I'm surprised this RL news item hasn't been mentioned.
What a terrible reflection this is on the sport, and makes International RL and the sport in general a laughing stock.
I couldn't imagine something like this happening in any other 'major' sport.
I'm surprised this RL news item hasn't been mentioned.
What a terrible reflection this is on the sport, and makes International RL and the sport in general a laughing stock.
I couldn't imagine something like this happening in any other 'major' sport.
Couldn't agree more mate!
Hugely embarrassing, and the Yawnion hacks will be laughing their wotsits off!
Can the comp be saved by staging it elsewhere? With only about two and a half years before it's due to commence, I'm not holding my breath!
As I've mentioned on here many times, I love international football, and went to over twenty ties in the World Cup at the end of last term.
Let down number two of late by France, as yet again, they didn't (even nearly) give us a game at Wire last month, and now pulling out of hosting the World Cup!
I'm just hoping that come the Autumn, Tonga will provide us with some real opposition, and yes, our tickets are booked for all three tests!
Spelly.
Doesn't this indicate that RL will never feature as a serious sport in France, and the time/effort/money spent by the RFL on trying to develop the sport there is just being wasted and would be better used on raising the game over here?
@sunny Pretty much yeah. I feel sorry for the people trying their hardest in France, administrators, coaches, players and fans alike. But it's a death of a thousand cuts.
I think something like a biennial 6 or 8 Nations tournament is a better idea than a RL WC. There isn't enough strength/quality for a WC.
GB, Aus, NZ, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, France, PNG. Alternate host between UK and Aus/NZ. Imagine watching GB plays all those teams in the space of a month. Better than watching blowouts in the WC until you get to the semis.
As usual, The Daily Mail was all over this story. I notice they always have page after page after page of Yawnion in that rag. Never anything positive to say about RL. As soon as a negative RL story emerges, they are hanging off it like a cheap suit. However, this development convinces me once again that this great game of RL is pretty much dying on it's arse. What was the recent attendance at the recent international V France, 8,000 odd and the England Roses women RU are packing out HQ at Twickers with a 50K plus crowd. It seems to me that the RL scene in France is pretty much in the same state as here. Parochial and of little to no interest outside it's heartlands. Happy to be corrected on that by others who have a greater knowledge of RL over there. And, I go back to the question I've asked myself many times, which is how further forward is RL in this country since the advent of SL in '96 in terms of growth, participation and interest outside of the heartlands ? And I ask the same question of RL in France. My view is no further forward than it was then but others may feel differently.
The thing is, the argument never changes does it? And whatever scheme is implemented never changes anything long-term. France isn't working, Ireland/Scotland/Wales doesn't work, the WC isn't a massive success, most International friendlies are a joke.
Concentrate on what you're good at, in areas where people are interested. And reinforce that. RL is missing the boat on that and has done for decades. Which is why interest in waning in areas that should be strongholds. Lancashire and Yorkshire clubs going to the wall when they needn't. And fans in those areas walking away or, worse still, kids never getting interested. Architects of our own downfall.
gpo1971 is correct.
Somebody needs to tell IMG and quick - otherwise the decline (sic) could be terminal.
The thing is, the argument never changes does it? And whatever scheme is implemented never changes anything long-term. France isn't working, Ireland/Scotland/Wales doesn't work, the WC isn't a massive success, most International friendlies are a joke.
Concentrate on what you're good at, in areas where people are interested. And reinforce that. RL is missing the boat on that and has done for decades. Which is why interest in waning in areas that should be strongholds. Lancashire and Yorkshire clubs going to the wall when they needn't. And fans in those areas walking away or, worse still, kids never getting interested. Architects of our own downfall.
Correct all the wasted money year in year out should of went to the english clubs and more impotantly the grass roots. Canada, London etc etc all a joke. The first thing you do in any business or sport is to enhance what you already have and take care of it not throw away money on idiotic assumptions. The RFL are a joke and embarrassment as is the World cup.
The World Cup is a nonesense competition which allows second rate players who are not good enough to play for the own country to play for another nation cos the once ate their local cuisine. It's pathetic to see an international game where the players don't sing the national anthem cos they are not from that nation and don't know the words. To make it even more of a mockery they can then decide to play for someone else and people wonder why people se the game as a joke. Then some think that Rugby Union is laughing at us ----really! they don't even think about RL never mind laugh at them.Anyone who thinks Union is boring needs to watch a game at the DCBL stadium.
The most exciting sport in the world will always be a northern game so why not develop it in the North and then see what happens.