THE PERILS OF LEAGUE IN RUSSIA
For the first time at the World Youth Games, rugby league was included as
a demonstration sport. Three Australian Under 16 teams competed:
Queensland, NSW Blue and NSW Gold. Queensland beat the ARL Academy
Gold team 20-10 in the grand final to win the gold medal.
Ten Queenslanders were in the Australian U16 team which beat Russia 52-10.
The losing team was sacked by President Yeltsin.
Queensland team manager and QRL coaching director Dennis Ward reports
there are two distinct league bodies in Russia: the Euro-Asia (Super?) League
and the Russian (ARL?) League --- believe it or not.
Dennis also says there is a ‘State of Origin’ rivalry between Moscow and Georgia.
A ‘blue’ broke out during their match, with spectators and a coach racing into the fray.
Thankfully, it could never happen here ....... could it, folks?