A taste of Italian Rugby League is on the Western sporting menu this October.
Western Division Rugby League will play host to the Federation of Italian Rugby League Australia (FIRLA) taking on the emerging nation’s squads in three matches at Carrington Park, Bathurst on Saturday October 15,
First grade, under 21s and under 16s will square off in a post season event, with the senior game being the final hit out for FIRLA before flying to Serbia for the 2017 World Cup qualifiers.
The FIRLA first grade outfit will largely comprise Queensland Cup and New South Wales Cup players. Ensuring tough opposition for coach Darren Jackson’s senior squad as he continues a Western Division re-build, already eyeing off the 2017 Country Championships.
Players for the Italian under 16s and under 21s teams will be drawn from the FIRLA development programs with links to various clubs across the Australia.
Western Division looks forward to continue building its relationship with FIRLA, with the Bathurst games this October following Group 10 under 15s and 16s playing the Italian sides in Lithgow last October.
“The games in 2016 and last season have eventuated through the help of Joe Inzitari from Lithgow who is part of the FIRLA committee,” said CRL Western Regional Area Manager Peter Clarke.
“It will be a unique cultural experience for our Western squads, and a great opportunity to promote International pathways for players and officials with Italian heritage or a family background other than Australia leading into the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.”
