Hungarian National League
During the 2010 / 2011 season, Great Britain’s women’s team, powered by British Gas, will compete in the top division of the Hungarian National League.
With the women’s international team improving so quickly and London 2012 approaching fast, it was decided the team needed to taste a regular high level of club competition in Europe where the game is more popular.
While the majority of the British men’s team have signed professional contracts with top club teams all over Europe, the women’s game is only played professionally in Italy, Greece and Hungary. So, with the centralized programme in Manchester working well, the team will be sticking together and playing as Team Great Britain in the Hungarian league.
With Head Coach Szilveszter Fekete a former Hungarian international, a deal was struck with the Hungarian Federation for GB to take part in their 2010/2011 season.
The British team will play ten matches (one against each of the other teams) in the initial league format between October and December. The top six will then play each other home and away in January 2011 while the bottom four will also play each other in the same way.
Finally, the top four from the second league stage will contest a play-off with the winners crowned champions. The British team won’t be allowed to compete in this deciding play-off if they finish in the top four and would play a positional match for fifth or sixth instead.
The girls kick off their season against UVSE and defending champions Dunaujvaros before competing over the weekends of October 21, October 28, November 12 and November 26 in the initial league.
You can follow how the girls are getting on in Hungary with regular updates at www.swimming.org/britishswimming/water-polo.
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