Belgium to play two tests against Czech Republic

Belgium and the Czech Republic will play a two-match Test series this year.

Belgium will host the Czechs in Brussels on April 18. The return match will then be played in Tis, 100km south east of Prague, on October 3.

“It will be a great opportunity to test the progress of our league, the standard of its games and the players,” Czech head coach David Lahr said.

This will be the first time that the two countries have played each other in rugby league.

The Czechs will use the Test series as a way to help re-energise the sport in the Republic. Although in existence since 2007, the Czechs were relegated from European Championship C in 2014.

They are now ranked 29th in the world, with their opponents in 21st place.

The Czech team will consist entirely of players from their domestic competition.

Belgium are looking to continue their recent strong progress. They played their first match in 2013, and have since beaten neighbours the Netherlands twice, and lost to Spain twice in their four official international matches so far.

“We are all really looking forward to Tests,” said Belgium head coach Tony Benson.

“I’ve watched plenty of footage of their domestic competition and they look very strong.

“I am in no doubt of the task we have ahead of us but with the hard work going in to our elite development programme, I’m confident both games are going to be absolute crackers.

“The first match will set down the marker with six months to the second Test allowing for plenty of hard work together to get to our best.”