Rugby League, one of Australia’s favourite sporting activities, made its debut in India with a bang, on the Maidan with a select audience. Australian High Commissioner Barry O’Farrell was in Calcutta before Christmas and enjoyed the chance to support his favourite game live. The final saw a good win for the Jaguars team over the Panthers, both Calcutta teams.

Commonly called NRL in Australia, Rugby League was one of the world’s first games back in action and on TV after the lockdown. The game has been making steady strides in India following a pre-lockdown coaching programme in Bangalore led by an international coach from the UK. The Jackals Rugby League Academy has also been set up to promote the game and has already started operations in Calcutta and Bangalore.

O’Farrell, who is a fan of Rugby League, said: “As a passionate league fan, I was delighted to see the players’ skills and the enthusiasm and spirit with which they played the game.”

Players of Pumas (green) and Cheetahs (grey) jostle for the ball.

He also delivered a message from the Australian Rugby League Chair Peter V’Landys in support of the game’s growth in India and was hopeful this could form a new dynamic in the Australia-India sporting relationship.

Four teams were out for the day’s games, with the innovation that all the officiating was taken on by an all-women team. In the final, Jaguar won against Panthers in a very close encounter. 9-8 was the final score.

O’Farrell said: “In a year in which the Australian Rugby League made a number of changes to improve the game, the Calcutta tournament revealed more could be done. The all-female referees are a terrific idea and they did a great job.”

O’Farrell, a former chair of the Wests Tigers Rugby League Football Club in Sydney, presented trophies to the winners and interacted with the women referees, officials and the team members.

Barry O’Farrell with the all-girls’ referee team

Australian High Commissioner Barry O’Farrell

Chef and t2 columnist Shaun Kenworthy, who was present at the event, said: “I have been associated with Jungle Crows since its inception. This is the first time anyone played Rugby League in India. I am very excited. It was great to catch up with the Australian High Commissioner.”

"Our team has been working closely with the International Rugby League, the global governing body of the sport based out of Australia for the past few years to set up Rugby League India Federation. The inaugural tournament in Calcutta was truly amazing and Barry’s presence just gave everyone a big boost. The sport has huge potential in our country and we are very focused on grassroots development across districts, schools and NGOs. Our next tournament is planned in Bangalore on January 30, with the winning team from Calcutta travelling to participate." — Harinder Singh, general manager, Rugby League India Federation

Pictures: Rashbehari Das