Hungary national rugby league team

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Hungary
Badge of Hungary team
Team information
NicknameMagyar Bulls
Governing bodyHungarian Rugby League Federation
RegionEurope
Head coach Jonathan Wilson
Captain, ,
Most capsSimon Kalafusz, Joel saaghy (9)
IRL ranking21st
Team results
First game
 Hungary 16–38 Czech Republic 
(Kecskemét, Hungary; July 2011)
Biggest win
 Hungary 56–4 Poland 
(Budapest, Hungary; July 2017)
Biggest defeat
 Hungary 0–90 Greece 
(Budapest, Hungary; October 2013)
World Cup
Appearances0

The Hungary national rugby league team, known as the Magyar Bulls, represents Hungary in the sport of rugby league football. Making their debut against the Czech Republic in July 2011, they played their first ranked international against Greece in October 2013.

History and setting up[]

IRL World Rankings
Official Men's Rankings as of July 2021
Rank Change* Team Pts%
1 Increase 2  New Zealand
2 Decrease 1  Australia
3 Decrease 1  England
4 Steady  Tonga
5 Steady  Fiji
6 Increase 4  Papua New Guinea
7 Steady  Samoa
8 Decrease 2  France
9 Decrease 1  Scotland
10 Decrease 1  Lebanon
11 Increase 5  Greece
12 Steady  Ireland
13 Increase 1  Italy
14 Decrease 3  Wales
15 Increase 4  Serbia
16 Increase 1  Malta
17 Increase 1  Norway
18 Decrease 3  United States
19 Increase 4  Poland
20 Decrease 7  Jamaica
21 Decrease 1  Hungary
22 Increase 3  Czech Republic
23 Increase 5  Cook Islands
24 Increase 7  Turkey
25 Decrease 1  Netherlands
26 Increase 4  Spain
27 Decrease 6  Canada
28 New entry  Nigeria
29 Decrease 2  Solomon Islands
30 Increase 10  Sweden
31 Increase 4  Germany
32 Increase 1  Chile
33 New entry  Ghana
34 Increase 16  Morocco
35 Decrease 3  Vanuatu
36 Steady  South Africa
37 Decrease 8  Russia
38 New entry  Cameroon
39 Decrease 2  Ukraine
40 Increase 1  Colombia
41 Increase 4  Brazil
42 Steady  Belgium
43 Increase 4  Denmark
44 Increase 4  Bulgaria
45 Increase 4  Latvia
*Change from July 2019

Magyar Bulls RLFC, Hungary's National Rugby league team was founded in Budapest in May 2011 by members of the Budapest Exiles RFC, keen to try rugby league and with an open invitation to other teams in Hungary to send players - all with the objective of honouring an invitation to play in the CEE European Bowl competition vs. the Czech Republic.

From small beginnings on a Monday evening, on Margit Island, in the middle of the Danube, the squad has grown to be able to select a nucleus of 20 players to play against the Czech Republic on 23 July.[1] The pull of playing international RL has seen enquiries to train and play from a number of other clubs in Hungary as well as players of Hungarian origin who have travelled back to play from Italy and the UK.

In June 2013, Hungary was granted Observer status by the RLEF.[2] They subsequently played their first fully sanctioned international against a Greece team featuring professional players Michael Korkidas and Braith Anasta.

In 2014, Tour in Paris again and Hungary competed in the inaugural Balkans Cup tournament in Serbia. This was Hungary's first International tournament. Hungary finished the overall tournament in fourth place. They also made history in the tournament, as they recorded their first ever international try in their match with Bosnia.[3] In 2015 Tour in Belgrade on Euro 9' Tournament.

Current squad[]

Squad selected for the 2018 Emerging Nations World Championship;[4]

Hungarian National Rugby League in Australia[]

In 2016, Hungary began searching for players in Australia of Hungarian heritage to play for Hungary. This was met with resounding response, with many quality players putting their name down. Several training sessions were held in Sydney by coach John Wilson and manager Stephen Németh.

On Saturday the 4 February 2017, Hungary played their first test match outside of Europe against Uruguay who were making their International debut, in front of 500 spectators. Hungary ran away with the game 50-4 in a dominant display. The team consisted of only Australian players with Hungarian heritage. This was also Hungary's first test match victory across any continent. The four Farkas brothers were outstanding, scoring 30 of the 50 points between themselves alone, with Aaron Farkas accumulating 16 himself in a spectacular performance at hooker. Alexander Fricska scored a try on debut.

On Wednesday the 8 February 2017, just 4 days after the first test played outside of the Europe, Hungary played their second against a stronger Thailand side, featuring ex NRL and Super league coach Brian Smith, in front of 100 spectators. Hungary opened up the scoring with 2 quick tries, before scoring 2 more before the half. Thailand came out strong in the second half scoring first points, however Hungary were too strong and ran out 44-10 winners becoming just their second test match victory since the teams origin 6 years prior. The game was almost called off as the night before, a storm washed out the majority of Sydney's Rugby League fields. Just hours before kickoff, the game was rescheduled at Endeavour Sports High School, instead of the original venue, Erskineville Oval.

Results[]

A † denotes that the match did not contribute to the RLIF World Rankings.

23 July 2011†
2011 European Bowl 		Hungary  16 – 38  Czech Republic Kecskemét, Hungary  
16:00
 Tries: Angel, Haboczki, Torrance
Goals: Torrance (2/3) 		[1][2] Tries: Leeuw (3), Buben (2), Mulhall, Sedina
Goals: Buben (4/6), Mulhall (1/1)
14 July 2012†
2012 European Bowl 		Czech Republic  42 – 16  Hungary Vrchlabí, Czech Republic  
Tries: Sedina (2), Buben, Cernohorsky, Dolak, Lahr, Sluka, Vrana, Zemanek
Goals: Sedina (3/9) 		[3] Tries: Bán, Berbesi, Haboczki
Goals: Bán (2/3) 		Stadium: Municipal Stadium
Attendance: 400
27 October 2013 Hungary  0 – 90  Greece Budapest, Hungary  
[4] Tries: Anasta (4), T. Constantinou (3), Bouris (2), Sell (2), Zampetides (2), Aroutsidis, Nake
Goals: Anasta (15/15) 		Stadium: Margitszigeti Atlétikai Centrum
Attendance: 500
17 October 2014
2014 Balkans Cup 		Serbia  50 – 0  Hungary Belgrade, Serbia  
15:00
 Tries: Ilić (2), Manak (2), Nikolić (2), Čobanović, Gak, Radovanović
Goals: Vladislav Dedić (7/9) 		[5][6] Stadium: FK Dorćol
Attendance: 150
Referee: George Stilianos
19 October 2014†
2014 Balkans Cup 		Hungary  6 – 32  Bosnia and Herzegovina Belgrade, Serbia  
12:30
 Tries: Grimm
Goals: Nikowitz (1/1) 		[7] Tries: Kikanović, Kulašević, E. Martić, Sakan, Zec, Zekić
Goals: Kikanović (3/5), Dedić (1/1) 		Stadium: Makiš Stadium
Attendance: 100
Referee: Radoslav Novaković
4 February 2017 Hungary  50 – 4  Uruguay Sydney, Australia  
17:30
 Tries: N. Farkas (2), Varga (2), Acsai, A. Fricska, D. Farkas, Institoris, R. Németh
Goals: A. Farkas (6/7), J. Farkas (0/1), S. Németh (0/1) 		Tries: N. Cama
Goals: ? (0/1) 		Stadium: Hillier Oval
8 February 2017 Hungary  44 – 10  Thailand Sydney, Australia  
20:15
 Tries: McKewin (2), Acsai,A Farkas, D. Farkas, J. Farkas, Institoris, Varga
Goals: A. Farkas (4/5), D. Farkas (2/2), J. Farkas (0/1) 		Tries: Choengkhiri, Waugh
Goals: Twigg (1/2) 		Stadium: Endeavour Sports High School
15 July 2017† Hungary  56 – 4  Poland Budapest, Hungary  
[8][9]
22 July 2017 Hungary  6 – 26  Czech Republic Budapest, Hungary  
Tries: Nemes
Goals: Orsi 		[10] Tries: Gach, Hudrlík, Košťál, Mećava, Vojtěch
Goals: Řičica (3/5) 		Stadium: KFKI Sporttelep
14 October 2017 Malta  48 – 16  Hungary Sydney, Australia  
16:30
 Tries: Vassallo (2), Attard, Benson, Campbell, Catania, Falzon, Glanville, Mazzelli
Goals: Glanville (6/9) 		[11] Tries: Kovác (2), Varga
Goals: J. Farkas (2/3) 		Stadium: Cabramatta Leagues Stadium

Referee: Luke Heckendorf
5 November 2017 Philippines  72 – 0  Hungary Bangkok, Thailand  
Tries: Casinay 2, Cortez 2, Mackey 2, Stephenson 2, Goodwin Laderas, Osias, Russell, Sheedy
Goals: Casinay (7), Russell (3) 		[12] Stadium: Mahasarakham Institute of Sporting Excellence
8 November 2017† Hungary  44 – 28 ASEAN XIII Bangkok, Thailand  
[13] Stadium: Mahasarakham Institute of Sporting Excellence
3 February 2018 Hungary  30 – 12  Philippines Gold Coast, Australia  
18:00
 Tries: Brucker (2), Flanagan (2), Kovác
Goals: J. Farkas (5/6) 		Tries: Sheedy, Swanson
Goals: Zappia (2/2) 		Stadium: Betty Diamond Sporting Complex
18 February 2018† Malta  40 – 28  Hungary Sydney, Australia  
14:00
 Stadium: St Marys Leagues Stadium
1 October 2018
2018 Emerging Nations World Cup 		Greece  18 – 20  Hungary Sydney, Australia  
17:00
 Tries: Mamouzelos, Stratis, A. Vrahnos
Goals: Stratis (3/3) 		[14] Tries: D. Ivan, Kovac, Turay, Varga
Goals: J. Farkas (2/4) 		Stadium: Windsor Sporting Complex
4 October 2018
2018 Emerging Nations World Cup 		Hungary  18 – 13  Vanuatu Sydney, Australia  
17:00
 Tries: Nathan Farkas, Jayson Gerecss
Goals: Stratis (3/3) 		[15] Tries: D. Ivan, Kovac, Turay, Varga
Goals: J. Farkas (1/2) 		Stadium: St Marys Leagues Stadium

Overall record[]

Cap Number and playing record[]

As of 8 February 2017.

Cap Number Name Total Caps Total Points
1 Imre Szalontai 2 0
2 Federico Sciotti 2 0
3 Gergo Zubornyak 2 0
4 Laszlo Harangozo 3 0
5 Scott Torrance 2 8
6 Adam Nunn 2 0
7 Peter Fustos 1 0
8 Lajos Bihari 2 4
9 Joel Jimenez 2 0
10 Zsolt Haboczki 2 0
11 Geza Goletz 3 0
12 Andre Brand 2 0
13 Matyas Bihari 2 0
14 Luca Tramontin 1 0
15 Cedric Gaidet 2 0
16 Phil Angel 1 4
17 Nandor Szabo 2 0
18 Arno Franken 1 0
19 Mehdi Benaniba 2 0
20 Geza Juhas 1 0
21 Mark Tolnai 1 0
22 Benjamin Antal 3 0
23 Zoltan Solti 1 0
24 David Farkas 1 0
25 Adam Timar 1 0
26 Adam Belencsak 1 0
27 Balint Kosa 1 0
28 Sandor Lakatos 3 0
29 Adam Csiri 3 0
30 Viktor Zelenka 3 0
31 Zoltan Bertyak 1 0
32 Norbert Csapkai 3 0
33 Jozsef Surman 1 0
34 Marko Nikowitz 3 0
35 David Orsi 1 0
35 Zsolt Lukacs 2 0
36 Nathan Farkas 2 8
37 Marty Schneider 2 0
38 Daniel Bridges 2 0
39 Stephen Németh 1 2
40 Alexander Fricska 2 4
41 Jared Farkas 2 6
42 David Farkas 2 12
43 Joseph Toth 2 0
44 Aaron Farkas 2 28
45 Karoly Acsai 2 8
46 Chris Schneider 1 0
47 Brent Varga 7 24
48 Eddie Ertl 1 0
49 Max Feast 1 0
50 Josh Institoris 2 8
51 Matthew Pankasz 2 0
52 Shane (Geoffrey Stevens) 2 0
53 Paul Graham 1 0
54 Paul Ivan 1 0
55 Paul Mckewin 1 8
56 Stephen Toth 1 0

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Mouret, Aimé (December 2011). "Hongrie". Le Who's Who du rugby à XIII (in French). Toulouse: Ixcéa. p. 131. ISBN 978-2-84918-118-8.
  2. ^ "Hungary and Saudi Arabia Awarded Observer Status". RLEF. 21 June 2013. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ https://www.rlenwc.com/teams/hungary/ Hungary RLENWC

External links[]

  • Official website
  • Magyar Bulls RLFC blog page [16]
  • Magyar Bulls RLFC YouTube channel [17]
  • RLEF (Rugby League Europe Federation News site - Squad announcement [18]
  • RLEF (Rugby League Europe Federation News site - Official match report for the first game [19]
  • RLEF (Rugby League Europe Federation)[20]
  • "An appetite for Rugby League?" - Forty-Twenty Magazine - article dated 30 June (pages 38–39)- Adam Nunn and Phil Caplan
  • "Reality Czech" - Rugby League World magazine - article dated August 2011 (pages 65–67) - Tom Coates
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