Scandinavian Silver for University League Team!

The University of Huddersfield Rugby League team, supported by the Giants, fall only in the final of the Alt Heis Cup 2024 in Norway. Coming away with a brilliant Silver Medal!

Last week we revealed that Huddersfield Giants had sponsored the Tour shirt of the University of Huddersfield's Rugby League side in their recent tour of Norway.

"The Blue Ghosts" were taking part in the Alt Heis Cup 9s tournament in Haugesund. The tournament is one of three that takes place each year in Norway as Rugby League becomes more prominent in the Scandinavian country and thanks to connections between the University and Norwegian Rugby League the University side managed to get an exclusive invitation to take part in the competition.

In an effort to show our support for the development and growth of Rugby League around Huddersfield and across the globe the club sponsored the club's shirt with the Giants badge taking it's place front and centre on the shirt across Norway. 

The competition was split into two groups of three, with the 1st placed side advancing straight into the semi-finals and 2nd place sides playing the 3rd place sides of the other group in a semi-final play-off.

The Blue Ghosts were placed in a tough group facing off against the hosts Haugesund and Lillestrom.

Group A: Haugesund/ Blue Ghosts/ Lillestrom

Group B: Sandnes/ Stravanger / Farsund

-

Huddersfield started the tournament with a tough matchup against the hosts, a scrapy, hard thought game that ended in the competition's only draw. 

Sandnes 14 - 12 Stavanger/BRK ( Group B)

Haugesund 8 - 8 Blue Ghosts (Group A)

Stavanger/BRK 4 - 40 Farsund (Group B)

-

Next up was Lillestrom and the Blue Ghosts secured a 10 point victory, good enough to put them top of the group as Haugesund only won by 4 vs Lillestrom.

Lillestrøm 12 - 16 Haugesund (Group A)

Farsund 18 - 10 Sandnes (Group B)

Blue Ghosts 18 - 8 Lillestrøm (Group A)

-

Haugesund 16 - 12 Stavanger/BRK (Quarter Final) 

Sandnes 24 - 30 Lillestrøm (Quarter Final)

-

Advancing straight to the Semi-finals, Huddersfield would face off against Lillestrom again who progressed through their quarter final game. But once again Huddersfield were to strong from Lillestrom beating them 20-10 and advancing to the final of the competition.

Farsund 30 - 4 Haugesund (semi-final) 

Blue Ghosts 20 - 10 Lillestrøm (Semi final) 

-

Haugesund 18 - 8 Lillestrøm (Bronze final) 

-

In the final Huddersfield University would face off against Farsund, a side stacked with Norwegian international youth players who throughout the competition had been showing their strength including a 40-4 victory in their opening match and a 30-4 win over the hosts in the semi-final. So, despite showing a lot of heart and desire the final was a match to far for our Touring side, losing out 20-12 in an exciting Gold Medal Match.

Farsund 20 - 12 Blue Ghosts (Gold final)

So a successful trip all round for the Blue Ghosts, despite not winning the competition they had shown their value against some of the best players Norway has to offer. And as Rugby League continues to grow, after starting it's journey here in the Birthplace of Rugby League, we hope to continue to see the game develop in Norway and some of those players on the sports biggest stage in the future.

Thank you to the University of Huddersfield's Rugby League Team for representing us so well whilst sporting the Giants logo on their shirts in Norway. Hopefully inspiring the next generation of Rugby League talent in Huddersfield and across the world!