Albanian Rugby's Rise: Chairman Xhino on Grassroots Growth & the Road to Rugby Europe

This week on Rugby Through the Leagues, Carl sits down with Xhino, chairman of the Albanian rugby federation, for the story of how a sport almost nobody was playing became a national project. Xhino traces it back to 2010–2012, when a handful of students inspired by YouTube clips started throwing a ball around — through the founding of Tirana Rugby Club to official federation recognition in 2024. He and Carl get into Albania's entirely self-funded growth, the touring sides making the trip out (the European Parliament Rugby Team and Nottingham Police Force among them), and why hospitality, raki and the post-match third half matter as much as anything on the pitch. Xhino lays out the pillars taking Albanian rugby forward: school programmes and touch rugby, building a base beyond Tirana in Durrës, French connections opening player pathways, women's rugby, and the long game — Rugby Europe membership and fixtures against Bosnia, Serbia and Greece. Real stories from the leagues the mainstream skips. ⏱️ Timestamps  (00:00) Welcome & Guest Intro  (01:06) Rugby Begins in Albania  (02:18) Tirana Club & Touring Teams  (03:31) Albanian Hospitality & Raki  (06:02) The Road to Rugby Europe  (06:53) Schools & Youth Pathways  (08:02) France Links & Player Opportunities  (13:44) Growing Beyond Tirana  (18:35) Funding & Building an Ecosystem  (20:24) The 5, 10, 15-Year Vision  (22:46) Women's Rugby & the Balkan Schools Cup  (28:21) Rugby League & Learning from the NRL  (31:12) Media Buzz & Upcoming Fixtures  (32:59) How to Connect & Visit  (35:49) Final Thanks & Wrap Up 🎧 Follow Rugby TTL wherever you get your podcasts — and if you're enjoying it, a rating or review genuinely helps us reach more people.  ▶️ Watch the full video: youtube.com/@RugbyTTL  📸 Instagram: @rugby.ttlpod  🌍 rugbyttl.com