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Last Game Greece 22 - Malta 24
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Let The Battle Begin Greece Vs Italy |
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The historic international match between Greece and Italy will come to fruition when both teams run out onto Oki Jubilee (Kogarah) Oval on September 27.
Months of planning have gone into getting the game to become a reality with officials from both Greek and Italian Rugby League working overtime.
Some people have asked why Greece featuring Greek-Australians are playing Italy featuring Italian-Australians.
"The Italians have already played matches in Italy featuring local players and are planning a four-team competition next season. That all started from Sydney when Italy entered the World Sevens in 1995" said Rugby League International Development Officer Tas Baitieri.
The same applies to the Greeks who will use the resources from Australia to take the game to Greece.
"We would love to have Greeks from back home start the game on their own accord but there isn't any Rugby Union which means that nobody knows anything about Rugby League. We have to drum up support here and then plant the seeds in Greece" said Greek Rugby League founder Colin Mylonas.
"The long term aim is to play the game in Greece. It is as simple as that. Nothing more nothing less. Everyone wearing the Greek jersey will be making history."
Greece are following the lead of Lebanon who have introduced a regular competition in Beirut after Lebanon made their international debut in the 1997 World Sevens in Sydney.
The Greek Rugby League has compiled a list of players and officials to help them in their bid to start Rugby League in Greece.
Greece Held a trial match against New Caledonia and NSW Students Opens on August 31 with a view for coach Steve Georgallis to cast his eyes on the talent available.
Official training will commence on September 10th at Norford Park but players that fail to make the final 17 for the match against Italy will not be left out.
"Everybody will get the chance to be involved. We have other matches that we will be playing and it will give many of the participants the opportunity to play" said Mylonas
Future matches include playing in the World Sevens qualifiers in January/February 2004, the Wollongong Sevens in February 2004 and a tour of New Caledonia in February/March 2004.
The tour of New Caledonia will include coaching and referee clinics to help the development of the game in the South Pacific island.
The Greek Rugby League is looking at heading to Greece in 2005 to stage a tournament that could involve as many as eight nations.
Serbia, Italy, France, Russia, Greece, Lebanon, Scotland and Holland could well be featuring in the first ever Rugby League match to be played in Greece.
The next stage would be to set up a club competition which would most likely be run in conjuction with the Universities.
Colin Mylonas and Terry Liberopoulos will be travelling to Greece later this season to make contact with Greek Australians that are now living in Greece.
"That way they know what Rugby League is because it is not shown on television and Greeks that have never been to Australia wouldn't have a clue" said Mylonas.
"It is still early days at the moment but we are going over there to see what our options are."
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