Greece put in a brave performance during its debut at the Rugby League World Cup this morning before going down to France 34-12.
Despite the loss, the Greek team made history at Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster, the United Kingdom, when they first came out onto the field and proudly sang the Greek national anthem.
The first half was tense for the Greek team with the French side opening up a 20-0 half time lead.
But Greece’s second half efforts saw history in the making when captain, Jordan Meads, put in a perfect grubber and Siteni Taukomo latched on to it to score Greece’s first ever World Cup try in the 57th match minute. The try was converted by Lachlan Ilias.
France were then penalised for a shot clock violation off a drop out as they wobbled.
In the final minute of the match, Meads picked out Nick Mougios down the left and he weaved in and out to race in from 40 metres to claim Greece’s second try.
Greece’s head coach, Steve Georgallis, said after the match that he “couldn’t be more proud of the boys and the effort they put in.”
“I’m really proud of their effort and the way they played. I just told them to go over to the crowd and take in the moment.
“You saw how much it meant to them to play for Greece, they love playing the game and now they can. I think it’s only up from here.”
The next match for France is against the hosts, England, at University of Bolton Stadium in Bolton on October 23 (3.00 am AEDT), while Greece face Samoa in Doncaster on October 24 (3.00 am AEDT).
READ MORE: Greece’s squad gives up payments ahead of Rugby League World Cup.
