Serbian Rugby League Championship


The Serbian Rugby League Championship is a domestic competition of rugby league played in Serbia. The competition started in 2002 when 4 teams played each other twice, once at home and once away, from April through to August. It was deemed a success and so the league continued in 2003. Since then new teams have been added and some have disappeared. Seasons 2007 and 2008 saw stabilization of rugby league scene in the country. Clubs like Podbara Novi Sad and Palilulac Hammers from the city of Niš entered the competition. Very soon, Faculty of Political Sciences from Belgrade formed their own rugby league team, which is the first student's rugby team of any code in the country and the region. Their place in competition was taken by Belgrade University XIII, while FPN XIII and other students' teams form University League of Serbia - UniLeague. In 2009, it was formed lower grade competition for the first time, for emerging clubs.
As new clubs are establishing and joining Serbian Rugby League Federation, further development and quality raise is expected in the following years.

Teams

In total, 29 teams have played in the league, with Dorćol being the only team who have played every year. Beside each club name, in brackets, is what years the club has taken part in the league.
  • Belgrade University
  • White Eagle - Kruševac
  • Fighter - Rakovica
  • Tsar Lazar - Kruševac
  • Dorćol Spiders Belgrade
  • FPN XIII - Belgrade
  • Kolubara - Lazarevac
  • New Belgrade
  • Morava Eels - Belgrade
  • Morava Cheetahs - Leskovac
  • Mosquitos Belgrade
  • Novi Sad
  • Pančevo
  • Radnički Niš
  • Red and Whites - Novi Sad
  • Radnički - Nova Pazova
  • Red Star - Belgrade
  • Red Kangaroo - Belgrade, second team of Red Star
  • Falcon - Vranje
  • Old Town - Belgrade
  • Vojvodina - Novi Sad
  • Heroj Polet - Belgrade
  • Radnički - Belgrade, from season 2017 Radnički New Belgrade
  • Tašmajdan Tigers - Belgrade, from season 2020 Dorćol Tigers
  • Military Academy
  • Dragon Zemun, from season 2022 only RLC Zemun
  • Policeman - Belgrade
  • Duke/Unity - Pančevo
  • Partizan - Belgrade
  • Tzar Dušan Paraćin
  • Belgrade Youth Rugby League club

Format

2012 competition sees ten teams divided in two quality groups, with the bottom group additionally divided in two parts on geographical basis. They play home and away round robin format league.
In group A, top group teams play-off with qualifying semifinal game in week 1. Regular season top team is the first grand finalist, while the winner of qualifying semi-final is the other. Grand final is played in week 2 at the home ground of qualifying play-off winner.
In group B, top two teams from each part qualify to semi-final. Semifinal winners play in Group B final to decide the champion and the team who should be promoted to Group A next season. Semifinal losers play 7th/8th place playoff, while bottom teams from each group play for 9th place.
During regular season, team earns 2 pts for win, 1 pt for tie game and no pts for loss. The team is deducted 3 pts for forfeit game.

Finals

YearWinning teamScoreLosing teamVenueReport
2002Donji Dorćol46–22Beli Orao KruševacAda Ciganlija, Belgrade
2003Donji Dorćol25–4Novi SadFK 21. Maj, Belgrade
2004Donji Dorćol48–6Vojvodina Novi SadGradski stadion, Pančevo
2005Dorćol19–0Vojvodina Novi Sad
2006Dorćol34–10Morava BelgradeSports Centre Inge, Belgrade
2007Dorćol16–10Podbara Novi SadSports Centre Inge, Belgrade
2008Dorćol60–18Podbara Novi SadSports Centre Inge, Belgrade
2009Dorćol82–0Podbara Novi SadSports Centre Inge, Belgrade
2010Dorćol50–0Red StarFK Dorćol, Belgrade
2011Dorćol74–6Car Lazar KruševacFK Dorćol, Belgrade
2012Dorćol30–22Red StarFK Dorćol, Belgrade
2013Dorćol32–8Red StarFK Dorćol, Belgrade
2014Red Star36–26DorćolFK Dorćol, Belgrade
2015Dorćol50–34PartizanStadion FK Radnički, Belgrade
2016Dorćol26–10Red StarAda Ciganlija, Belgrade
2017Red Star42–22PartizanAda Ciganlija, Belgrade
2018Red Star36–16PartizanSC Inge, Belgrade
2019Red Star50–24PartizanSC Inge, Belgrade
2020Red Star20–12PartizanSC Inge, Belgrade
2021Red Star30–18PartizanFK Heroj Polet Stadium, Belgrade
2022Red Star44–12PartizanFK Sava Stadium, Belgrade
2023Red Star22–20PartizanFK Sava Stadium, Belgrade
2024Partizan56–14Red StarFK Heroj Polet Stadium, Belgrade
2025Partizan34–14Red StarFK Heroj Polet Stadium, Belgrade

Source: