EUROPEAN Rugby League’s Under 19s championship, held last year in Serbia, will expand significantly when it moves to France next year.
The ERL has announced Norway and Greece will take part for the first time while Ireland and Wales will return, competing for the first time since 2022.
Next year’s tournament will be staged at the Center de Ressources, d’Expertise et de Performance Sportive (CREPS), Font Romeu in the Catalonian Pyrenees from July 10 to 19 – meaning the tournament will be played over a longer period than in Belgrade, too.
Interestingly, the United States will again compete too – despite a falling-out between the USARL and the Utah group which fielded last year’s team.
Those already mentioned will be joined by champions England, France, Scotland, Serbia and Ukraine.
Rugby League Norge president Anne Haigh was quoted in an ERL statement as saying: “We have been developing our youth program for some time and played several games at both U16s and U19s already.
“It is time that we tested ourselves in a competitive environment and give our youth players the opportunity to experience such big a tournament. We’re very much looking forward to traveling to France and being part of the event.”
Greece’s Terry Liberopoulos was also quoted. He said: “We are aiming to further progress and become full members of International Rugby League. And a key part depends on the growth of our youth program. Having the opportunity to represent their country will be a massive motivator for the young people playing rugby league in Greece.”