Norway national rugby league team
| ||||||
| Team information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Vikings | |||||
| Governing body | Norway Rugby League | |||||
| Region | Europe | |||||
| Head coach | Craig West | |||||
| Captain | Kristoffer Milligan | |||||
| IRL ranking | 26th | |||||
| Team results | ||||||
| First game | ||||||
 Norway 0-24 GB Pioneers  (Oslo, Norway; 4 July 2009) | ||||||
| Biggest win | ||||||
Norway 32-28 Germany  (Bislett Stadion, Oslo; 9 July 2011) | ||||||
| Biggest defeat | ||||||
 Malta 64-24 Norway (Gianni Bencini Ground, Pembroke, Malta; 2 September 2011) | ||||||
Despite only experiencing their foundation year of rugby league in 2008, Rugby League in Norway has dramatically escalated through junior and amateur level. There is a 6 team premier competition and several development cups. They are recognised by the Rugby League International Federation as having affiliate status.
For more Norwegian stats, news, team results and more visit Norway's RLEF Page.
History
In February 2008, Norway were granted official observer status by the Rugby League European Federation despite being unranked at this point. This was not the only major point of development in the year, as a committee was formed, based in capital city Oslo, with the aim of developing the game all over the country.[1]
Current squad
- Magnus Sundsfjord,(Bodø Barbarians)
- Steven Larsen,(Farsund Bocats)
- Harald Mikalsen, (Farsund Bobcats)
- Stephen Skofteland, (Farsund Bobcats)
- Sebastian Salvesen, (Farsund Bobcats)
- Leif Andreas Nilsen, (Farsund Bobcats)
- Svein Åge Breimoen,(Flekkefjord Tigers)
- Kristoffer Milligan, (Flekkefjord Tigers)
- Kim André Seglem (Flekkefjord Tigers)
- Reidar Flage,(Lillestrøm Lions)
- Eric "Sonny" Mellor, (Lillestrøm Lions)
- Carl Henrik Kvistaas (Lillestrøm Lions)
- Jørgen Lund Schmidt (Lillestrøm Lions)
- Joshua Skidmore Hornby (Lillestrøm Lions)
- Cam Leslie, (Oslo Capitals)
- Isaac Schmidt, (Oslo Capitals)
- Andreas Thorsen,(Oslo Capitals)
- Callum Sullivan, (Oslo Capitals)
- Kevin Båtnes,(Porsgrunn Pirates)
- Chris Stalsberg,(Porsgrunn Pirates)
- Kristian Paulsen, (Porsgrunn Pirates)
- Nils Kristian Holte (Porsgrunn Pirates)
- Peder Jaaval Hansen (Trondheim RK)
- Tommy Johansen, (Trondheim RK)
- Stephen Stepanek Mwikaria, (Trondheim Rugbyklubb)
- Manager: Anne C Haigh
- Coach: Craig West
| Official rankings as of 21 December 2023 | |||
| Rank | Change | Team | Pts % |
| 1 |  |
 Australia |
100.00 |
| 2 | |
 New Zealand |
91.00 |
| 3 |  1 |
 England |
74.00 |
| 4 |  1 |
 Samoa |
70.00 |
| 5 | |
 Tonga |
54.00 |
| 6 | |
 Papua New Guinea |
50.00 |
| 7 | |
 Fiji |
49.00 |
| 8 | 1 |
 France |
24.00 |
| 9 | 1 |
 Lebanon |
24.00 |
| 10 | 3 |
 Cook Islands |
22.00 |
| 11 | 1 |
 Serbia |
19.00 |
| 12 | 6 |
 Netherlands |
17.00 |
| 13 | 1 |
 Italy |
15.00 |
| 14 | 5 |
Malta |
15.00 |
| 15 | 1 |
 Greece |
14.00 |
| 16 | 4 |
 Ireland |
14.00 |
| 17 | 6 |
 Wales |
13.00 |
| 18 | 3 |
 Jamaica |
10.00 |
| 19 | 2 |
 Scotland |
9.00 |
| 20 | 8 |
 Ukraine |
7.00 |
| 21 | 6 |
 Czech Republic |
7.00 |
| 22 | 1 |
Germany |
6.00 |
| 23 | 10 |
 Philippines |
6.00 |
| 24 | 5 |
 Poland |
6.00 |
| 25 | 1 |
 South Africa |
5.00 |
| 26 | 4 |
 Chile |
5.00 |
| 27 | 4 |
 Kenya |
0.00 |
| 28 | 6 |
Norway |
4.00 |
| 29 | 6 |
 Nigeria |
4.00 |
| 30 | 6 |
 Ghana |
4.00 |
| 31 | 6 |
 Brazil |
4.00 |
| 32 | 12 |
 Turkey |
3.00 |
| 33 | 4 |
 United States |
3.00 |
| 34 | 1 |
 Bulgaria |
3.00 |
| 35 | 5 |
 Cameroon |
2.00 |
| 36 | 2 |
 Montenegro |
2.00 |
| 37 | 5 |
 Spain |
2.00 |
| 38 | 6 |
 Japan |
1.00 |
| 39 |  |
 Albania |
1.00 |
| 40 | 4 |
 Colombia |
1.00 |
| 41 | 6 |
 El Salvador |
1.00 |
| 42 | |
 North Macedonia |
1.00 |
| 43 | 1 |
 Morocco |
1.00 |
| 44 | 3 |
 Sweden |
0.00 |
| 45 | |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
0.00 |
| 46 | 3 |
 Canada |
0.00 |
| 47 | |
 Niue |
0.00 |
| 48 | 9 |
 Solomon Islands |
0.00 |
| 49 | 1 |
 Belgium |
0.00 |
| 50 | 10 |
 Hungary |
0.00 |
| 51 | 5 |
 Vanuatu |
0.00 |
| 52 | 3 |
 Argentina |
0.00 |
| 53 | 3 |
 Denmark |
0.00 |
| 54 | 3 |
 Latvia |
0.00 |
| 55 | |
 Estonia |
0.00 |
| Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT | |||
Rugby League Norway
In 2009, Rugby League Norway was formed as an opportunity for a national competition was seen. Warren Heilig saw and organised this opportunity as the standard of Rugby Union in the nation was limited to one tier of competition. So, less experienced players could only have limited game time. Heilig had the idea that these less experienced players from big union clubs should try second-tier rugby league. This ensured that league had an advantage over union in that there was a much wider range of age and standard of play. It was also easier to learn - so Rugby League Norway no longer needed to rely on ex-union players and could attract more local junior, youth and amateur players to the game.[1]
Rugby League clubs in Norway -
- Flekkefjord Tigers
- Farsund Bobcats
- Sandnes Raiders
- Kristiansand Krusaders
- Porsgrunn Pirates
- Flisbyen Broncos
- Oslo Capitals
- Trondheim RK
- Bodø Barbarians
- Sandnes Raiders
All-time Results Record
| Team | First Played | Played | Win | Draw | Loss | Points For | Points Against | Last Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark |
2009 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 70 | 60 | 2014 |
| Malta |
2010 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 44 | 94 | 2011 |
| Sweden |
2010 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 90 | 94 | 2014 |
| Germany |
2011 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 28 | 2011 |
| Ukraine |
2013 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 42 | 2013 |
| Czech Republic |
2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 14 | 2013 |
 Thailand |
2014 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 46 | 2014 |
Competitions
Norway's maiden Rugby League event was the "Scandinavia Cup", which was held in Oslo, Norway between 30 and 31 May 2009 [3] and played under 9's rules.[4] Norway played Great Britain Pioneers in their first representative match on 5 July 2009 in Oslo which the visitors won 24 - 0.[5][6] Norway played their first international on 22 August 2009, against Denmark in Copenhagen and won 28 - 26.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Norway Rugby League Planet". Rugby League Planet. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "All Go In Norway". Last Tackle. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "RLEF". RLEF. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
- ^ "Pioneers Triumph but Norway Emerge With Credit". RLEF. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
- ^ "Norway Match a Great Successt". lastackle.com. 5 July 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
External links
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