On their return from the Armed Forces World Cup, where they improved with each group game and won a host of admirers inside and out of Colchester Garrison, the Serbian Army rugby league squad have been hosted at an official reception at the Military Academy in Belgrade.

The head of the Academy, Major-General Mladen Vuruna said that the historic participation stressed the importance of sport in the Serbian Army and said that rugby league was a fine example of what could be achieved. Vuruna also pointed out that without support of the British Embassy in Belgrade and the British Ministry of Defence, the trip would not have gone ahead and thanked them for their help and guidance.  

Jovan Vujosevic, Rugby League European Federation Regional Director commented, “This is a great example of the cooperation between a rugby league governing body and the military. As a result, we hope that we will have more Serbian Army international activities in 2014. Also, on behalf of the Serbian Rugby League Federation, I would especially like to pay tribute to British military attaché, Colonel William English. His support was essential in getting Serbia to the World Cup”.