The Hellenic Federation of Rugby League has released the fixtures for the inaugural Greek club championship, due to kick off this weekend. Promitheas Rendi, AEK Kokkinias, Pegasus Neos Kosmos, Aris Petroupolis and Rhodes Knights will take part in the club championship.

A sixth club, Neapoli, will play fixtures against second XIIIs from the Aris and Pegasus clubs, in a sign of the growing participant interest in rugby league and the HFRL’s effective recruitment strategy. A transport sponsor has been acquired to support the championship logistics costs, especially the various trips to the island of Rhodes, 650km from Athens.

"Last year we played a three-team 9s championship and a national 9s cup,” said Tasos Pantazidis, president of the HFRL. “We played 15 matches including one 13-a-side match. It was a good test for the clubs involved. With that experience and 100% more players, we can now run a 13-a-side championship. We believe that it is going to be a successful one. Building strong structures with small but stable steps is the only way to succeed."

In other news, since obtaining its official status under Greek law, the HFRL general assembly met on 21 September to elect its board. The HFRL’s Australian-based contingent, including head coach Steve Georgallis, who has been visiting Greece to contribute to the small rugby league scene there for many years, and new national team recruit, Braith Anasta (pictured). The Greek national team is due to play Hungary in a full Test match on 27 October.