The European Rugby League (ERL) has sanctioned the launch of the first official European Beach Rugby League Championships that will be held in Turkey in the summer of 2022.

The ERL is partnering with Turkish agency Melonise in the delivery of the inaugural championships. Melonise will also lead on the commercial sales for the project, working in collaboration with the ERL. 

As the championship grows the ERL and Melonise plan to expand the annual event to a series of city events that will crown a European Champion in men’s and women’s Beach Rugby League. 

Negotiations are currently on-going with Turkish cities and venues for the 2022 championship with more details to be announced soon. 

The Turkish Rugby League Association (TRLA) has hosted a number of Beach Rugby club events, most recently in July in Kadikoy, Istanbul. The TRLA is hosting European Championships D in October – Turkey, Malta, Czech Republic and Netherlands – in Bodrum.

Gurol Yildiz, President of the TRLA and a director of Melonise, said: “Our Beach Rugby League events have been a great success and attracted international participation. We are proud to be able to bring the first official European Beach Rugby League Championship to our country in 2022.

Paul Nicholson, board director of the ERL, commented: “The European Beach Rugby League Championships are an exciting new initiative and we hope our federations will embrace the playing opportunity as we seek to build a brand new series of European Rugby League events.

“These have obviously been difficult times and not helped by the disappointing last minute postponement of the Rugby League World Cup which has impacted all our championships significantly. However, it has not impacted the desire or commitment of our federations to develop and play the game of Rugby League in the Northern Hemisphere. In that regard we welcome the new European Beach Rugby League Championships and look forward to welcoming new media and commercial partners to our game. We are confident that with our Turkish partners we will deliver a spectacular and positive addition to European Rugby League’s calendar.”

For more information contact: [email protected]