cup

About Greece in rugby league

Greece qualified for its first ever Rugby League World Cup in November 2019, a milestone widely covered in the Australian-Greek press given how precarious organised rugby league's legal status inside Greece itself still was at the time. The Greek Rugby League Association (GRLA) had only formed in 2017, after an earlier governing body was expelled from European rugby league altogether, and for several years afterward Greek government recognition remained tied up with a rival modern-pentathlon federation — meaning matches held under the GRLA were technically illegal under Greek law, and forcing the national side to play home fixtures outside the country or in secret. That legal limbo only ended in August 2022, when the GRLA finally won official national-federation status from the Greek government, clearing the way for a legitimate home international a few months later. Like several of the tournament's newer nations, Greece's squad is drawn mainly from Greek-heritage players based in Australia, led at the 2021/2022 World Cup by captain Jordan Meads under head coach Steve Georgallis. Greece's World Cup debut came on 17 October 2022 at Doncaster's Eco-Power Stadium against France, who led 20-0 at halftime before Greece rallied in the second half: Siteni Taukomo scored the country's first ever World Cup try in the 57th minute from a Meads assist, and Nick Mougios added a second in the final minute, as Greece finished with a respectable 34-12 scoreline against an established rugby league nation. Georgallis said afterward he 'couldn't be more proud' of a squad for whom representing Greece carried real, deep personal and cultural significance well beyond the result itself on the day.

Sources

• Greece makes proud debut at Rugby League World Cup despite loss to France — The Greek Herald
• Greek Rugby League Association — Wikipedia
• Greece qualifies for 2021 Rugby League World Cup for the first time — Neos Kosmos