Rugby league in Greece

The first match played in Greece was contested by the Olympus Eels and Attica Tigers, with the teams consisting of a mixture of local rugby union players and Greek Australians.

This included Greece playing in the 2008 University Rugby League World Cup after Russia pulled out.

Other achievements included winning the Mediterranean Cup in 2010 played in Sydney beating Italy in the final, in front of 3000 people.

[citation needed] Colin Mylonas in 2010 had decided to withdraw from the organisation due to differences in the direction of the Greek Rugby League.

In 2012, Anastasios Pantazidis, Konstantinos Tzevelekos, Ioannis Mavros, Matthew Ashill and Iordanis Bilikaidis have become the first Greek coaches to gain their Level 1 qualification after completion of a two-day course in Nikaia, North of Piraeus, the port area of the capital, Athens.

[7] The HFRL continued to organise a domestic competition through the Hellenic Federation of Modern Pentathlon (HFMP) with the recognition of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

[9] The conflict between the HFRL/HFMP and the RLIF continued until August 2022 when the GRLA was finally recognised as the official body for the sport by the Greek government.

[10] In December 2017, national team captain Stefanos Bastas became the first Greek domestic player to sign a professional playing contract when he secured a one-year deal with the Hemel Stags.

[11] Greece competed at the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup in which it was their first time qualifying for the tournament, they had a very hard draw coming up against host nation England, eventual runners up Samoa and France who have competed in international Rugby league for over 50 years - led by captain Billy Magoulias along with other established NRL stars lachlan Ilias and Peter Mamouzelos they performed valiantly especially against the French - with a stunning try from Greek Centre Nick Mougios on the final siren.

Division 2: Neapoli Lakonias, Argos Wolves, Haidari Lions, Pyrrihios Aspropyrgou ('B' team) and Promitheas Rentis.

In October 2013 the Greece National Team (under the authority of the newly formatted HFRL) played an international against Hungary in Budapest.

As a result, the first recognised by the country's highest sport authority National Team, played twice vs Italy in L'Aquila and in Nikaea Piraeus.

The opponent LIRFL is the only RL governing body recognised in Italy by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).

The Greek Men’s side made history by advancing to the final 16 of the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup, they had a very hard group with host nation England and eventual runners up Samoa in their pool and France who have played international rugby league for over 50 years.