Cleary’s cousin Phoenix Death represents Ukraine at the U19 European Championship

Phoenix Death, the son of former NRL star Jason Death and cousin of Nathan Cleary, will play for Ukraine at the U19 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 invasion in World War II and has already represented his lineage in Sydney against Japanese moon bears and South Sudan buffalo.

He also played for Ukraine in the NSWRL Harmony Nines tournament, which was captained by Jett Cleary – Nathan’s younger brother, who will join the Warriors next season – after he was unable to play due to a shoulder injury.

Cleary and Death’s mothers are sisters, while their fathers Ivan – the three-time championship coach of the Penrith Panthers – and Jason played together at the Warriors. Jason also played for the Canberra Raiders, North Queensland Cowboys and South Sydney Rabbitohs during his 201-game career.

💛💙Thank you, Nathan Cleary @_nathancleary for your support!!!🇺🇦🤝🇦🇺@nrlonnine @nrl @penrithpanthers#NRL #NathanCleary#PenrithPanthers #PantherPride #UkraineRugbyLeague #UkrainiansRL#UkrainianHeritageRL #RugbyLeague #Together#StrongerTogether #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/yHCf3UHfwf

– Ukraine Rugby League (@Ukraine_Rugby13) December 8, 2023

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

SG ball hooker Bailey Schneider of the Manly Sea Eagles and Hayden Cumming of the Mackay Magpies will play for Scotland in the tournament, while the USA Young Hawks have Junior Vai Vai on their coaching staff.

The Hawks are the first junior national team in the USA. The majority of their squad comes from the Utah region, which was the first state to introduce national youth competitions.

The six nations participating in the European Championship have arrived in the Serbian capital Belgrade for the tournament, which begins with quarter-finals between Serbia and Ukraine, followed by Scotland against the USA.

England’s Community Lions, the defending champions, face Serbia or Ukraine in the semi-finals on Wednesday July 17, while France – favourites after their recent victory over England Academy – face the winner of Scotland and the USA as they look to reclaim the title they won in 2018.

The two losing quarter-finalists will meet in the play-off match for 5th against 6th place.

The last day of competition with the championship final will take place on Saturday, July 20, while the other teams that have not yet met will compete in qualifying matches for the 2026 tournament.

“We are really looking forward to kick-off on Sunday,” said David Butler, General Manager of the European Rugby League.

“The 2022 tournament in Italy has not only produced very competitive and entertaining rugby matches, but has also created a sense of friendship and camaraderie between the competing teams and I am sure we will see both in good measure this time in Belgrade.

“The Serbian Rugby League Association has worked very hard on site to prepare for the tournament and I am sure that all participants will enjoy the hospitality.”

All matches 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 ( 1. FC St. Pauli (St. Pauli), 2. FC Koeln (St. Pauli), 3. FC Köln (St. Pauli), 4. FC Köln (St. Pauli), 5. FC Köln (St. Pauli), 6. FC Köln (St. Pauli), 7. FC Köln (St. Pauli). Head coach: Vladislav Dedic.

Ukraine

Klim Malyshev, Kyrylo Volkov (Kharkiv Legion XIII), Bohdan Mazur (Khmelnytskyi Eagles), Ruslan Lipisii (Kiev 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.

Schedule of the U19 European Rugby League 2024

Sunday, July 14
Quarter-final 1 – Serbia – Ukraine (16:00)

Quarterfinal 2 – USA vs Scotland (6:00 p.m.)

Wednesday, July 17

Loser QF1 against Loser QF2 (14:00)

SF1 – England vs. Winner, QF1 (16:00)

SF2 – France vs. Winner, QF2 (18:00)

Saturday, July 20

Loser of semi-final 1 against Loser of quarter-final 2 (2:00 p.m.)

Loser of semi-final 2 against Loser of quarter-final 1 (16:00)

Winner SF1 against SF2 (6pm)