The Czech Rugby League Association (CZRLA) successfully launched the RLEF’s new EU-backed Training and Education Portal, playing host to delegates from England and Sweden as well as rugby league teams from Poland and Hungary.

The RLEF’s Phil Smith and Guido Bonatti led the activity, with Svensk Rugby League Forening match official leaders Paris Ghavidel-Asgari and Rajendra Shah joining Czech Level 1 Educator candidates Ondrej Preininger, Jaroslav Bzoch and Lukas Hergott for the four-day course.

“It was pleasing to revisit the Czech Republic after two years and to see the progress made,” said Smith. “It was good to see nine Czech attendees on the course who displayed sound knowledge of the laws and were able to demonstrate their skills by officiating in the pre-season 9s the following day.”

Hungary won the 2016 Czech 9s tournament held in Chrudim. The event featured eight teams from the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland; the Magyars defeating Krupka 10-4 in the final.

CZRLA Level 1 Educator Jaroslav Bzoch noted: “I was really happy with the whole course. We saw some new referees in action in the 9s tournament and they did well and that is a big success for our association.”

The Level 1 course graduates were shadowed by the educator personnel. One of them, Honza Heininger, said: “The course was fantastic. I have been wanting to become a referee and this course just made me a hundred per cent sure that I want to do it.”

The TEP has received €466.000 from the EU’s Erasmus+ project. It is intended to build the capacity of the RLEF’s European members through high quality training and mentoring.