Portugal national rugby league team

Infobox rugby league nation
Name = Portugal
Badge =
Badge_size =
Nickname = The Roosters ("Os Galos")
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leftarm1 = CE1126
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socks1 = 3D8E33|
Association = Portuguese Rugby League Association
Region = Europe
Coach = flagicon|Australia Mal Speers
Captain = flagicon|PortugalIsaac De Gois
Most caps =
Top scorer =
Home Stadium =
RLIF Rank = unranked


First game = flagicon|Fiji Fiji A 40 - 4 Portugal flagicon|Portugal (8 October 2005)
Largest win = flagicon|Portugal Portugal 28-16 flagicon|Japan Japan (6 February 2008)
Largest loss = flagicon|Portugal Portugal 12-56 flagicon|Malta Malta (6 October 2007)
World cup apps =
World cup first =
World cup best =

The Portuguese Rugby League Association (PRLA) is responsible for the promotion and development of rugby league within the Portuguese community in Australia. Based in Marrickville, Sydney, the PRLA has established sporting links with the rugby union in Portugal and other Portuguese communities in France and South Africa. The captain of the team is Cronulla Sharks hooker Isaac de Gois.

History

The Portuguese Rugby League Association (PRLA) was established in January 2005. Based in Marrickville, Sydney, Australia, the founder of the PRLA is an Australian born rugby league supporter, who married into a Portuguese family.

The first meeting of the PRLA was held at the Henson Park Hotel on early September 2005 and was attended by players who would form the nucleus of the team for the first match.

Portugal's first match was played against Fiji A, one month later, at Granville Park, on Saturday 8th October, 2005, as part of the Fiji National Day Celebrations.

The team was captained by Isaac De Gois, featuring his brothers Eric and Aaron, as well as their cousin, Fabio De Gois. Born in Madeira, Portugal, Fabio was playing his first match of rugby league.

Ivan Pacho has the honour of scoring Portugal's first try, in the 40-4 loss.

In 2006, the PRLA entered the team in two sevens tournaments (VB Sevens @ St Marys and the Illawarra Sevens in Wollongong) as well as accepting an offer to play against touring teams from Britain (Great Britain Armed Forces and the British Royal Armoured Corps).

In 2007, Portugal's featured in the VB Sevens at St Marys in February and in October, an International friendly against Malta.

In April 2007, PRLA Executive met with the officals from the Portuguese Rugby Union, who were in Australia for the IRB World Sevens Rugby Tournament. The meeting proved fruitful, with a sporting alliance being established between the two codes.

In February 2008, Portugal competed in the International Nines at Cabramatta and the Illawarra Sevens as well as an International friendly against Japan in Sydney.

Future plans

The PRLA has set a Development program for rugby league players aged 14 to 16. The program is aimed at identifying Portuguese rugby league players and providing them with an opportunity to play rugby league for Portugal in Junior Rugby League matches and tournaments.

In Australia, participation in sevens tournaments and international matches against local and touring teams during the rugby league off-season, from October to February.

Overseas, development opportunities in Portugal and other Portuguese communities, worldwide.

Plans are underway for an overseas rugby league tour to South Africa in 2010. This tour will see rugby league/union players from Australia, France and Portugal come together for the historic tour. They will be joined by players from South Africa.

It is expected this tour will be in May 2010.

There are also other options for the Portuguese Rugby League, including future tournaments in Portugal before heading to Italy for their annual Nines tournament.

Participation in future rugby league World Cup qualifiers will occur once the rugby league is established in Portugal.

Portugal will be part of the European Division in World Cup Rugby League qualifiers.

Results

*Portugal defeated Japan 28-16 February 6,2008
*Malta defeated Portugal 56-12 October 6,2007
*British Royal Armoured Corps defeated Portugal 17-8, October 12,2006
*Great Britain Armed Forces defeated Portugal 66-6, April 21,2006
*Fiji defeated Portugal 40 - 4, October 8, 2005

External links

* [http://www.portugueserugbyleague.com/ The Portuguese Rugby League Association]
* [http://www.catholicweekly.com.au/article.php?classID=3&subclassID=27&articleID=1370&class=Features&subclass=Sport/ Report of the First Match]