The Hellenic Federation of Rugby League’s second domestic season kicked off at the weekend, with the five first division teams in action and a second division taking place beneath the premier competition.

In the opening round AEK Kokkinias, led by national team coach Matthew Ashill, defeated last season’s runners up Aris Petroupolis 44-26, while defending champions Rhodes Knights crushed Athenians Pegasus Neos Kosmos  46-0 despite heavy rain in the Dodecanese and Pyrrihios Aspropyrgou had the bye.

Ashill commented of his charges: “It was probably the best domestic game we've seen so far in Greece between two great teams, played in front of 200 spectators, most of them watching a rugby league match for the first time. The level has risen sharply and everyone involved in the Greek Rugby League deserves congratulations”.

The Greeks will use the early games in the championship to select the national squad which will play the Czech Republic in Athens on 11 October in the final match of European Championship C.