Author : European Rugby League Media Release

and Canada win opening shield games

Greece and Canada emerged victorious from the first round of European U19s Shield matches, held at the CREPS Font Romeu high performance facility in the Pyrenees, France yesterday (Sunday).

Alex McGrath, who claimed 18 of Greece’s points, and Jonathon Armatas each registered two tries, the Greeks strong in the second half to win 38-22 after Ireland had led 14-6 at the break, Joseph Gill with two of their five tries along with a double from scrum half Finn Maguire.

Fullback Oliver Lenahan led the way for Canada with three tries and five goals on their debut in the competition as they beat Norway 46-32, Kristoffer Gradert with a brace of tries in response, Joshua Silverstone-Utheim with a try and four goals.

Canada head coach, Stephan Lenahan, commented: “We are so happy to be here and grateful for the opportunity for our players to showcase what we’re building in Canada. To get a win in that fashion is an unbelievable experience for the boys and coaching staff.”

Opposite number Joshua Hornby said: “I’m really proud of the boys, they gave everything, they’ve stepped up, really put their hands up and they are going to keep working hard for this tournament.”

Greece 38

Alex McGrath, Bailey-Dean Latanis, Basili Tzitzivakos, Jack Tsokos, Jonathan Siambis, Jonathon Armatas, Kostas Grivas Tzimopoulos, Leo Valdmanis, Lucas Hanmer, Lukas Kontrafouris, Napoleon Mavrovkefalos, Peter Papoulis, Peter Kokontis

Interchanges: Rafael Macovei, Theodoros Tipene, Timur Agostini-Leland, Vasilis Karageorgiou

Tries: McGrath (31, 46), Tzitzivakos (42), Armatas (49, 72), Hanmer (66), Siambis (70)
Goals: McGrath 4/6

Ireland 22

Bobby Barton, Daniel Ridpath, Dominic Greene, Donncha Fee, Eddy Mcgillan, Ethan Whyte, Finn Maguire, Finn Mclaughlin, Harry Knowles, Ieffi Hannan, Jack Brown, Joseph Gill, Matthew Toothill

Interchanges: Michael Walsh, Oisin Carroll, Rhys Morgan, Richie Whelan

Tries: Maguire (7, 16), Gill (34,53), Barton (60)
Goals: Brown 1/4, Whyte 0/1

Referee: Liam Breheny (England)

Half Time: 6-14

Norway 32

Silas Mjølhus, Matias Tjemsland, Kristoffer Gradert, William Giddings, Filip Naparty, Joshua Silverstone-Utheim, Hakon Sivertsen Lauvsnes, Arian Harbas, Tobias Andresen-Langaas, Odinn Numason, Dag Hansen, Trygve Hansen, Theodor Eidsaune Chongdee

Interchanges: Tobias Auno, Filip Boe, Valentine Mjolhus, Iver Sivertsen Lauvsnes

Tries: Gradert (6, 75), Silverstone-Utheim (25), Andresen-Langaas (29), Numason (50), Giddings (65)
Goals: Silverstone-Utheim 4/6

Canada 46

Oliver Lenahan, Wyatt Klasen, Michael Tsoutsis, Jack Shortis, Jacob Williams, Rory Jago, Jack Smart, Brady Nooski, Elliot Barton, Bogdan Dimitrijevic, Tobias Mennie, Alex Paddle, Noah Bolton

Interchanges: Torin Brooks, Dexter Johnson, Alex Dymock, Patricio Asomoza Estrada

Tries: Lenahan (1, 39, 46), Klasen (14), Williams (32, 44), Asomoza Estrada (41), Barton (60), Jago (79)
Goals: Lenaham 5/9

Referee: Craig Davies (Wales)

Half Time: 14-20

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The post Greeca and Canada win opening shield games appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

Author : European Rugby League

European rugby league u19s championship format and fixtures announced

European Rugby League has confirmed the format and fixtures for the biennial U19s European Championship which will take place at the CREPS Font Romeu high performance facility in the Pyrenees, France in July.

A record ten nations will participate, split into two competitions.

The Championship will be contested by England, France, Scotland, Serbia, Ukraine and Wales – the five participants from the 2024 event in Belgrade and Wales who were the next best performing side in the 2022 event having missed the most recent tournament.

Canada together with Greece, Ireland, and Norway, who are all either new or returning after an absence from the tournament, will do battle for the European Shield, with the winner guaranteed promotion to the 2028 event.

Subject to the number of nations applying for that, there may be relegation from this season’s Championship.

“Having ten nations competing has been challenging in terms of formatting and logistics, but it has been a great problem to have, and I’m delighted to see the tournament continuing to grow,” commented ERL chair Dean Andrew.

In the Championship, the nations have been drawn into two groups of three based on results from the previous tournament.

England, as defending champions

England, as defending champions, are the first seed and are joined by Scotland (3) and Serbia (5) in Pool A. Hosts France are in Pool B as the second seed, with Ukraine (4) and Wales (6).

Each will play the three nations in the opposite group, with results merged into one league table and the first placed team awarded the Championship title. The Shield will see each nation play the other once, and the side which leads the league table on conclusion will take the trophy.

The matches will be played over three days, five per day, at the state-of-the-art sporting facility which will also see the squads stay on site.

The hosts open their campaign on Sunday 12 July against Scotland in a repeat of 2024’s feisty semi-final, whilst England face Ukraine in another semi-final repeat and Wales take on Serbia.

Round two

Round two on Wednesday 15 July sees England taking on Wales, Scotland face Ukraine and France do battle with Serbia.

The final round on Saturday 18 July, will see Serbia take on Ukraine and Scotland will be seeking to overturn Wales after losing recent clashes.

The final match will see France take on England in what could be a tournament decider, the previous three encounters between them having a margin of less than seven points.

In Pool B, on day one, Greece will make their debut against Ireland, while Norway come up against Canada, before Greece meet Canada in round two as Norway face Ireland. The final day will see Norway and Greece open the proceedings before Canada and Ireland do battle.

Andrew added: “Several of the nations have told me how important the tournament has been to both inspiring its youth players to work hard and achieve selection, but also to their player pathways into their senior teams.

“Thanks to early organisation by the French Rugby League Federation, we’ve been able to work further in advance to give them all greater preparation time than they have experienced in previous years and I’m very much looking forward to seeing the fruits of that on the field.”

2026 EUROPEAN U19 CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES

Sunday 12 July

Championship

2pm – England v Ukraine

4pm – France v Scotland

6pm – Serbia v Wales

Shield

10am – Greece v Ireland

12pm – Norway v Canada

Wednesday 15 July

Championship

2pm – Scotland v Ukraine

4pm – France v Serbia

6pm – England v Wales

Shield

10am – Norway v Ireland

12pm – Canada v Greece

Saturday 18 July

Championship

2pm – Serbia v Ukraine

4pm – Scotland v Wales

6pm – France v England

Shield

10am – Greece v Norway

12pm – Canada v Ireland

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The post European rugby league u19s championship format and fixtures announced appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

Author : European Rugby League

USA pull out of Euro u18 champ’s

European rugby league u19s championship tournament update

In response to issues beyond their control, the USA Rugby League management has informed European Rugby League of their intention to withdraw from the U19s Championship in France in July. The decision has been accepted by ERL without penalty.

Fortunately Canada have been able to amend their plans to tour Europe with an U19s squad.

Canada will now in the tournament at the Centre de Ressources, d’Expertise et de Performance Sportive (CREPS), Font Romeu in the Catalonian Pyrenees between 10 and 19 July 2026, which will provide them with a more comprehensive schedule and reduced logistics and costs.

“Whilst we are disappointed that USA will not be able to compete in the U19s Championship, I am very pleased that Canada are able to take their place,” said ERL chair Dean Andrew.

USA’s withdrawal has been handled professionally by their management, and we have been able to negotiate that smoothly to offer Canada the vacant space which becomes a great fit for them.

I’m very grateful to John Cameron and his team at CRLA for changing their plans and pleased that ERL is able to contribute to the development of international rugby league across the full scope of its membership.”

A further announcement with the tournament structure and fixtures will be made shortly.

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The post USA pull out of Euro u18 champ’s appeared first on OurFootyTeam.