Quote gutterfax="gutterfax"Is it?
England can't get a game v decent opposition.....Wales v France #5 v#6 in the RLIF rankings drew 1,464 fans.....The Squads for the forthcoming Australia v New Zealand test are being decimated with players opting out........the RLWC qualifiers you boast of were played in front of less than 500 people in North America, the pacific Nations cup is in danger of not going ahead, the european cup lost Italy and is now being played with two minor countries and the England B team......I am sure the sponsor was delighted BTW...
International RL is going nowhere fast......Kiwis opting to play SoO rather than play for their national team, fijians asking for dispensation so they can play SoO.....it's a farce.
As for your comments about the other lots World Cup....I suspect whilst 2013 will be a great tournament, 2015 will put International RL's place on the pecking order fully into perspective for you........'"
My post that you are denigrating there was in reply to the jester who alledged there were only 4 teams in the RLWC.
So, whilst your comments above might be valid and whilst in no way comparable to International RU, the fact remains that International RL is growing at an astonishing rate.
Players pulling out from International Games and prefering S o O to International selection needs rule changes in both areas. Not an insurmountable problem.
Since those WC qualifiers in North America, friendly games in Canada, who did not enter the qualifiers have drawn more than 4,000 against Jamaica and the US and they also played Lebanon. How big crowds do the Canadians RU draw. They have been playing for a long time.
Compared to the past, Serbia v Russia is an amazing fixture for RL. Germany are also playing internationals against Serbia. Malta are to or have just played Denmark. Norway have just played.
Small or not the Pacific Cup has been played. Papua New Guinea just had standing room only for their game against the Australian President's team ( 16,000 was quoted)
Wales V France was a disappointing attendance but they have had in the past a sell out at Swansea v Samoa, and been in two semi finals of the WC with 20 to 30,000 attendances. I suspect they will have decent attendances next year when a quarter final tie is on offer. Wales is a work in progress but is still alive and kicking.
Italy have a league, in fact, two leagues, and will compete in next years WC, probably with a bunch of Aussie heritage players but no different to the Italian RU team or the England team full of NZ and South African imports.
Now, compared to way back in the middle of the last century when we actually did only have four teams in our World Cup, you cannot come on here and assert that International RL has not made astonishing progress.
I have no doubt that the next RUWC will be a big affair if they can sort out their stadium problem but I am willing to bet that for entertainment on the field our version will win hands down and the RUWC will be a poor imitation.
