Looking at the state of RL in today's sporting world is quite depressing in that we have no international game to speak of. Our panic driven Ashes series is a panic effort t boost our marketability.
We don't hear much about the game in Europe for instance, though I believe that it is played in a few countries. Has anyone got a better knowledge?
What I was thinking was that even if the game is played at a lower level than SL or NRL we could still play internationals with a team selected from the Championship clubs. It would bring a new interest into the 'second string' teams.
Any thoughts ?
I reckon your "panic driven" comment is a bit harsh mate. Everton, and Headingley are both (long since) out, with Wembley looking promising as well. As I've mentioned on other threads, our tickets are booked for all three, and we're hugely looking forward to 'em, but.......
Conversely, your "lower level" words seem a good idea to me. Perhaps summat like "Championship England" v (say) Germany could be a poss in the future? Curtain raiser to OT?
Spelly.
@spelly My panic statement simply meant that they needed 'something' to liven up the picture drawn by the widely published overspend by SL clubs.
The reason the games sold out was that it was a light in a very static dull same old same old programme.
In the days of our youth regular Aussie/NZ tours were highlights in our game but the advent of SL and its failure in Oz put a stop to the interchanges on the field of play. Hence we try to compete in the UK with the round ball game with never-ending international European contests.
In truth our game's administrators have had their noses in the Sky trough and ignored any thought of growing our game. We need to make a much bigger effort to spread the UK game. to a wider public.
I have posted before about the RU kidnapping the seven aside Olympic competition leaving our better skilled players as spectators rather than competitors. I am sure that a few teams from RL clubs (maybe even Championship clubs) could be assembled and an effort made to play in competition to represent the UK, or have our administrators already given up that ghost?
Again a chance of publicity missed!
@spelly My panic statement simply meant that they needed 'something' to liven up the picture drawn by the widely published overspend by SL clubs.
1) The reason the games sold out was that it was a light in a very static dull same old same old programme.
2) In the days of our youth regular Aussie/NZ tours were highlights in our game but the advent of SL and its failure in Oz put a stop to the interchanges on the field of play. Hence we try to compete in the UK with the round ball game with never-ending international European contests.
In truth our game's administrators have had their noses in the Sky trough and ignored any thought of growing our game. We need to make a much bigger effort to spread the UK game. to a wider public.
3) I have posted before about the RU kidnapping the seven aside Olympic competition leaving our better skilled players as spectators rather than competitors. I am sure that a few teams from RL clubs (maybe even Championship clubs) could be assembled and an effort made to play in competition to represent the UK, or have our administrators already given up that ghost?
Again a chance of publicity missed!
1) I openly admit again, that (and if you're a Lion, it's in your DNA) I'm the eternal optimist, and would prefer to say that they sold out coz of the attraction of us having yet another chance to turn 'em over. It's been a lonnnnnnng time, so can we finally do the biz? It would be a huuuuuuuuuuuuge boost to game here if we can. BRING IT ON!!!!
2) Of course they were, and it's a shame that the tours are now as irregular as they are. But the Green and Golds are heading to our shores come the Autumn, so I say again, BRING IT ON!!!!
3) I wouldn't argue with a word!
Spelly.
Other than a full blow Ashes Tour every four years, or a series against New Zealand (whatever happened to them?!) there is not much appetite for International rugby league.
'Made up' series against Tonga or Samoa generates little or no interest in either the media or the fans so why bother?
Not having a dedicated RL International Stadium also does nothing for the credibility of the Sport, and suggests it has no identity it can call its own.
Imagine if all the money that has been wasted over the years hiring expensive Football Stadiums had gone into re-developing say, Odsal, the International game just might be in a better place.
Of course, the biggest obstacles is/are; summer rugby and the fact that the elite clubs cannot see the obvious benefits of less domestic matches prevents the game from being able to develop a proper and more meaningful international programme.
But as we have seen, the current fiasco regarding another re-set for the domestic game over here, means that International Rugby League is just pushed even further down the pecking order.
Iirc the Aussie/NZ tours stopped because Sky bought the game in the UK but but the NRL fought it and maintained control of the Aussie game. At that time there were really strong feelings in Aus about selling the game.
Maurice Lindsay and the RFL fell for the easy money because they were nearing bankruptcy! Of course we are now getting to the point where the piper calling the tune is thinking of a requiem.
Of course there was also the fact that TV coverage of Aussie matches was non-existent so we only had reports about players like Gasnier, Langlands etc so the British supporters (many more than today) wanted to see these wonder players!
If you look at Union, the International Board has all the power and pull in that game. Hence why players who are International regulars hardly feature for their club sides, what with Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations. International RU is a phenomenon really considering the product. I've been to a game, the match experience is great, they do it really well. Of course, the game kicks off and, to me, it's often boring but, it doesn't seem to deter the consistent sell-out crowds.
The thing about a strong International game is it attracts new people to the sport in a way that club rugby has no chance of doing. I know a ton of people who have been to RU Internationals who have no real interest in either code of rugby, simply because it's a major sporting event. RL in the UK has no equivalent. Australian RL has Origin. A set of blokes in work all went to Italy last year for the weekend to watch England. It was an excuse for a pi**-up, but it works. They're not rugby fans.
International RL only has 3 teams to speak of. Samoa and Tonga have emerged of late full of Aussies who have South Sea Island heritage and can't quite crack the Kangaroos. But, I don't think they're long-term prospects, interest will wane. PNG are decent but will never threaten the elite. The last tour here I think was Tonga and it was rubbish, they weren't interested.
A key element to all this is that Australia, the real power-base of RL, doesn't give a toss about the International game, they go through the motions every now and then but it's a relatively unwanted distraction for them.
The Aussies are doing it right, trying to get a bigger international game
meanwhile we are trying to get a Welsh, Scottish and Irish teams off the ground
where the only qualifications are being on a day trip to the country !
we are a laughing stock !
Moving it on a step.......................
Which of you Chemics are "doing" the tests?
As I've already mentioned on various threads both here, and elsewhere, I'll be at all three supporting my country, at my game. Tickets booked lonnnnnnnnnnnnnng since.
In my opinion, it's (for us anyway) the ultimate of what RL has to offer. I totally accept that Blues v Maroons matters more to them, but I'm 101% convinced, that they'll still be busting a gut to extend the over half century of hurt they've put us through! My first taste of these games was at Station Road back in '63, when after we opened the scoring, they proceeded to put fifty past us! But ever the optimist, I live in hope, so.......
COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!!
Spelly.
I was going to go to the Leeds and Everton games, but they both sold out quickly.
I suppose that means , despite a lot of people saying people aren’t very interested in RL anymore, a lot of people are still interested in going to watch international matches, with about 120,000 tickets sold within a week or two of them going on sale, despite both available to watch live for free on BBC.
There is a definite desire to watch England/ gb play the Aussies because they are the best
will be interesting to see the Wembley crowd given the other 2 have been sold out for ages
But you have to say the Aussies are trying to expand the game into different areas - I reckon they should try Japan next