Rugby League Coaching Manuals

Michal Priputen and Andy Mulhall have been appointed as the first part time development officers in the Czech Republic by the Rugby League European Federation. 

The pair will share some duties and cover different geographical regions, Michal looking after West and Central Bohemia - which includes areas such as Beroun and Praha - and Andy concentrating on East Bohemia and Moravia - which takes in Brno and Pardubice.

31 year old garden designer and site manager Michal is a native of Prague who is a current Czech Republic Rugby League international while Brisbane-born Andy, who was graded with Souths in the city, has been living in the country for the past five years and been involved in RL development there for the last three seasons. 

A graduate in sociology and political economy, he has previous experience of development work in Melbourne and Hobart and is currently in the process of writing a PhD in sports management with an emphasis on RL development in emerging nations. 

President and Secretary of Czech RL Milan Mrtynek welcomed the pair to their new posts.

"The appointment of Michal and Andrew means that we can now spread geographically across the Czech Republic to reflect the growing interest in the game" he said.  

"Their experience, enthusiasm and hard work will also allow us to launch the Czech Republic's first domestic competition in the Summer."

RLEF Development Executive Kevin Rudd commented, "This builds on the hard work put in place by the Czech RL Board and Andy Fairhurst who left the country to further his studies at Leeds Met University after organising our successful under 18's tournament there last summer." 

"The RLEF are happy to support the Board's strategy for integrated development and we hope that this provides a further building block towards instituting a senior domestic competition and further junior involement in the sport."