The Spanish Rugby League Association (Spanish: Asociación Española de Rugby League, AERL) also known as España Rugby League, is the governing body of rugby league in Spain. The body was officially founded in 2013 and has held affiliate-level membership of the Rugby League European Federation since 2015, making the national team eligible to qualify for the Rugby League World Cup.
The first rugby league in Spain was played in the region of Catalonia in 2009, with a Catalonia national rugby league team playing several matches against European nations. However, desiring to represent only Catalonia and not the entirety of Spain, the Catalonia team was denied RLEF membership and disappeared from international competition shortly afterwards.
Rugby league in Spain began once again in 2013. The governing body was formed on 28 August 2013[2] and awarded observer status of the RLEF on 27 December 2013; the announcement coming on 13 January 2014.[1][3] Affiliate membership was achieved in early 2015.[4]
The national team played its first match on 25 May 2014,[5] defeating Belgium in Brussels. The first captain was Aitor Davila and the first Spanish try at international level was scored by Gonzalo Morro.[6]
2017 World Cup qualifyingedit
Spain took part in the very first match of the qualification process for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, when they travelled to Riga to face Latvia. The Spanish side won the match 32-12 and progressed to the European C competition, which is the next phase of qualification.[7]
Referencesedit
^ ab"RLEF recognises Spanish national governing body". RLEF. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
^ ab"AERL - Asociación Española de Rugby League" (in Spanish). spainrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
^"LA AERL YA FORMA PARTE DE LA RLEF" (in Spanish). spainrugbyleague.com. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
^"Spain becomes twentieth RLEF member". RLEF. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
^Rigg, Nicholas (16 May 2014). "Spain set for emotional international rugby league debut". El País.
spanish, rugby, league, association, spanish, asociación, española, rugby, league, aerl, also, known, españa, rugby, league, governing, body, rugby, league, spain, body, officially, founded, 2013, held, affiliate, level, membership, rugby, league, european, fe. The Spanish Rugby League Association Spanish Asociacion Espanola de Rugby League AERL also known as Espana Rugby League is the governing body of rugby league in Spain The body was officially founded in 2013 and has held affiliate level membership of the Rugby League European Federation since 2015 making the national team eligible to qualify for the Rugby League World Cup Spanish Rugby League AssociationAsociacion Espanola de Rugby LeagueFounded2013RLEF affiliationObserver 2013 2015Affiliate 2015 ResponsibilitySpainHeadquartersValencia 1 Key peopleSalome Sansona 2 President Websitespainrugbyleague comAs of 29 August 2018 Contents 1 History 2 National team 2 1 2017 World Cup qualifying 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThe first rugby league in Spain was played in the region of Catalonia in 2009 with a Catalonia national rugby league team playing several matches against European nations However desiring to represent only Catalonia and not the entirety of Spain the Catalonia team was denied RLEF membership and disappeared from international competition shortly afterwards Rugby league in Spain began once again in 2013 The governing body was formed on 28 August 2013 2 and awarded observer status of the RLEF on 27 December 2013 the announcement coming on 13 January 2014 1 3 Affiliate membership was achieved in early 2015 4 National team editMain article Spain national rugby league team The national team played its first match on 25 May 2014 5 defeating Belgium in Brussels The first captain was Aitor Davila and the first Spanish try at international level was scored by Gonzalo Morro 6 2017 World Cup qualifying edit Spain took part in the very first match of the qualification process for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup when they travelled to Riga to face Latvia The Spanish side won the match 32 12 and progressed to the European C competition which is the next phase of qualification 7 References edit a b RLEF recognises Spanish national governing body RLEF 13 January 2014 Retrieved 29 August 2018 a b AERL Asociacion Espanola de Rugby League in Spanish spainrugbyleague com Retrieved 29 August 2018 LA AERL YA FORMA PARTE DE LA RLEF in Spanish spainrugbyleague com 14 January 2014 Retrieved 29 August 2018 Spain becomes twentieth RLEF member RLEF 1 March 2015 Retrieved 29 August 2018 Rigg Nicholas 16 May 2014 Spain set for emotional international rugby league debut El Pais RLEF match report Belgium vs Spain Spain defeat Latvia to take first step towards RLWC2017 RLIF Retrieved 6 October 2015 External links editOfficial website Spanish Rugby League Association on Facebook nbsp This rugby league football article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spanish Rugby League Association amp oldid 1157292510, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
