13 Jul 2024

Cleary's cousin Phoenix Death to represent Ukraine at U19s Euros

Phoenix Death, the son of former NRL star Jason Death and cousin of Nathan Cleary, will play for Ukraine at the U19s European Championships in Serbia, from Sunday, July 14 to Saturday, July 20.

Death qualifies for Ukraine through his grandmother Marie, who was born in a German concentration camp after the Nazi's invasion during World War II, has already represented his heritage against Japanese Moonbears and South Sudan Buffaloes in Sydney.

He also played for Ukraine at the NSWRL Harmony Nines tournament, in which Jett Cleary - Nathan's younger brother, who will join the Warriors next season - ran the water after being ruled out from playing by a shoulder injury.

Cleary and Death's mothers are sisters, while their fathers, Ivan - the three-times premiership winning Penrith Panthers coach - and Jason played together at the Warriors. Jason also played for Canberra Raiders, North Queensland Cowboys and South Sydney Rabbitohs during a 201-match career.

 

 

Phoenix Death, who plays for Mona Vale Raiders in the Manly competition, and Singleton Greyhounds back Ryan Jurkans have travelled from Australia to Serbia to play for Ukraine, along with coach Dan Beardshaw.

Manly Sea Eagles SG Ball hooker Bailey Schneider and Hayden Cumming, from Mackay Magpies, will play for Scotland at the tournament, while the USA Young Hawks boast former international Junior Vai Vai, who played for the Rabbitohs, Panthers, Hull KR, York and Toulouse, on their coaching staff.

The Hawks, who are sponsored by Sydney Roosters, are the first junior USA national team, with the bulk of their squad coming from the Utah area which is the first to inaugurate domestic youth competition.

The six nations competing in the European Championship arrived in the Serbian capital Belgrade for the tournament, which kicks off with quarter-final clashes between Serbia and Ukraine, followed by Scotland versus USA.

England’s Community Lions, the defending champions, enter at the semi-final stage to take on either Serbia or Ukraine on Wednesday 17 July, while France - favoutites after their recent win over England Academy - will face the winner of Scotland and USA, as they bid to regain the title which they won in 2018.

France beat England Academy July 2024Photo: France celebrate their recent win against England Academy (ERL)

The two losing quarter-finalists will meet in the 5th vs 6th place play-off game.

The final day of competition takes place on Saturday 20 July, with the championship final while the other teams who have not yet met will play in grading games for the 2026 tournament. 

“We’re very excited for kick off on Sunday,” said European Rugby League general manager David Butler.

“As well as producing some very competitive and entertaining rugby league, the 2022 tournament in Italy also created a sense of friendship and camaraderie between the competing teams and I’m sure that we will see both in good measure this time around in Belgrade.

"The Serbia Rugby League Federation has worked very hard on the ground to prepare for the tournament, and I am sure that everyone competing is going to enjoy their hospitality.”

All games will be broadcast live on the European Rugby League Facebook Page – www.facebook.com/eurorugbyleague 

England

Kean Elms, Joshua Langley (both Blackbrook Royals), Daniel Knott (Dalton), Miller Dalton, Fletcher Holgate (both Hensingham), Alfie Hough (Hindley), Samuel Murtagh (Kells), Joshua Hopkins (Leigh East), Joshua Blinkhorn (Millom), Scott Simmons (Pilkington Recs), Ben Metcalfe (Rochdale Mayfield), Thomass Farren (Roose Pioneers), George Jamieson (Salford City Roosters), Jacob Haigh, Joseph Lewis, Henry Ogden (all Siddal), Harry Baker, Marcus Geener (both Waterhead Warriors), Devan Sharp (Wath Brow), Jack Lawler (West Hull). Head Coach: Gary Hewer.

France

Munico Anthony (Albi RL), Aubry Félix (Carcassonne XIII), Martin Clément, Loris Zammut (both FC Lézignan XIII), Jammes Matis (XIII Limouxin), Lis Alexis (RC Carpentras XIII du Comtat), Aispuro-Bichet Guillermo, Descalzi Gantier Giovanni, Descotes Killian, Gautier Félix, Jimenes-Lopez Matéo, Marc Lenny (all Saint Esteve XIII Catalan), Bonte Rayan, Mouelhi Wassim, Pourchi Baptiste, Rostang Maxime (all SO Avignon XIII), Chiffolleau Trévor, Garrigues Hugo (both Toulouse Olympique), Lettat Mikael (US Entraigues), Mongay Illan (Villeneuve RL XIII). Head Coach: Rémi Casty.

Scotland

Cameron Lewis (Birkenshaw Bluedogs), Seth Clapham (Bradford Bulls), Fraser Macaulay (Bromley Bengals), Frazer Murray (Cockermouth Titans), Joey Clarkson (East Leeds), Oliver Brady, Harry Roper (Emley Moor), Jai Conneraly, Kier Fyfe (both Forth Valley Vikings), Jack Suddick (Hemel Stags), Cameron Cullen (Leigh Leopards), Hayden Cumming, (Mackay Magpies), Bailey Schneider (Manly Sea Eagles), Maxwell Shelton (Newcastle University), Isaac Jepson (Newsome Panthers), Oscar Ellicott-McCulloch (Sherwood Wolf Hunt), Tom Gray (Skirlaugh), Jacob Grierson, Gabriel Lewis (both Siddal), Isaac Reid (Warrington Wolves), Reece Smethhurst (Waterhead Warriors), Alfie Maclean (West Hull), Myles Michael (York Acorn). Head Coach: Leigh Beattie. 

Serbia

Luka Stosic (Arsenal Tivat), Danilo Gavrilovic, Leskovac Mateja Stojkovic, Nikola Savic (all Morava Cheetahs Leskovac), Darko Samardzic, Filip Nesic, Filip Samardzic, Jakov Dojcinovic (Partizan 1953), Jovan Loncar (Radnicki New Belgrade), Nikola Mitrovic (Radnicki Nis), Din Duljaj, Edin Mehmedi, Filip Cirkovic, Luka Bojicic, Luka Mirincic, Luka Trifunovic, Mihajlo Markovic, Silver Zenuni, Stefan Andric, Strahinja Milankovic (Red Star), Aleksandar Stojanovic (Siddal). Head Coach: Vladislav Dedic.

Ukraine

Klim Malyshev, Kyrylo Volkov (Kharkiv Legion XIII), Bohdan Mazur (Khmelnytskyi Eagles), Ruslan Lipisii (Kyiv Rhinos), Kostiantyn Tiurin (Lviv Tigers), Phoenix Death (Mono Vale Raiders), Aziz Stepanenko, Ihor Yefanov, Ivan Mazur, Kostiantyn Prydatko, Maksym Harmash (RC Hard Sign), Nazar Shmalko (RC Kryvyi Rih Rugby), Ryan Jurkans (Singleton Greyhounds), Andrii Mordovanets, Arsen Havdo, Maksym Reshetukha, Valerii Popeliuk, Vitalii Bycharskyi (Ternopil Knights), Andrii Hladkyi, Mykhailo Novosad, Vadym Dotsiak (West Giants). Head Coach: Daniel Beardshaw.

USA

Jayde Hansen, Esiloni Malafu (Phoenix), Travis Ha, Cadin Ioane Lidarius, Moananu, Drayson Moliga, Sulusi Satele (All South Jordan Rabbitahz), Chris Malo, Beckham Mcgill, Ethan Ivy (Timpanagos Panthers) Shawlee Ama, Michael Fonua, Isaac Fonua, Ammon Hayley, Siaosi Koloamatangi. Tumua Moors, Simote Manatua, Logan Myers, Kenyo Paea (All Westside Pitbulls). Head Coach: George Tupou.

2024 European Rugby League U19s Fixtures

Sunday 14th July
QF1 - Serbia v Ukraine (4pm)

QF2 - USA v Scotland (6pm)

Wednesday 17th July

Loser QF1 v Loser QF2 (2pm)

SF1 – England v Winner QF1 (4pm)

SF2 – France v Winner QF2 (6pm)

Saturday 20th July

Loser SF1 v Loser QF2 (2pm)

Loser SF2 v Loser QF1 (4pm)

Winner SF1 v SF2 (6pm)