The six nations competing in the 2024 Rugby League European Championship have arrived in the Serbian capital Belgrade. The tournament opens with quarter-final games tomorrow (Sunday) between Serbia and Ukraine, followed by Scotland versus USA.
Defending champions England’s Community Lions enter at the semi-final stage to take on either Serbia or Ukraine on Wednesday 17 July, while France - favoutites after their recent win over England Academy - will face the winner of Scotland and USA, as they bid to regain the title which they won in 2018. The two losing quarter-finalists will meet in the 5th vs 6th place play-off game.
The final day of competition takes place on Saturday 20 July, with the championship final while the other teams who have not yet met will play in grading games for the 2026 tournament.
“We’re very excited for kick off on Sunday,” said ERL general manager David Butler. “As well as producing some very competitive and entertaining rugby league, the 2022 tournament in Italy also created a sense of friendship and camaraderie between the competing teams and I’m sure that we will see both in good measure this time around in Belgrade. The Serbia Rugby League Federation has worked very hard on the ground to prepare for the tournament, and I am sure that everyone competing is going to enjoy their hospitality.”
USA Young Hawks make their debut at this level with the bulk of their squad coming from the Utah area which is the first to inaugurate domestic youth competition, while Pheonix Death (Mona Vale Raiders) and Ryan Jurkans (Singleton Greyhounds) travel from Australia to represent Ukraine, and Hayden Cumming (Mackay Magpies) and Bailey Schneider (Manly Sea Eagles) will play for Scotland.
All games will be broadcast live on the European Rugby League Facebook Page – www.facebook.com/eurorugbyleague
England
Kean Elms, Joshua Langley (both Blackbrook Royals), Daniel Knott (Dalton), Miller Dalton, Fletcher Holgate (both Hensingham), Alfie Hough (Hindley), Samuel Murtagh (Kells), Joshua Hopkins (Leigh East), Joshua Blinkhorn (Millom), Scott Simmons (Pilkington Recs), Ben Metcalfe (Rochdale Mayfield), Thomass Farren (Roose Pioneers), George Jamieson (Salford City Roosters), Jacob Haigh, Joseph Lewis, Henry Ogden (all Siddal), Harry Baker, Marcus Geener (both Waterhead Warriors), Devan Sharp (Wath Brow), Jack Lawler (West Hull). Head Coach: Gary Hewer.
France
Munico Anthony (Albi RL), Aubry Félix (Carcassonne XIII), Martin Clément, Loris Zammut (both FC Lézignan XIII), Jammes Matis (XIII Limouxin), Lis Alexis (RC Carpentras XIII du Comtat), Aispuro-Bichet Guillermo, Descalzi Gantier Giovanni, Descotes Killian, Gautier Félix, Jimenes-Lopez Matéo, Marc Lenny (all Saint Esteve XIII Catalan), Bonte Rayan, Mouelhi Wassim, Pourchi Baptiste, Rostang Maxime (all SO Avignon XIII), Chiffolleau Trévor, Garrigues Hugo (both Toulouse Olympique), Lettat Mikael (US Entraigues), Mongay Illan (Villeneuve RL XIII). Head Coach: Rémi Casty.
Scotland
Cameron Lewis (Birkenshaw Bluedogs), Seth Clapham (Bradford Bulls), Fraser Macaulay (Bromley Bengals), Frazer Murray (Cockermouth Titans), Joey Clarkson (East Leeds), Oliver Brady, Harry Roper (Emley Moor), Jai Conneraly, Kier Fyfe (both Forth Valley Vikings), Jack Suddick (Hemel Stags), Cameron Cullen (Leigh Leopards), Hayden Cumming, (Mackay Magpies), Bailey Schneider (Manly Sea Eagles), Maxwell Shelton (Newcastle University), Isaac Jepson (Newsome Panthers), Oscar Ellicott-McCulloch (Sherwood Wolf Hunt), Tom Gray (Skirlaugh), Jacob Grierson, Gabriel Lewis (both Siddal), Isaac Reid (Warrington Wolves), Reece Smethhurst (Waterhead Warriors), Alfie Maclean (West Hull), Myles Michael (York Acorn). Head Coach: Leigh Beattie.
Serbia
Luka Stosic (Arsenal Tivat), Danilo Gavrilovic, Leskovac Mateja Stojkovic, Nikola Savic (all Morava Cheetahs Leskovac), Darko Samardzic, Filip Nesic, Filip Samardzic, Jakov Dojcinovic (Partizan 1953), Jovan Loncar (Radnicki New Belgrade), Nikola Mitrovic (Radnicki Nis), Din Duljaj, Edin Mehmedi, Filip Cirkovic, Luka Bojicic, Luka Mirincic, Luka Trifunovic, Mihajlo Markovic, Silver Zenuni, Stefan Andric, Strahinja Milankovic (Red Star), Aleksandar Stojanovic (Siddal). Head Coach: Vladislav Dedic.
Ukraine
Klim Malyshev, Kyrylo Volkov (Kharkiv Legion XIII), Bohdan Mazur (Khmelnytskyi Eagles), Ruslan Lipisii (Kyiv Rhinos), Kostiantyn Tiurin (Lviv Tigers), Phoenix Death (Mono Vale Raiders), Aziz Stepanenko, Ihor Yefanov, Ivan Mazur, Kostiantyn Prydatko, Maksym Harmash (RC Hard Sign), Nazar Shmalko (RC Kryvyi Rih Rugby), Ryan Jurkans (Singleton Greyhounds), Andrii Mordovanets, Arsen Havdo, Maksym Reshetukha, Valerii Popeliuk, Vitalii Bycharskyi (Ternopil Knights), Andrii Hladkyi, Mykhailo Novosad, Vadym Dotsiak (West Giants). Head Coach: Daniel Beardshaw.
USA
Jayde Hansen, Esiloni Malafu (Phoenix), Travis Ha, Cadin Ioane Lidarius, Moananu, Drayson Moliga, Sulusi Satele (All South Jordan Rabbitahz), Chris Malo, Beckham Mcgill, Ethan Ivy (Timpanagos Panthers) Shawlee Ama, Michael Fonua, Isaac Fonua, Ammon Hayley, Siaosi Koloamatangi. Tumua Moors, Simote Manatua, Logan Myers, Kenyo Paea (All Westside Pitbulls). Head Coach: George Tupou.
2024 European Rugby League U19s Fixtures
Sunday 14th July
QF1 - Serbia v Ukraine (4pm)
QF2 - France v Scotland (6pm)
Wednesday 17th July
Loser QF1 v Loser QF2 (2pm)
SF1 – England v Winner QF1 (4pm)
SF2 – France v Winner QF2 (6pm)
Saturday 20th July
Loser SF1 v Loser QF2 (2pm)
Loser SF2 v Loser QF1 (4pm)
Winner SF1 v SF2 (6pm)