The breakup of Yugoslavia broke up many of the Slovenian rugby structures, which had to be started afresh.
In the early 1990s, former Italian cap, Dr Giancarlo Tizanini was a major driving force in Austrian rugby.
Before his death in 1994, he tried hard to establish a Central European equivalent of the Six Nations between Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia.
[3] Slovenia also borders Italy, which is a major rugby playing nation.
In recent years, however, there have been serious attempts by rugby league to expand into the Balkans, using substantial financial incentives, and expats from Australia.