Delegates from Malta, Serbia, Norway and Hungary congregated in Budapest for a five-day coaching seminar, led by RLEF Coaching Manager Martin Crick, as part of the European Union-backed Training and Education Portal project.
Gyula Herpai, Balint Mezes and Michael Hay, a former Montpellier RLFC player now residing in Budapest, all qualified as Level 1 Coach Educators and will now pursue professional development programmes under the guidance of their cluster mentor Serbia and the RLEF. Hungarian Rugby League Federation official Zsolt Lukacs said: “We had a very successful time and we improved massively after this activity and made vital new international connections.”
The Hungarian trio was joined by Serbia's Slobodan Manak and Dragan Radlovic, Malta's Sam Blyton-Keep and Norway's David Hunter and Isaac Schmidt. Seven Hungarian coaches attended the course, with four receiving their Level 1 qualification. The remaining three have been put on action plans.
Hunter, a Rugby League Norge Level 1 Coach Educator, added: “Although the Hungarians are definitely in a starting up phase, they have an excellent group of guys looking to grow the game there. All of the participants were enthusiastic and willing, even when delivering instructions in the wind and rain. This trip was an excellent opportunity to talk to the Maltese, Serbs and Hungarians about the challenges of growing rugby league in our respective countries. The conversations we had in the evenings were equally invaluable. I am definitely more motivated to make a difference in Norway.”
Malta Rugby League’s Sam Blyton-Keep noted: “I can see a lot of potential, the whole course was fun and efficient, it was a great experience.”
The TEP is a three-year, €723.000 investment into capacity building through good governance and technical training, funded by €466.000 from the EU’s Erasmus+ project and the remainder from the RLIF and five of its full members. It is intended to build the knowledge and skills of the RLEF’s 21 European members through high quality training and mentoring.
Pictured: Martin Crick oversees a Hungarian candidate delivering a skill on Margaret's Island.