According to Guinness World Records, the fastest try in a full international rugby league match was scored by Serbian second row James Mirceski at the at the Makis Stadium in Belgrade, Serbia on November 9, 2019. Against Greece, in the third and final Group B match during the final phase of qualifying for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, Mirceski crossed the whitewash just 7.9 seconds after referee had blown the opening whistle. In so doing, he beat the previous record set by former Australian centre Robert ‘Bozo’ Fulton, who touched down after 15 seconds against France in the group stages of the 1970 Rugby League World Cup at the Odsal Stadium, Doncaster on November 1, 1970.
Mirceski’s try was converted by full-back Milos Zogovic but, thereafter, Serbia failed to score again and were soundly hammered 82-6 by Greece. The White Eagles, who have endured their fair share of trouncings down the years, had also lost their previous Group B match 86-0 to Scotland. However, in their defence (no pun intended), they had actually been eliminated much earlier in the qualifying process and only reached the final stages after Russia withdrew, citing ‘domestic issues’.
As a footnote, Greece may have qualfied for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup but, as the lowest-ranked team in Group A, alongside England, France and Samoa, faced an uphill task to progress in the tournament. In fact, they were beaten 34-12 by France, 72-4 by Samoa and 94-4 by England, thereby finishing bottom of the group with zero points.