Name votes

i legyen a neve a budapesti Rögbi Klub fejlécére Belgrád játszani a belgrádi kiválasztás október 1-jén, mivel nem lesz a Magyar Bulls játék Szavazatok végére képzési hétfőn 

What should be the name of the Budapest Rugby League club heading to Belgrade to play the Belgrade Selection on the 1st October as it is not going to be a Magyar Bulls game Votes by the end of training on Monday

	Budapest Exiles Rugby League/Budapest Exiles Liga Rogbi
	Danube River Pirates/Dunai Kalózok
	Budapest Hussars/Budapesti Huszárok
	Budapest Barbarians/Budapesti Barbárok
	Budapest Lions/Budapesti Lions

Log onto the Magyar Bulls Facebook account to have your say

Belgrade down the Bulls 44-0

Its difficult to write a positive match report when then game you have been playing in and watches finishes with a 44-0 whitewash by the opposition, or so it would appear, however, in this instance, this isn’t the case.

Last Sunday, in Kecskemet, the Magyar Bulls RLFC played in their 2^nd ever rugby league match – backing up after a hard fought game against the Czech Republic the previous weekend. Despite a week of disjointed preparation because of the entire forward pack being involved in the filming of Gerard Depardieu’s Asterix and its rugby scenes, rain and a potentially flooded pitch and 3 players unavailable from the previous week because of prior commitments and injury, the team was in good heart following the final run through on Margit Sziget on the Friday evening. We might not have a pitch in the city to train on but the opportunity to train overlooking a UNESCO World Heritage site certainly makes up for the inconvenience.

Sunday morning dawned with heavy skies in Budapest but 80kms down the road in Kecskemet, the rugby gods were smiling, the sun was out, the wind was blow drying the pitch and we were set for another warm, humid game.

For the 2^nd weekend in a row, Captain Habozcki won the toss and asked the opposition to kick off to us, allowing the guys to get an early touch on the ball and settle some nerves – powerful runs from the starting pack and a more settled half-back – stand off axis, with Nunn and Jimenez reversing positions from the previous week saw some good forward movement and a completed set – better start than the previous week.

However, the Belgrade Selection was soon to prove a very different proposal to the team from the Czech Republic – bigger, stronger, quicker and more experienced, it wasn’t long before their better understanding of the game started to show and the Bulls were struggling to get out of their half with any form of consistency. The visitors were able to shut down the hosts’ options and some very large hits, including a 3 man dump tackle on Geza Goletz started to impact on the confident start the team had made and it wasn’t long before a failure to lift out wide right saw the opposition in at the corner.

As the first half progressed, the game started to fall into a predictable pattern – strong attacking play from both teams with the visitors able to bring their extra experience to bear in terms of both field position and points on the board. Injuries were also starting to take their toll, with Lajos Bihari coming off the interchange bench only to be sent back to the side again after 5 mins with a bllod injury and then a mix up in a 2 man tackle seeing Nunn carried from the field with a sprained ankle – leading to a little bit of disorganisation in the ranks.

Turning round 20 points down, the Bulls put in a stronger start to the 2^nd half with some excellent hands releasing Franken, on debut, down the wing before a great cover tackle took him into touch on the 20m line and from the resultant scrum, Jimenez picked up a dead leg and had to come off. Down the less than 100% fit Torrance to come off the bench to try and repeat his try scoring historics of the previous week but without the same success. Through in after 15 mins of the 2^nd half the fact that the scrum half, Mehdi Beneniba who had previously been enjoying another great debut was limping  and needed to come off, the backline was looking rather unfamiliar with Andre Brand, normally a big ball carrying 2^nd row standing in at stand off and Franken moving in from centre to Scrum Half with Matyas Bihari in the centres from loose forward, the wheels were starting to come off the game plan and Belgrade were happily exploiting the mis-matches.

Coming back onto the field, Nunn resumed his service at hooker and Jimenez was able to move back into scrum half which added measure of control to the game for a short while and the axis was able to combine brilliantly with Brand at 6 to free Franken on a great burst through the midfield and to within 2ms of the opposition line before over-excitement at the play led to a knock on and turn over for the Serbs to relieve the pressure on their line.

With 5 mins to play, the referee was forced to call the Captains together to impose a certain degree of discipline on the field as frustrations on both sides were starting to boil over – both teams were starting to tire leading to more handling errors which only served to raise the temperature a little.

Fittingly, on the final whistle, Belgrade were able to cross the whitewash and bring up the forty point margin before their final conversion took them out to 44-0.

Despite the final score, the team can take some real pride from the performance that was put in on Sunday – the back 3 of Zubornyak, Sciotti and Szalontani dealt very well with the kicks coming their way and made some great cover tackles in defence, whilst the new midfield pairing of Harangozo and Franken (little and large) showed their ball carrying abilities and really looked to exploit the chances that came their way. Jimenez and Benaniba added some much needed dynamism to the half back axis whilst the pack performed admirably against a bigger, more experienced and very well drilled unit. Those who came off the bench all played a major part in the team performance, spelling the starting team and filling in, into unfamiliar roles as the injuries too their toll.

After the game, a series of short presentations saw the Man of Match award go to Matyas Bihari for the 2^nd game in a row – a real boost of confidence to an 18 year old who surely has a great future in front of him and will be a pillar of Hungarian Rugby League for many years to come.

After 2 games on the bounce, the team have earnt a 2 month rest before the proposed re-match vs. the Czech Republic in Prague at the end of September – an excuse for a mini-tour and a bonding session before the end of the league session and the start of the Hungarian Rugby Union Premiership which will see those who have played for Bulls, demonstrating to the rest of Hungarian rugby how beneficial the odd game of League can be for their skills development, although I suspect some people might forget to let go of the ball in the tackle, but I am sure the game can live with that.

As a side note, the Bulls did win the post match boat race for the 2^nd week in a row, proving that not all the training the team have put in over the summer has been for nothing.

After what has been, despite results, a great debut season for the team, the Bulls have proven that there is an appetite for RL in Hungary and the team has a great future with some players certainly looking to be fixtures for many years to come – watch this space, it might be a little too early for the World Cup in 2013, but 2017 might be a goal – if the RFL open it up to emerging nations as well, we wait to see.

Photos from the match vs. Belgrade

Serbian RFL to support fledgling Hungary

The Serbian Rugby League Federation in cooperation with the Belgrade Rugby League Federation will send Belgrade XIII to Hungary on Friday to play a friendly match against Hungary XIII in Kecskemet on Sunday. 

This will be the second game for Hungary XIII in a week, their first in rugby league. Last weekend Hungary XIII debuted, acquitting themselves well against the Czech Republic in the European Bowl.

Jovan Vujosevic, the RLEF’s Central Europe Regional Director, has been instrumental in Hungary’s first steps in the sport: 

“Serbian rugby league, as a leader in the Central Europe region, will send a pioneer team to promote rugby league in Hungary. This isn't the first time that Serbian rugby league has sent a team to promote rugby league in neighbouring countries. Serbia sent its national team to Greece to play the first ever game in Greece.

’’I hope that this initiative will push forward development of rugby league in Hungary and that this will also animate other countries in the Central European Region to start rugby league, like Romania, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Slovakia, Austria, Bulgaria and Poland.”

Magyar Bulls announce their squad for the match vs. the Belgrade Selection

After a strong showing vs. the Czech Republic on the 23rd July, the Magyar Bulls Coach, Adam Nunn has made some small amends to his squad due to player availability. Coming in to make their debuts for the team will be Arno Franken, Mehdi Benaniba and Juhas Geza - replacing Luca Tramontin, Phil Angel and Fustos Peter.

Scott Torrance will shift from his try scoring position on the wing to stand off whilst Nunn shifts to the bench and Jimenez will shift to half-back

Full team below:

1.Szalontani Imre

2.Federico Sciotti

3.Arno Franken

4.Harangozo Laszlo

5.Zubornyak Gergo

6.Scott Torrance

7.Joel Kimenez

8. Cedric Gaidet

9. Mehdi Benaniba

10. Haboczki Zsolt (Captain)

11. Goletz Geza

12. Andre Brand

13. Bihari Matyas

14. Bihari Lajos

15. Juhas Geza

16. Adam Nunn

17. Szabo Nandor

Kick off - 4pm, 31st July - Kecskemet, Hungary

Serbian RFL announce the Belgrade Selection squad for Sunday's match vs. Hungary

Belgrade squad for match vs. Hungary on 31st July

1.       Vladan Kikanovic.     

2.      Strahinja       Jevtić

3.      Nemanja Zlatanović

4.      Dušan   Virc

5.      Slobodan        Manak

6.      Mihajlo         Bošković

7.      Đorđe   Divić

8.      Đorđe   Vučković

9.      Slaviša Zekić

10.     Radoslav Novaković (Captain)

11.     Marko   Janković

12.     Željko  Delić

13.     Zdravko Ristić

14.     Danijel Gaić

15.     Nemanja Božić

16.     Dušan   Petraković

17.     Borko   Žunić

All the tries from the game on Saturday

Videos from the game - including the game in full (in lots of different bits)...

now on the Magyar Bulls RLFC youtube channel

apologies for the editing and possibly the language in certain places (sorry mum/mums)

Magyar Bulls RLFC Youtube page

Magyar Bulls on youtube

so keep checking back to the channel for videos of games, training etc.

http://www.youtube.com/user/magyarbullsrlfc

We now even have our own Wikipedia page so come in and find out more about us

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magyar_Bulls_RLFC

The official version of events from the RLEF

23rd July 2011

Hungary XIII

16

Tries:
Torrance (29), Haboczki (38), Angel (75)

Goals:
Torrance 2/3

Czech Republic

38

Tries:
Mulhall (6), Leeuw (12, 53, 70), Buben (18, 63), Sedina (46)

Goals:
Buben 4/6, Mulhall 1/1

Full Match Report

EUROPEAN BOWL
The Czech Republic won the 2011 Rugby League European Federation European Bowl with a 38-16 triumph away in Keskemet against a hugely impressive Hungary XIII, who made their international debut. There was nothing between the sides in the first half, the Czech Republic’s ability to play out their sets and tenacity in defence when defending their own line the ultimate difference.

Czech scrum half Victor Leeuw led the scoring honours with a hat trick but it was the pace and confidence of two-try visiting full back Jan Buben that took the eye. Czech player/coach Andrew Mulhall opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a try from dummy half, close in, Buben converting.

Leeuw claimed his first soon after, on the end of a fine back line move and Buben’s thrilling 80 metre solo run built a seemingly comfortable 14-0 lead. But the Hungarians found their feet and staged an excellent recovery in the lead up to half time. An expansive move across the three quarters on the half hour uncovered Scott Torrance and he went over in the corner and added a great touchline conversion. Just before the break skipper Zsolt Haboczki powered his way over and again Torrance goaled to make it 14-12.

Czech captain Petr Sedina went in from acting half back six minutes into the second half, Buben goaling and a clever grubber on the last tackle by David Dolak found his half back partner Leeuw who scored as the visitors regained control. Buben’s second was another long range kick return, which he added the extras to and ten minutes from time a 50 metre jinking run from Leeuw completed his treble.

Twice during the second period the Czech’s held out consecutive sets on their own line after conceding penalties as the Hungarians gained in confidence. That was rewarded five minutes from the end when Phil Angel crossed for the hosts.

On receiving the trophy, Czech captain Sedina said, “It was a great team effort, the guys exceeded my expectations.”

Hungary player/coach Adam Nunn was hugely satisfied with the display of his new charges. “The match was a great inauguration for the Hungarian players and I know that my boys are already looking forward to a return match with the Czechs.” 

HUNGARY XIIIImre Szalontani, Federico Sciotti, Gergio Zobornyak, Laszlo Marangozo, Scott Torrance, Adam Nunn, Peter Fustos, Lajos Bihari, Joel Jiminez, Zsolt Haboczki (C), Geza Goletz, Andre Brand, Matyas Bihari. Subs: Luca Tramontin, Cedric Gasdet, Phil Angel, Nandor Szabo,

CZECH REPUBLICJan Buben, Martin Cernohorsky, Vladimir Sapar, Libor Hanzicek, Standa Kosar, David Dolak, Victor Leeuw, Ales Troka, Petr Sedina (C), Andrew Mulhall, Tomas Patera, Marcel Novak, Roman Nedomcel. Subs: David Lahr, Josef Kuh, Tomas Pohl, Mike Masia

http://www.rlef.eu.com/european_bowl/report?RLE00000216

Magyar Bulls make Hungarian Rugby hisory

On Saturday, Kecskemet Rugby Club hosted a moment in Rugby League history when the Magyar Bulls, Hungary’s national rugby league team, played the Czech Republic for the CEE Bowl – the first time Hungary has competed in Rugby League on the international stage. The match was an opportunity to showcase the hard work that those selected to represent Hungary had put in since the end of the Union season and with only 2 players in the match day 17 having played a competitive League match before, it was due to be a challenge.

Pre-game preparation had not been ideal with key members of the squad missing due a number of varying commitments including filming Asterix and Obelix, a Guinness Rugby World cup commercial, the closure of the Budapest Exiles training pitch and torrential rain but the squad were in good spirits and confident of giving a good account of themselves. The commitment to the cause had been shown by the arrival of Luca Tramontin who had flown in from Italy, keen to take up the chance of playing for Hungary.

However, despite a major downpour on the Saturday morning, the pitch was in great shape, the anthems were played and the spectators treated to a great game of rugby league, prompting much discussion about the rules and regulations of this new code. During several passages of intense tackling, seasoned rugby fans were heard to comment that it certainly looked a lot more brutal than rugby union, with one girlfriend unable to look each time her boyfriend took contact with 3 players on top of him.

Habóczki Zsolt, the newly appointed skipper won the toss and elected to ask the visitors to kick off to give the Bulls the first chance to make some impact with the ball. The game was played in great spirit from the first minute and the Czech team were able to exploit some tactical naivety from the hosts to spring out to a 10-0 lead after about 15 mins as the result of some poor defending round the ruck and players making simple mistakes that led to sets not being completed. Knock ons and kicking on the 1^st tackle were all part of the first 20 mins play but the Bulls were learning on the job and after things had settled down after a frenetic first 20 mins, the team started to play some good and fluent rugby.

Scott Torrance scores Hungary's first ever
rugby league points

In response to a great solo effort by Jan Buben, the Czech full back which saw him beat 5 tacklers in a 70m run to the line and take the visitors to 14-0, the Bulls responded brilliantly with a well worked try of their own – a quick play the ball after a great drive from Bihari Matyas saw scrum half Fustos Peter scoot from dummy half before offloading in the tackle to find 2^nd row Andre Brand who drew the 3 man cover defence to release winger Scott Torrance down the wing for an easy 10m run in – first Hungarian international rugby league points scored within the first 30 mins of the match, which he also converted.

Father and son combined to score the 2nd -
with a little help from Federico

Turning round at 14-6 at half time, the Bulls sensed that they were in with a chance but an early score from Victor Leeuw, the Czech scrum half extended the lead before a penalty for the Bulls allowed Bihari Matyas to rampage forward. From the resulting pick and go by Federico Sciotti, a gap opened up which allowed Bihari Lajos to run on to the winger’s pass and score the Bulls 2^nd try – started by his son – a great team and family effort.

Capt Haboczki leading from the front

As the defence tired in the heat, both teams started to exploit gaps and whilst the Czechs were able to score 2 more simple tries as a result of missed tackles and opportunities not being finished off by the Bulls, the game was far from over. The Bulls players started to enjoy the extra space that comes with having 4 less players on the pitch with Cedric Gaidet, Geza Goletz, Laszlo Harangozó and Andre Brand all enjoying very powerful, direct runs in broken play.

In defence, Joel Jimenez, Zubornynak Gergo, Phil Angel and Szalontani Imre were making some wonderful tackles as the scramble defence came under pressure to stem the play from the vastly more experienced Czech team and held out at 32-12 until, with about 10 mins to play Leeuw was able to break the tiring defensive line and complete his hat trick with a 95m run and swallow dive under the posts.

Phil Angel, scorer of the 3rd try

However, the Bulls came back fighting and after some more great approach work from the pack, led by 18 year old Bihari Matyas, the replacement hooker, Phil Angel was able to go in from close range to take the score to 38-16 at the final whistle.

After the final whistle, Coach and stand-off of the Magyar Bulls, Adam Nunn, was full of praise for his players saying:

Bihari Matyas - only 18 and a real star
of the future - a rampaging Bull of a player

“We didn’t know what to expect on the pitch today and before the game, I told the guys that the result wasn’t important – what was important was to go out and perform in such a way as not to disgrace ourselves. The performance that they put in on the park today was really, really first class – we made some characteristic errors for those people who are just learning the game but we learnt quickly and showed the Czechs that we weren’t here to make up the numbers.

I am really proud of the team, the commitment that they showed all the way through to the final whistle and I think with a little more practice we will give the guys from the Czech Republic a real run for their money in the future. In the meantime, I think we will have a chance to take our game to the next level against the Belgrade selection next weekend and now we know the rules a little better, we will put less pressure on ourselves as we won’t be making so many silly mistakes that let the opposition get away from us.”

Petr Sedina receives the CEE Bowl trophy from
opposite number Haboczki Zsolt

After the game, a short presentation saw the Czechs receive the CEE Bowl trophy as well as a plaque to commerate the historic occasion, before the awarding of individual man of the match awards as voted for by the opposition coaches

Hungary – Bihari Matyas and Joel Jimenez

Czech Republic – Jan Buben

Our thanks to KARC for their hospitality, especially Christian and Pal for all their help with the organisation, Luca and Daniela from Ovalbin for filming the game, Dove for Men for sponsoring the team and all of those who came to watch a small piece of sporting history being made

Friends after a hard fought match

The Magyar Bulls - here to stay

Magyar Bulls 16 - Czech Republic 38

Full match report to follow

Magyar Bulls scorers -

T - Scott Torrance, Lajos Bihari & Phil Angel
C - Scott Torrance x 2

MoM

Magyar Bulls - Matyas Bihari and Joel Jimenez (as chosen by Czech coaches)
Czech Republic - Jan Buben (as chosen by MB coach and captain)

First of the photos can be seen on these 2 galleries

http://baon.hu/galeria/53030#

http://www.kecskemetrugby.hu/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=17%3Ahun-cze-ligaroegbi-20110723&Itemid=5

Final preparations being made

Last full team run through took place this evening with the full squad in attendance - guys looking good and combinations have clicked at just the right moment.

Final run through to tweak and refine some elements tomorrow as a short session before the excitement of Saturday's 4pm kick off takes over

European Bowl - 4 days till Kick Off

The third tier of RLEF competition in 2011 provides the Czech Republic with the opportunity to continue its re-organisation while also serving its intended role as an entry level competition to new nations, in this case Hungary. The Czechs play Hungary XIII on Hungarian soil, just outside the capital Budapest, on 23 July. The move can be seen as a sign of the sport\\\'s gradual entrenchment in Europe, as nations are more able to find a suitable competitive level due to greater choice of opponents and improving standards among locals. 

The CZRLA, which launched an expanded Czech Super League in 2011, has focused their effort on the cultivation of young Czech rugby league-only players who play for domestic clubs, and their entry into the Bowl provides them with the opportunity to give the national team adequate preparation. For the Magyar Bulls, the Bowl will be their first taste of competitive rugby league, from which they, and the RLEF, will be able to gauge how best to approach further development
http://www.rlef.eu.com/european_bowl/2011

Czech Republic squad announced for the match against the Magyar Bulls

1.        Jan Buben (Beroun Black Panthers)
2.        Martin Černohorský (Beroun Black Panthers)
3.        Vladimír Sapar (Beroun Black Panthers)
4.        Libor Hanzlíček (Vrchlabi Mad Squirrels)
5.        Standa Kosař (Vrchlabi Mad Squirrels)
6.        David Dolak (Beroun Black Panthers)
7.        Victor Leeuw (Pardubice Jets)
8.        Aleš Trčka (Vrchlabi Mad Squirrels)
9.         Petr Sedina © (West Coast Warriors – Ireland)
10.  Tomas Patera (Beroun Black Panthers)
11.  Marcel Novak (Vrchlabi Mad Squirrels)
12.  Roman Nedomlel (Pardubice Jets)
13.  Andrew Mulhall (Pardubice Jets)
14.  David Lahr (Vrchlabi Mad Squirrels)
15.  Josef Kuh (Vrchlabi Mad Squirrels)
16.  Tomáš Pohl (Vrchlabi Mad Squirrels)
17.  Pavel Zemanek (Pardubice Jets)

Details of the match on Saturday

Sponsor - we have a sponsor!!

Dove Men+Care has very kindly agreed to become the Personal Care sponsor for the Magyar Bulls RLFC - as this is a brand aimed at real men, the link is very obvious but we hope that the Hungarian rugby playing public will leave the changing rooms well groomed and pampered following a tough 80 mins of league

Team Polos have arrived

Finally, the squad can start to look and feel like a proper national team following the arrival of the team polo shirts - complete with Magyar Bulls logos (as designed by back Nandor Szabo) and the Szent Istvan Crown and national crest on the right sleeve

Squad announced for the match vs. Czech Republic on 23rd July 2011

The training squad for the forthcoming match against the Czech Republic in the CEE Bowl competition has been announced following several months of preparation and introduction to the sport of rugby league players aging from 18 to 42 (a father and son combination) and experience.

Captain - Zsolt Haboczki

Forwards - Zsolt Haboczki, Lajos Bihari, Joel Jimenez, Geza Goleth, Andre Brand, Matyas Bihari, Luca Tramontin, Cedric Gaidet, Phil Angel, Laszlo Dekany and Geza Juhasz

Backs - Peter Fustos, Adam Nunn, Laszlo Harangozo, Gergo Zubornyak, Scott Torrance, Federico Sciotti, Imre Szalontani, Nandor Szabo and Mehdi Benaniba

The squad has been preparing well over the last 6 - 8 weeks with players travelling long distances within Hungary and making commitments to travel from Italy and the UK to available for the game - preparations have been a little disrupted by the closure for maintenance of the main rugby pitch in Budapest, leading the team to train on the slightly less than ideal park on Margit Island in the centre of the city - although this has meant post-training beers overlooking a UNESCO World Heritage site.

'If our levels of enthusiasm and desire can be matched by a certain understanding of the rules, then we believe that the team will be able to offer the opposition from the Czech Republic a good and exciting match - we have heard alot about the Czech team, having seen their standing in the world rankings and read about their previous encounters with the likes of Germany and the Nordics, and we look forward to offering them a challenge here, in the heart of Central Europe.We would also like to thank Dove Men+Care for their support in the start of this great adventure.' 

The match will kick off at 4pm on Saturday in Kesckemet, Hungary and will be the latest country in the RLEF's expansion plans for the game.