Internationals Strategies & Ideas to Grow International Rugby League

[brightman]

Some good reads..

https://www.zerotackle.com/international-rugby-league-not-as-hard-as-you-might-think-36621/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...s-denver-test-as-2025-world-cup-concerns-grow

So in short, funding or even fully supporting the promoter of the Denver Test but especially the 2025 WC would be the smart thing to do..

 

[razzrillinger]

Some good reads..

https://www.zerotackle.com/international-rugby-league-not-as-hard-as-you-might-think-36621/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...s-denver-test-as-2025-world-cup-concerns-grow

So in short, funding or even fully supporting the promoter of the Denver Test but especially the 2025 WC would be the smart thing to do..

More than happy for the Kiwis to play a game against England/Australia/Tonga in Toronto as long as the timing is right. Could have a Junior Warriors or Kiwis team play against the Wolfpack as a curtain raiser.

The sooner Rugby League moves on from Jason Moore the better though.

 

[Lord Gnome of Howick MBE]

This sort of thing helps

 

[Lord Gnome of Howick MBE]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/45678496

Barcelona could host Catalans v Wigan Super League match at Nou Camp in 2019

• 28 Sep

The Nou Camp has never hosted a rugby league fixture before
A decision about Barcelona hosting a Super League match at the Nou Camp will need to be "fixed fast" for it to be a success, according to Catalans Dragons.

The Dragons, based 120 miles from Barcelona in the French city of Perpignan, hope to face Wigan in 2019.

A spokesman said the rugby league club is "confident" the match will go ahead.


Barcelona invited Catalans to organise the game after Dragons recently paraded its Challenge Cup trophy at half-time of a La Liga match at the ground.

A Wigan Warriors spokesperson said the club is "thrilled by the concept" and are interested to see how it develops, but added that the match is still only an idea.

For the match to happen at the Nou Camp, Catalans need to formally approach the Rugby Football League (RFL) for approval.

Already Catalans are investigating suitable dates, with the match needing to work around Barcelona's own fixtures, including domestic and European schedules.

For that reason, a summer date - after the conclusion of the football season - would be the most likely option.

Catalans previously played in the Spanish city in 2009, facing Warrington Wolves at the Olympic Stadium.

Taking a match to the biggest stadium in Europe, with a capacity of 99,354, would be a huge undertaking for the French rugby league club whose Stade Gilbert Brutus ground holds just 13,000.

The population of Perpignan itself is circa 118,000.

While the proposed Super League fixture would be a first for the home of the five-time Champions League winners, the Nou Camp has previously hosted a rugby union fixture.

 

[razzrillinger]

I had no idea that Catalans were based to close to Barcelona, that's cool.

 

[Lord Gnome of Howick MBE]

I had no idea that Catalans were based to close to Barcelona, that's cool.

Barcelona is in Catalonia, same as Perpignan - the region sits across both France and Spain and has a claim for independence.

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

I had no idea that Catalans were based to close to Barcelona, that's cool.

If you ever get to Europe put Barca on your bucket list, it’s a wonderful city. On the coast, architecture of Gaudi with a parkland hill at one end which has the Olympic stadium at the top. Great views of the city at the top.

A very independent lot the Catalans, speak their own lingo and for historical reasons have a deep mistrust of those in Madrid. The Catalans region extends across the border into SW France

 

[matiunz]

Barcelona is in Catalonia, same as Perpignan - the region sits across both France and Spain and has a claim for independence.

I have a Catalonian friend and made the mistake of calling her Spanish- ONCE
They’re a proud bunch

 

[Sup42]

"INTERNATIONAL rugby league is set for a shake-up with Australia, New Zealand and Tonga on the verge of taking part in a historic tri-nation series which would see the last-placed country relegated to play other Pacific nations.

The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) will present the proposal at a conference of the Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation in Auckland on Friday.

The Daily Telegraph has learnt the RLIF’s plan includes:

- Australia, New Zealand and Tonga to be grouped in one conference.

- Samoa, PNG and Fiji to play in another conference.

- A mid year Test between New Zealand and Tonga during the State of Origin period.

- A mid-year Test between two of Samoa, PNG and Fiji.

- Australia to play New Zealand and Tonga at the end of next year.

- Samoa, PNG and Fiji to have played each other once before the end of 2019.

- The winner will be decided on a round-robin style points system.

- The bottom placed team in the Australia, New Zealand and Tonga pool will be dropped down while the first-placed team in the Samoa, PNG and Fiji conference will be promoted the next time the tournaments are held.

Representatives from all the nations including Australia will consider the proposal which could potentially see either the Kangaroos or Kiwis relegated as Tonga continues to grow as an international powerhouse

RLIF chief executive Nigel Wood said this was the first element of a five year international calendar.

“Most people would agree international rugby league is capable of doing more,” Wood said. “Right now represents a terrific opportunity to work with all the stakeholders in the game. What today is about is the Pacific Island nations reviewing the potential “Oceania Cup” to see if that meets their needs.

“There is a lot of consultation which still needs to happen. We know we have to go back and speak to clubs.
"It’s about taking advantage of an opportunity most people should happen in rugby league and deliver an international calendar which is compelling.
“The game is ready to talk about what international rugby league could look like. This is the first part of the consultation process.”

It is understood a Great Britain side will tour New Zealand next year but are not expected to play in Australia.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

"INTERNATIONAL rugby league is set for a shake-up with Australia, New Zealand and Tonga on the verge of taking part in a historic tri-nation series which would see the last-placed country relegated to play other Pacific nations.

The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) will present the proposal at a conference of the Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation in Auckland on Friday.

The Daily Telegraph has learnt the RLIF’s plan includes:

- Australia, New Zealand and Tonga to be grouped in one conference.

- Samoa, PNG and Fiji to play in another conference.

- A mid year Test between New Zealand and Tonga during the State of Origin period.

- A mid-year Test between two of Samoa, PNG and Fiji.

- Australia to play New Zealand and Tonga at the end of next year.

- Samoa, PNG and Fiji to have played each other once before the end of 2019.

- The winner will be decided on a round-robin style points system.

- The bottom placed team in the Australia, New Zealand and Tonga pool will be dropped down while the first-placed team in the Samoa, PNG and Fiji conference will be promoted the next time the tournaments are held.

Representatives from all the nations including Australia will consider the proposal which could potentially see either the Kangaroos or Kiwis relegated as Tonga continues to grow as an international powerhouse

RLIF chief executive Nigel Wood said this was the first element of a five year international calendar.

“Most people would agree international rugby league is capable of doing more,” Wood said. “Right now represents a terrific opportunity to work with all the stakeholders in the game. What today is about is the Pacific Island nations reviewing the potential “Oceania Cup” to see if that meets their needs.

“There is a lot of consultation which still needs to happen. We know we have to go back and speak to clubs.
"It’s about taking advantage of an opportunity most people should happen in rugby league and deliver an international calendar which is compelling.
“The game is ready to talk about what international rugby league could look like. This is the first part of the consultation process.”

It is understood a Great Britain side will tour New Zealand next year but are not expected to play in Australia.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport

This is a great concept. Of course it could be very one sided, particularly if Tonga cant maintain their rise. But it wont hurt the game and will create massive competition in the islands.

Are England snobbing Australia? I hope so. Id like to see more of it, until the Aussies tow the international line.

 

[brightman]

particularly if Tonga cant maintain their rise.

let's see how many Tongans get called up for S.O.O. Such as Pangai Jr, could work for or against them to our advantage..

 

[Sup42]

This is a great concept. Of course it could be very one sided, particularly if Tonga cant maintain their rise. But it wont hurt the game and will create massive competition in the islands.

Are England snobbing Australia? I hope so. Id like to see more of it, until the Aussies tow the international line.

I like the idea of intense competition to avoid relegation, but I fear this has come too soon.

Right now what is needed is plenty of games between Tonga NZ and Aus.

It seems premature to put and end to that just when interest is peaking.

I think the poms world body have over thought this one.

Wait till we've had our fill and its being taken for granted.

Also throwing England in there so four teams, would at least make a relegation comp less gutted by the loss of one...

Still it would rival SOO with so much on the line...even Aus fans would sit up and take notice if they looked like being relegated....even if that were from an anti support veiw.

Cant argue with your point about how good it will be for PNG SAMOA FIJI tho....and in the checks and balances that alone should be enough to embrace this concept.

Just playing devils Nig....
I love it a hundred times more than what we have had...

 

[Sup42]

i guess the elephant in the room is what happens if We get knocked out of this tournament.

We all know that would be massively damaging to the code here.

Seems risky on that level, I'm sure Rugby League bosses are too removed to see that reality...it is something that should concern them.

 

[Brother Faisal]

Screw the relegation stuff. Just lock in a series. Tonga will always draw. But I just really want a 3 test series against Aussie to be honest. It will bring all the Tongans back as it grows and develops more money will come. I mean the kiwis were drawing more than Bledisloe Cup games just a year or two ago in tv ratings. There’s a market for it just no one has the balls to tap into it but if you do a tri fecta you will get the viewing figures but especially the sell out element of it especially if you keep kiwis v Tonga games in Auckland.

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

i guess the elephant in the room is what happens if We get knocked out of this tournament.

We all know that would be massively damaging to the code here.

Seems risky on that level, I'm sure Rugby League bosses are too removed to see that reality...it is something that should concern them.

The concept is good. It needs to be an annual event, so there is continuous movement between the 2 tiers. We get knocked out, we win the lower grade the next year and go back up with a stronger determination to not get last again.

 

[bruce]

The concept is good. It needs to be an annual event, so there is continuous movement between the 2 tiers. We get knocked out, we win the lower grade the next year and go back up with a stronger determination to not get last again.

Dream on. That would kill the game here. Tonga are not TV ratings material, end of story.

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

Dream on. That would kill the game here. Tonga are not TV ratings material, end of story.

You think it would kill the game for us to spend 1 year in the lower division playing Samoa, or Fiji, or PNG? Did it kill the game whrn we bowed out of the World Cup? Did it kill the game the many times we have bombed in tests, four nations, tri nations? Did 6 years in the wilderness for the Warriors kill the game?

No. We would all be disappointed, but would tune in the next season to see us dominate the lower grade and jump back up to the top level with a better determination to not fuck up again.

Our games would still get televised. People would still watch the other games. Nothing much would change. It would just be another disappointing phase in the Kiwis evolution that we and the team would bounce back from.

Im not sure everyone has picked up on the constant promotion/relegation of the concept. It will happen each season it is played, so nothing is forever.

 

[bruce]

You think it would kill the game for us to spend 1 year in the lower division playing Samoa, or Fiji, or PNG?

Absolutely. Apart from PNG those other sides are fakes.

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

Absolutely. Apart from PNG those other sides are fakes.

They are fakes? What the hell angle are you planning to run now?

Tonga and Samoa have always had an interesting relationship, and interesting games. There are MANY players available to Samoa. Tonga wont dominate permanently. When they crash and burn next, Samoa will be eaiting to pounce. With more games on offer, more players will put their hand up for Samoa. They will improve. This concept gives the 2nd tier teams more chances to play the big boys, and after Tongas World Cup, there will be inspiration to push harder. Fiji have also produced some excitement over the years. They have the fastest players around. It makes for a more action packed and expansive spectacle than a defensive NRL style match.

This baahumbug attitude is why the international game is in the toilet. NZ and Australia have looked down their noses for too long and the minnows. This concept removes that.

 

[bruce]

They are fakes? What the hell angle are you planning to run now?

Some journo alluded to the same situation this week. Tonga (and Poland) could claim Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ffs.

Ok as Hardymans Yugo correctly says the Irish football team is mainly English, as are the bloody Pogues. The Pogues are a fake Irish band IMO except for the fact their lead singer was born in Ireland but spent most of his life in England They are a bloody good band, but they are not an Irish band.

International sport is for citizens of a country. Even the Americas Cup started out like that to the extent of arranging passports for "fake" citizens.

If they are not citizens, they are fakes, end of story.