The Greece national rugby league team (Greek: ÃÂûûìôñ õøýùúî ÿüìôñ ÃÂìóúüÃÂù ûïóú) represents Greece in rugby league. The team has been participating in international competition since 2003.
Administered by the Greek Rugby League Association since 2017, the team is coached by Greek Australian Steve Georgallis.
Greek Rugby League was first formed in Australia by Australians with Greek heritage.
The team first played international fixtures in 2003. Greece played a warm-up match against New Caledonia in late August winning the encounter 10âÂÂ26. In September of that year, the Greece national team played their debut RLIF sanctioned game against Italy in September. The game was played in Australia at Jubilee Oval, Greece losing 26âÂÂ24.
In October 2005, Greece played Malta, in Australia, which they lost 24 points to 22 in front of an estimated crowd of 6,500. Greece then played a warm up match against Fiji A at OKI Jubilee Stadium in front of 1103 spectators. Fiji, who had just qualified for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, won the match 34âÂÂ12.
On 28 October 2006, Greece played Serbia in the debut international match on Greek soil. Greece, supported by Greek-heritage players from Australia, won 44âÂÂ26 in front of 150 home fans of the Glyka Nera Football Club, Athens. Greece were coached by former Western Suburbs Magpies player Steve Georgallis.
Greece won their first ever Rugby League Championship in 2009, when they won the Australian Mediterranean Shield, defeating Italy in the Final 34âÂÂ14. This was the first competition that the Greek side had competed in. The Greeks were captained by Wests Tigers player John Skandalis. Greece did not qualify for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
2013 saw the creation of a domestic Rugby League competition in Greece. This competition was originally governed by the Hellenic Federation of Rugby League (HFRL).
On 27 October 2013 Greece defeated Hungary 90âÂÂ0 in an international match played in Budapest in front of 500 spectators. The Greek side featured a mixture of players from the Greek domestic competition (8) and Australian-based (9) players including Braith Anasta and Michael Korkidas. Anasta kicked 15 goals from 15 attempts and scored 46 points in the win.
In October 2014, Greece were crowned European Championship C champions after defeating Czech Republic in the final. This was their second international tournament victory
Later in the same month, Greece competed in the inaugural Balkans Cup tournament held in Serbia. They beat the hosts in the final to win their third international tournament, the second in over a week.
Matthew Ashill was the coach of the team for the 2015 European C/2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifying tournament and on 13 September 2015 he named a 22-man train-on squad with only domestic club players. This caused some controversy as it was a key event for the national team. He explained his decision by saying "We have a totally new plan using just domestic players who will contribute to the growth and development of the sport here".
In April 2016, the HFRL was suspended from the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) following a year-long investigation for "wilfully acting in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the RLEF and international rugby league." The HRFL was expelled from the RLEF in August 2016 for failing to meet membership requirements.
In March 2017, the Greek Rugby League Association (GRLA) was recognised by the RLEF as the official governing body for rugby league in Greece, gaining observer status. In March 2018, the GRLA were rewarded for what the RLEF described as "significant progress rebuilding the national governing body and revamping its competition structure, with the support of the Greek Australian community" by being granted affiliate status.
In September 2018, Greece began their qualification path for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup by winning the European Championship C South conference. They defeated Ukraine 28âÂÂ26 at Dynamo Stadium (Kharkiv) and Malta Rugby League 60âÂÂ4 at Glyka Nera Stadium, Athens.
In May 2019, Greece faced European Championship C North conference winners Norway at New River Stadium, London, in the European Championship C decider. The match served as a curtain raiser to the League 1 round 9 fixture between London Skolars and Doncaster. Greece defeated Norway 56âÂÂ26 to progress to the final stages of World Cup qualifiers.
In November 2019, Greece qualified for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup after participating in the final round of European World Cup Qualifiers in Pool B with matches against Scotland and Serbia. Greece were unable to host their designated match against Scotland, as the Greek state did not recognise the Greek Rugby League Association. Instead, the match was played in London at New River Stadium on 1 November. Greece were defeated 42âÂÂ24.
The remaining match in Pool B saw Greece play Serbia, with the winners advancing to the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. Greece defeated Serbia 82âÂÂ6 at Makià ¡ Stadium, Belgrade.
On 16 January 2020, Greece were drawn into Group A of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup with England, Samoa and France.
As of July 2022, the Greek state announced its recognition of the Greek Rugby League Association and that games are free to take place on home soil without intervention.
Greece started their 2021 Rugby League World Cup campaign with a 34-12 loss against France in Doncaster. This was followed by a 72-4 loss against Samoa. In their final group stage match, Greece suffered their worst ever defeat losing to England 94-4 at Bramall Lane in Sheffield.
In 2023, Greece participated in 3 Senior Internationals. In October, Greece were defeated in back-to-back international matches at Gkorytsa Field, Athens against Ukraine. In the first encounter they were defeated 38-24, and again the following day 24-12.
In November, Greece defeated Norway 36-6 at ÃÂster Hus Arena, Stavanger.
In May, Greece and Norway faced off again, 6 months after their last match, at the Agios Dimitrios Municipal Stadium in Athens with players chosen almost exclusively from each country's respective domestic competitions. Greece won the encounter 34-26.
In December, Greece played their second international fixture of the year against Albania, who were playing their first ever international match on home soil. Greece defeated Albania 86-0 at Stadium I Vorës, Tirana.
In February, Greece participated in the 2nd annual rugby league festival in Las Vegas. Greece and the USA Hawks were to take part in a 2-match series at Silverbowl Park but the first match was cancelled due to an issue with floodlights. Greece defeated the USA in the eventual encounter 46-10, with Nic Mougios taking over captaincy of the side.
In October, Greece played 3 more international matches. 2 matches as part of the 2025 Euro C Tournament in Udine, Italy, and a warm-up match in Australia against Poland.
Greece defeated Poland 38-34 at St Mary's Stadium, Sydney in the first match up of the two nations.
Greece placed second in Euro C after being defeated by Ukraine 34-6; and defeating Italy 46-14. Both matches were played at Pasian Di Prato Stadium, Udine.
25-man squad selected v USA
Source:
All-time record for Greece's national side as of 11 October 2025.
A red box around the year indicates tournaments played within Greece