Greece women's national rugby league team
The Greece women's national rugby league team represents Greece in women's rugby league football. Founded in 2019 by the Greek Rugby League Association, the team played its first game in September 2019 in a friendly match against Turkey.
| Team information | |
|---|---|
| Governing body | Greek Rugby League Association |
| Region | Europe |
| Head coach | Stuart McLennan |
| Top try-scorer | Velissaria Koutsioumpa (3) |
| Top point-scorer | Velissaria Koutsioumpa (12) |
| IRL ranking | 11th |
| Team results | |
| First game | |
Turkey  40 - 4  Greece (14 September 2019) | |
| Biggest win | |
Greece 28 - 0  Serbia (2 October 2022) | |
| Biggest defeat | |
| Turkey 40 - 4 Greece (14 September 2019) | |
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the politics surrounding the governance of rugby league in Greece the team did not play its first full (as opposed to a friendly) international match until September 2022, when they entered the Southern group of the 2022 Rugby League Women's European Championship B.[1] The first home international match took place at Gorytsa Park field, Aspropyrgos on 2 October 2022.[2]
In January 2023, a team of Australian based players of Greek heritage played an international match in Sydney against the Philippines, under national coach Stuart McLennan.[3][4]
Current squad
Greece based
The following players where named in a squad to play in the 2022 Rugby League Women's European Championship B:[5]
| Player | Position | Club | Debut | Matches | Tries | Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maria Avzoti | Hooker |  Attica Rhinos | 2019 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chrysavgi Bakaloumi | interchange | Attica Rhinos | 2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eirini Dakidi | interchange |  Aris Eagles | 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Maria-Eleni Gkirlemi | Prop | Aris Eagles | 2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sofia-Margarita Kitsaneli | Halfback | Aris Eagles | 2019 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Ourania Koutsikou | Lock |  Rhondda Outlaws | 2019 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Georgia-Fotini Koutsimpogeorgou | Second-row |  Athens City Raiders | 2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Velissaria Koutsioumpa | Wing | Attica Rhinos | 2022 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
| Maria-Anna Lamprou | Prop | Aris Eagles | 2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chrysi Lymperidi | Fullback | Rhondda Outlaws | 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Styliani Markou | Centre | Attica Rhinos | 2022 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Asimina Mastoraki | Wing | Aris Eagles | 2019 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chrysovalanti-Eirini Ntasiou | Prop |  Patras Panthers | 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dimitra Papoutsi | Wing | Patras Panthers | 2019 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Anna Spatharova | Second-row | Athens City Raiders | 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aspasia Stavrianou | Second-row | Athens City Raiders | 2022 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Magdelini Stavrianou | Fullback | Athens City Raiders | 2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kleopatra Velmachou | Centre | Aris Eagles | 2022 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Antonia Voikli | Five-eighth | Attica Rhinos | 2022 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
Australian based
The following Australian based players of Greek heritage represented Greece in the January 2023 international match against the Philippines.[4]
Alexia Foster Papanicolau, Antonia Karias, Taliah Mafi, Angelina Ballas, Ebony Tsoukas, Lavinia Taukamo, Maria Posantzis, Cherish Tseros, Jonaya Bent, Mikayla Tuliatu, Christine Tsougranis, Stella Lellis, Meleanna Waters. Interchange: Jasmin Testa, Lisa Poulakis, Simone Stephen, Stephanie Glumac
Results
Full internationals
| Date | Opponent | Score | Tournament | Venue | Video | Report(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 2019 | Turkey | 4 - 40 | Friendly | Trakya University Ayşekadın Stadium, Edirne | Highlights | [6] |
| 25 Sep 2022 | Turkey | 8 – 4 | 2022 European Championship B | Technical Uni, Istanbul | Full game | [7][8][9] |
| 2 Oct 2022 | Serbia | 28 – 0 | Gorytsa Park Field, Aspropyrgos | 1st half | [10][11] | |
| 28 Jan 2023 |  Philippines | 0 - 38 | International with Australian based players[3] | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Lidcombe Oval, Sydney | — | [4] |
Upcoming Fixtures:
- During 2023 and 2024 Greece are drawn to play the following three teams in Group A of the European Qualifiers for the 2025 Women's Rugby League World Cup.[12] Dates and hosts have been selected but the venues are yet to be announced.[13]
References
- "EUROPEAN RUGBY LEAGUE LAUNCHES WOMEN'S EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS B". europeanrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- "Greece to host Women's Euro B clash in first fixture since ban lifted". Rugby League International Federation. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- "Greek Women's Rugby League team to play Sydney International". Neos Kosmos. 16 Jan 2023. Retrieved 18 Feb 2023.
- "Greece 0 v 38 Philippines - Match report". European Rugby League. 28 Jan 2023. Retrieved 16 Feb 2023.
- Whitelock, Adam (2022-08-22). "Greek Women returning to Turkey on a Rugby League mission". Everything Rugby League. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- Güler, Olgay (14 Sep 2019). "Türkiye Ragbi Kadın Milli Takımı, Yunanistan'ı farklı yendi: 44-4". Demiroren Haber Ajansi. Retrieved 27 Sep 2022.
- Whitelock, Adam (2022-09-27). "Greece women and Turkey men triumph in Istanbul". Everything Rugby League. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- "Tukey 4 v 8 Greece - Match Report". European Rugby League. 25 Sep 2022. Retrieved 27 Sep 2022.
- Skolarikis, Tom (25 Sep 2022). "Greek women beat Turkey in Rugby League Test". Greek City Times. Retrieved 27 Sep 2022.
- "Greece 28 v 0 Serbia". europeanrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- "Women's Greek Rugby League smash Serbia to claim championship". Greek City Times. 3 Oct 2022. Retrieved 3 Oct 2022.
- "Draws Made For Men's and Women's Euros". European Rugby League. 22 Feb 2023. Retrieved 23 Feb 2023.
- "Euro Women's RLWCQ Fixtures Announced as Female Refs Look to take part". European Rugby League. 8 Mar 2023. Retrieved 10 Mar 2023.