TODAY IN SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY LEAGUE HISTORY
10 NOVEMBER 1923 – TANK VAN ROOYEN WIGAN DEBUT
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Gert Wilhelm [George] ‘Tank’ Van Rooyen was the first Springbok to move to British rugby league after the First World War. He played for three clubs, Hull Kingston Rovers, Wigan and Widnes, despite not switching codes until he was aged almost 30. He was born in Steynsburg, and played for Johannesburg Pirates and Transvaal, as well as appearing in two tests against the All Blacks for the Springboks in their 1921 tour of Australia and New Zealand. In September 1922 he joined Hull KR, and despite making 25 appearances for the club in his first season, missed out on playing in their team that beat Huddersfield 15–5 in the Championship final. After a further 10 games for Hull KR in the 1923-24 season, he was transferred to Wigan and made his debut on 10 November 1923 against Wigan Highfield at Central Park.
The legendary Wigan full-back Jim Sullivan, who played for Wigan from 1921 to 1946, remembers van Rooyen as “the most fabulous character I have known in rugby league”. He remembered a “great giant of a man... solid granite... the strongest man I’ve ever seen apart from the old music hall acts. There were times when I thought he was more than human.”

​Some of the feats Sullivan could remember included carrying a bag of cement under each arm with ease, shifting snow from the pitch with a wooden plank 12 feet by seven inches; single-handedly lifting a horse out of manhole and hoisting a broken down van off its wheels.
He made 32 appearances in his first season for Wigan, scoring four tries. And honours came his way, with a Lancashire League medal and Challenge Cup winner’s medal. He played in every round of the Challenge Cup, and in the final Wigan beat Oldham comfortably at Rochdale Hornets’ Athletic Ground. Wigan won 21–4, and their main concern was whether the massive crowd could be kept off the pitch

TODAY IN SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY LEAGUE HISTORY
31 OCTOBER 2011
Leonard Michael Anthony (Len) Killeen

On this day, nine years ago, Len Killeen, to date the only South African to won the much-coveted Lance Todd Trophy in a rugby league final, passed away. Killeen, formerly of Swifts Rugby Football Club in Uitenhage in the Eastern Province, signed with St. Helens in 1962 and went on to become a fantastic points-scorer and match-winner supreme, one of the stars of the club’s four trophy season in 1966. On three occasions, he completed the regular league season as the top scorer. After playing against Liverpool City in a pre-season match, he made his debut against Salford on 18 August. Killeen scored 25 tries in 27 matches in his first season, and was only beaten by fellow-South African Tom van Vollenhoven, who finished on 33. Killeen really came to the fore in 1965–66. With Tom van Vollenhoven’s scoring starting to decline, with only 18 tries, Killeen ended up as top try scorer and goal kicker in the game, with 32 tries and 120 goals from 44 appearances for 336 points – 22 less than the previous season.
In that season’s Challenge Cup Final at Wembley against Wigan, Len firmly inked his name into the annals of rugby league history. Following sterling contributions in the run-up to the final such as scoring all the points in the Saints’ semi-final against Dewsbury – two tries and two goals –in the club 12–5 victory, the Wembley Final was to be the crowning moment of his career. On Saturday 21 May 1966, in front of a crowd of 98,536, Killeen scored a try, three penalties and two conversions – 13 of Saints’ 21 points in their 21–2 win. This sterling performance was crowned with Len winning the Lance Todd Trophy as the Man of the Match.
 
The said trophy was introduced in 1945–46 and named in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War. The trophy's winner is selected by the members of the Rugby League Writers' Association present at the game. The first winner of the trophy was Wakefield Trinity Centre, Billy Stott in 1945–46. St. Helens' Sean Long in 2006 became the first player to win the Lance Todd Trophy three times, having won in 2001 and 2004. Five players have won the trophy twice: Warrington's Gerry Helme in 1949–50 and 1953–54; Wigan's Andy Gregory in 1987–88 and 1989–90; and Martin Offiah in 1991–92 and 1993–94; St. Helens' Paul Wellens in 2007 (jointly) and 2008; Hull FC's Marc Sneyd in 2016 and 2017. Sneyd and Wellens are the only players to win the award in consecutive finals.
 
Killeen was not only the third St. Helens player to win the award, but was also the 21st recipient of this famous award. In addition, he was only the second overseas player to win the trophy, after Ces Mountford and the first winger to do so.

​TODAY IN SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY LEAGUE HISTORY
WAYBACK WEDNESDAY
26 OCTOBER 1957 – TOM VAN VOLLENHOVEN
 
On this Day, 63 years ago, in front of 23,000 fans, Tom van Vollenhoven, made his debut for St. Helens against Leeds at Knowsley Road. Recruited for the Saints from Rhodesian rugby after strong financial competition from other league clubs,  Springbok Number 314 after concluding a record deal and signing-on fee of £7 230, then went on to make a further 408 appearances for the club,  scoring 392 tries along the way. On two occasions he scored six tries in a club match.
His October-debut, however, proved to be a cracker. Playing with the likes of Duggie Greenall, Vince Karalius and Alex Murphy, on the day, the ‘Vol’ as he came to be known, scored his first first-class try and helping his side to a 36-7 victory. From this point onwards, there was no looking back.
In 2000 ahead of the World Cup, Tom van Vollenhoven was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame and remains the only South African representative thus far to be honoured in this way.
On his passing in 2017, St Helens Chairman Eamonn McManus in an interview with Sky Sport noted:
"Tom was one of St Helens' and rugby league's greatest ever players: a true great amongst greats. He lit up the game during its great era in the 1950s and 60s. There may be possible debate over who was St Helens' best ever player but there is no doubt over who is our most loved and revered player: it is Tom van Vollenhoven."
Dave Dooley of the Saints Heritage Society in turn wrote of Heritage Player Number 747:
“Tommy Vol was truly a phenomenon, with 392 tries in 408 appearances - says it all, doesn`t it! A blond, crew-cutted figure, who possessed terrific pace and athletic ability, he was also extremely strong for his size. Apart from finishing with aplomb if given even minimal space down the touchline, there was no contest - three points every time! He could conjure up tries from the most unlikely scenarios, regardless of the craft and skill of his centres.”

TODAY IN SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY LEAGUE HISTORY
25 OCTOBER 2015 

​On this day, five years ago, South African Rugby League, played the Lebanon Cedars in a Rugby League World Cup Qualifying match in the First Leg of the Middle East Africa Section. This historic match was the first time ever that any Lebanese sports team, national or otherwise, has played in South Africa. To add further gravity to the occasion, the Rhinos and the Cedars teams were competing for the last available spot in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Finals scheduled for Australia. Both nations also found them on a steep development trajectory as 

a result of a range of factors. Initially scheduled for Brakpan, the match was eventually shifted to the Bosman Stadium.
The Rhino team of 2015 represented a new start in the history of South African Rugby League and followed the retirement or departure to the professional ranks abroad of the first generation of players. In addition, the organisation was in the midst of orientating and inaugurating a new leadership on the administrative level. Most of the players selected for the Bosman Stadium encounter were either making their debut or were playing in only their second or third international contest. The Cedars in turn were only marginally more experienced but had at least four players in the match day squad, namely Adham El Zbaidieh, James Boustani, Wael Harb and Robin Hachache who could be regarded as international veterans having played between nine and 16 international matches (or tests).
The Rhinos had an uphill battle and at halftime was trailing by 18-4 and final lost the match by 40-12. The Rhino’s scored three tries in response to the seven of the Cedars. Try-scorers for the home team on this occasion were Johan Joubert, Jason King and Nardus Raubenheimer. Neither Jean Coetzer nor Bradley Williams could add any conversion. Travis Robinson in turn scored a hat-trick of tries for the visitors. This was followed by tries by Daniel Abou-Sleiman, Tarek El Masri, Mitchell Mamary, and Chris SAAB. James Boustani converted six of the seven tries.
Despite this setback, the Rhinos manfully continued their campaign and making their contribution to further consolidating South Africa’s Rugby League World Cup legacy. 

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The EXCO decided that all clubs will receive the opportunity to apply to return to play.
​Please print the documentation above and study it properly.

The Women and Girls Working Group (WGWG) mandated by International Rugby League (IRL) to advise the Board on the development of women and girls rugby league, has appointed its first secretary, So’oletaua Motuliki. She will take up her position immediately.
 
So’o is one of two women in the Vanuatu Rugby League Board. She was introduced to Rugby League in Vanuatu around in 2016 when she was appointed as a women’s rugby league development officer for Port Vila Rugby League. Shortly after she was appointed as a board member to the Vanuatu Rugby League (VRL) Board and, in 2019, appointed Secretary General for VRL. So’o is also the VRL facilitator for Port Vila Rugby League and the Domestic Competition Committee.
 
By profession So’o is a solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Vanuatu and the High Court of the Republic of Fiji. She is of Samoan and Tokelauan descent and has lived for almost 10 years in Vanuatu with her husband and two daughters. She has a massive passion for the growth and development of Rugby League in Vanuatu not only for the women but also for Rugby League as a whole. She is a massive advocate for gender equality in sports and passionately supports women in Rugby League.
 
Chair of WGC, Julia Lee welcomed the appointment saying;
 
“I am so pleased to welcome So’o as secretary. The combination of her legal skills and passion for rugby league bring an added dimension to our group.
 
“In a very short time we have established a clear vision for the growth of the international female game. We have already developed high level outcomes and measurements to guide us in our work.
 
“The appointment supports the inclusive nature of rugby league and particularly the desire for female participation world-wide”
 
So’o is excited to be taking up this post saying;
 
“I am delighted to take up the Secretary position. I’ve had the privilege of being part of the development of rugby league in Vanuatu, with particular focus on the women and girls’ game. Not only will I be able to take those learnings and collaborate on an international level, I am also ecstatic to be working with and learning from the women in this committee on how to further the sport not only for the women but development as a whole. This is an exciting prospect."
 
The group is formed of people actively involved in rugby league in various parts of the world. Chair Julia Lee is joined by Luisa Avaiki, head of women’s rugby league for New Zealand Rugby League, Tahina Booth, a PNG Orchids international player, Tiffany Slater, General Manager of NRL Women’s Elite Program, Stuart Barrow, RFL’s Women and Girls National Talent Manager, Tiziano Franchini, the Italian women’s coach, and the IRL’s Sara Piper, a digital and marketing specialist.

The Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation (APRLC) has made the difficult decision to cancel Oceania Cup 2020 due to the multiple restrictions posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on international travel, mass gatherings, and sporting event biosecurity.
APRLC has spent the past six months exploring fixture options for 2020 in an ever-changing COVID-19 environment. After being forced in March to postpone Oceania Cup men’s and women’s fixtures scheduled for June, planning continued for fixtures during the end-of-season international window.
However, ongoing restrictions and complexities about player travel, as well as continued limits on crowds attending matches have made it impossible to deliver this year’s event, which would have featured fixtures for six men’s teams (Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga) and four women’s teams (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Samoa).
APRLC Chairman, Sandis Tsaka, said: “The Oceania Cup is a wonderful tournament that offers a meaningful structure for Pacific test matches in a fair and competitive environment. It is extremely disappointing to have been forced to cancel the 2020 tournament, as there was great excitement among our member nations about this year’s fixtures in both June and November, but unfortunately current restrictions and uncertainties have made it impossible to follow any other path”.
Greg Peters, Vice Chairman of APRLC, added: “This has been a very difficult year for rugby league and thrown up numerous challenges. We have been working hard over the past few months to explore a multitude of options for hosting Oceania Cup matches, but the recent rise in cases in both New Zealand and Australia, coupled with ongoing restrictions on travel and mass gatherings, have forced our hand”.
Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) CEO Clint Newton said: “The announcement is disappointing, but given the current circumstances it’s the right decision. Players are intensely passionate when provided with the opportunity to represent their heritage, and we will work towards providing those opportunities next year. The RLPA will continue to work closely with the APRLC to advance the Asia-Pacific nations and we looking forward to further strengthening our relationship over the coming 6-12 months”.
APRLC Chief Operating Officer, Jeremy Edwards, concluded: “While having to cancel this year’s event is disappointing, we have immediately turned our focus to planning for Oceania Cup 2021. This will be an important tournament for our members as part of their preparation for next year’s Rugby League World Cup 2021 in England”.

Published by IRL
28 Aug 2020

The sport of rugby league is celebrating its 125th birthday. The game was born on August 29th, 1895 when 21 clubs met at the George Hotel in Huddersfield, England and established the Northern Rugby Football Union, which became the Rugby Football League in 1922.
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From that original group of clubs there are now thousands of clubs based around the world in over 53 countries.
International Rugby League Chair, Greg Barclay has sent his best wishes to the players, fans, clubs and IRL members around the world saying;
“This is a proud day for everyone involved in our great sport. We have a very long and proud history which deserves to be recognised across the sporting landscape.
“Throughout the history of the game we have seen, and we continue to see the heights of sporting endeavour played out in front of knowledgeable audiences drawn from communities that are steeped on the values of rugby league.
“I would like to pay tribute to those that have gone before, offer my thanks and admiration to those currently involved and encouragement to those who are still to discover this great game.
“Next year will see the latest iteration of the oldest rugby world cup when we gather in England to enjoy RLWC2021, it will be a sporting event to rival anything and we are all looking forward to it.

“Happy Birthday, Rugby League!”

​Just a brief note to say thanks to all those who managed to send videos and best wishes for the 125th anniversary of the birth of the sport - we tried to include everyone that we received either in the full video, as a separate post or both.
We reached around 500,000 people across the time zone of August 29th - with a really high engagement rate too. 

​Tonga Ma’a Tonga Rugby League submits application to join International Rugby League
 
 
Asia Pacific Rugby League has received an application for full membership from Tonga Ma’a Tonga Rugby League. The application will now be reviewed by the APRL board and then progress to the board of International Rugby League (IRL) before being sent to the IRL full members for final approval.
 
The TMTRL application signals the dissolution of the implementation committee which was formed by three members of the Tongan rugby league community who volunteered to assist an APRL representative to facilitate Tonga’s smooth return to the world stage as an IRL member.
 
IRL Global Operations Manager Danny Kazandjian said; “I would like to sincerely thank the members of the implementation committee, Gareth Holmes, Konrad Hurrell, Suliana Mone and Ikani Taliai.
 
“They managed to bring together several parties who had an interest in Tongan rugby league and helped them form a coherent group, under mutually acceptable rules, structure and leadership.
 
“The IC achieved that with great professionalism and skill whilst working under close media scrutiny, especially in Tonga."
 
The previous member has appealed against its expulsion to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. IRL has responded fully and will keep it under consideration whilst assessing the new application.
 
Elsewhere, the Rugby League European Federation’s Middle East Africa section has received three applications from African nations – Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria - to move from observer to affiliate status.
 
Kazandjian said: “It’s encouraging to see the sport gaining traction in west Africa and when a member receives affiliate status on that continent it will be historic as it allows them to  enter into the World Cup qualification process.
 
“We are dealing with all three applicants to ensure their organisations are as robust as possible before they take this significant next step.”
 
All three nations played their first official internationals last year, in Lagos at the MEA Championship, paving the way for their applications.
 
 
These applications, and others that are being actively prepared from countries in three continents, assist IRL in its quest to become a full member of the Global Association of International Sports Federations, (GAISF).
Kazandjian concluded: “We need to achieve 40 approved rugby league nations recognized by their own government or Olympic Committees. GAISF currently validates 24 of our members, from a start point in 2018 of 15 nations. I am cautiously optimistic that by the end of the year we will have reached 26 nations, at least.”