Eastern European rugby league has received a major boost with the announcement in Kiev that the Ukrainian Ministry of Education, Science, Youth and Sport has granted the game full recognition after several months of consultations with the Ukrainian Federation of Rugby League.

“We have made history,” enthused UFRL vice president Artur Martyrosyan. “We have waited for this moment for so long, and it is a major victory for our sport and all of European rugby league. But this is just the beginning of a new era for rugby league in Ukraine, the biggest and most important steps await us now.”

Minister Dmytro Tabachnyk made the decision and the UFRL will be eligible for government funding after the end of UEFA’s European Championships – co-hosted by Ukraine – this summer. Rugby league will have full access to state facilities such as gyms, stadia and other complexes.

In addition, the UFRL’s fledgling youth programme, which was launched last year with four schools, will now be eligible to all Ukraine’s schools and institutes of physical education.

Pictured: the Ukrainian Ministry of Education, Science, Youth and Sport.