Serbia became the second nation, after Italy, to graduate from the Rugby League European Federation Technical Strategy following completion of a two-day Phase 3 Coaching course, which was run concurrently with the U18s festival in Belgrade at the weekend. Serbian tutors Marko Janković and Dragan Radlović, under the scrutiny of RLEF Coaching Manager Martin Crick, delivered an RLEF Level 1 Coaching Course in the five-star football academy at Stara Pazova, with 14 new coaches earning their diplomas.

’’The enthusiasm for the game of all those present, and their desire to learn, was highly impressive,“ said Crick. “The sport in Serbia is making massive strides – on the same weekend the Serbian U16 squad were also in camp preparing for their forthcoming game with Germany. I’m very satisfied with what I saw,“ continued Crick. ’’The candidates showed great enthusiasm and potential. They took active part in discussion and asked good questions. Special credit goes to the tutors, who excelled.’’

The level one coaches who passed the course came from almost all of the Serbian clubs and three from Republika Srpska, where they are leading on the development of rugby league in the Serb enclave and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Crick concluded. “In what other sport would you get an Orthodox priest, a doctor of philosophy and a night club bouncer all on the same pitch at the same time!’’