Rugby league may be the greatest game of all but sometimes fans look at the atmosphere of a soccer match and say: wish we had some of that.
And that’s where Latino rugby league comes in.
The world knows how passionate football fans are across South America, from Peru to Brazil, Argentina to Chile.
If people like Peru rugby league founder Jaime Perez get their way, some of that Latino passion could one day be a big part of the game of Dally Messenger, Wally Lewis and Andrew Johns.
A club competition – a prerequisite for a country to gain international rugby league status – will almost certainly start this year in Peru, where between 30 and 35 players are currently in training.
As part of the process of being an emerging nation, a category all Latin America countries fall in, international friendlies are being played here in Australia.
Last year Peru and Uruguay held a very successful day on and off the field at Campbelltown.
While Peru won the match 34-30, the scoreboard was secondary to the passion shown by both sets of players and the large crowd of supporters that turned up at Waminda Oval.
This Saturday, February 22, it will be Liverpool’s turn to get a taste of Latino rugby league when Peru hosts Brazil in the main game from 5pm at Hillier Oval.
At 2pm Latin Heat Under 16s will do battle with Malta Under 16s, followed by a match between Latin Heat Under 18s and Malta Under 18s at 3.30pm.
Jaime Perez is urging all rugby league followers to come and see the passion for the game, in what is expected to be a tremendous atmosphere.
Off the field fans will be able to taste some great Latin American food and enjoy plenty of entertainment from both countries, from dancers to drummers.
“It’s a long term plan for us, and games like this with Brazil are part of the process of getting rugby league up and running in all of the Latin American countries,’’ says Mr Perez.
“This is our second international, following the match with Uruguay last year, so we are making progress.
“It’s so pleasing too to see that Brazil’s women’s rugby league team has secured a place in the women’s world cup in 2021,’’ he says.
With thousands of outer South West Sydney residents of South American descend, this Saturday Hillier Oval looks set to become another big step forward for Latino rugby league.
“It’s really exciting bringing that traditional passion for sport from South America across to rugby league,’’ says Mr Perez.
