England v Samoa 2024

[Brian potter]

As the dust settles on 2023 thoughts turn to next year. Still to be confirmed but shaping up that Samoa will tour England (and please play a game or two in France!).

Venues are being considered. As posted elsewhere my preference would be

Game 1: Wigan (25k)
Game 2: Hull (MKM) (25k)
Game 3: Leeds (Headingly) (21k)

If those 3 are to be the confirmed venues then the Yorkshire tests must be split up so we don’t end up with a Huddersfield then Leeds test 7 days later.

game 1 : hull
game 2 : wigan
game 3 : Leeds

 

[yakstorm]

One off tours to England don’t achieve anything

In what way don't they achieve anything? This year's Tonga tour drew a combined TV audience of over 2 million, and had just under 40,000 paying spectators. It also ensured that England actually had a presence locally, which is the only way they'll ever grow the England brand (it's also the only way they can actually attract sponsors to the brand)

Whilst the Tonga tour could have been more successful, the fact that there is already positive talk about Samoa going over (BBC has expressed interest in broadcasting again, we have bigger venues wanting to host like Wigan, Hull, venues in London, etc) shows that there is value.

Also if we ever want internationals as a whole to grow, we need for more than the NRL, RFL and NZRL to be able to pay their way. Tonga received a tour fee for going over to England (none of the nations in the Pacific Championship received any appearance fees), which now gives them the ability to invest into something (whether they do or not is another question).

As @titoelcolombiano said, we have a responsibility to support England from an international front. Letting them die, or forcing them always to tour Australia & NZ is not only selfish, but shrinks the already small world that is international rugby league.

 

[Wb1234]

In what way don't they achieve anything? This year's Tonga tour drew a combined TV audience of over 2 million, and had just under 40,000 paying spectators. It also ensured that England actually had a presence locally, which is the only way they'll ever grow the England brand (it's also the only way they can actually attract sponsors to the brand)

Whilst the Tonga tour could have been more successful, the fact that there is already positive talk about Samoa going over (BBC has expressed interest in broadcasting again, we have bigger venues wanting to host like Wigan, Hull, venues in London, etc) shows that there is value.

Also if we ever want internationals as a whole to grow, we need for more than the NRL, RFL and NZRL to be able to pay their way. Tonga received a tour fee for going over to England (none of the nations in the Pacific Championship received any appearance fees), which now gives them the ability to invest into something (whether they do or not is another question).

As @titoelcolombiano said, we have a responsibility to support England from an international front. Letting them die, or forcing them always to tour Australia & NZ is not only selfish, but shrinks the already small world that is international rugby league.

No we don’t England is a basket case

they sided with news ltd against the arl and got paid very well for it … money they wasted. Arko was livid at their betrayal. They sold their soul to news ltd and now news ltd won the war and doesn’t need England anymore it’s slashed the money it pays them

the game is insular and has no real desire for expansion. When Toronto was a success and there was talk of ottowa and nyc coming to super league English fans were worried it would mean less English clubs

the future of the game is solely around the nrl

the nrl needs to take over international football fully

England hasnt done a thing to help the nswrl or arl since 1910

when the currency favoured them they raided the nrl mercilessly for players

their failure to develop France Scotland wales or Ireland means they have to rely on the nrl for tours

Tonga vs samoa is the jewel in our crown

The nrl needs to focus on png nz and the pacific islands

England isn’t our problem

if we could help France after Vichy that’s something I would be interested in

they at are progressive when it comes to rugby league

 

[Perth Red]

Only a true dumbass would think damaging english rugby league would be good for the game of rugby league! WB step on up

 

[wain]

I like to stay positive on social media, but seriously?
Unbelievable insular attitude…willing to throw away literally 50% of the global professional domestic leagues?

no value to 3 match series? Cricket do pretty well with the ashes tour….

 

[Perth Red]

I like to stay positive on social media, but seriously?
Unbelievable insular attitude…willing to throw away literally 50% of the global professional domestic leagues?

no value to 3 match series? Cricket do pretty well with the ashes tour….

You have to factor in that this is Wb, literally the only RL/Swans fan on the planet that thinks it would be a good idea to damage the only other professional rugby league in the world lol
Even by his stupidity levels this is one of his best!

 

[yakstorm]

they sided with news ltd against the arl and got paid very well for it … money they wasted

Hate to tell you, but Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, PNG, New Zealand, France, Cook Islands & half of Australian Rugby League did the exact same thing

If the Kangaroos only played Leagues that didn't jump across to Super League back in 95, we'd be limited to Moldova.

 

[Wb1234]

Hate to tell you, but Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, PNG, New Zealand, France, Cook Islands & half of Australian Rugby League did the exact same thing

If the Kangaroos only played Leagues thto at didn't jump across to Super League back in 95, we'd be limited to Moldova.

Yeh but now those guys are back In the fold

only England got massive money going to super league the rest got peanuts

they promised Murdoch two French teams and mergers. They delivered no mergers and one French club who gets treated as a pariah

the arl doesnt owe super league a thing

go on English forums and see what they say about our competition

if only we stopped playing origin test match football would be massive

Aussies are insular because they like origin instead of wanting to watch the Roos belt England again.

as an nrl fan I want to see Tonga vs samoa

I don’t want to wake up at 1 am to watch a half empty stadium to see one of those sides

England shouldnt expect a tour every year that’s stupid

English expecting Aussie handouts every year starting to sound like Zelensky to america lol

 

[yakstorm]

Some real revisionist history and straw-man arguments there, but you've made it clear, especially with your last comment, that you only care about what suits you.

Anyway, getting back to the topic, I see TotalRL reporting that Newcastle, London, Coventry, Doncaster & Sheffield are all going to be in the mix. For me, I hope Doncaster isn't considered, the venue capacity is only 15K and for the two previous England internationals held there (v France 2009 & v Wales 2008 have drawn 11.5K & 11.2K respectively).

 

[jim_57]

Read elsewhere that SL Grand Final is confirmed for 12th October 2024. So assuming NRL Grand Final will be 6th October Samoa have a spare weekend but not a whole lot of time if the tour starts the week after the SLGF.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

In what way don't they achieve anything? This year's Tonga tour drew a combined TV audience of over 2 million, and had just under 40,000 paying spectators. It also ensured that England actually had a presence locally, which is the only way they'll ever grow the England brand (it's also the only way they can actually attract sponsors to the brand)

Whilst the Tonga tour could have been more successful, the fact that there is already positive talk about Samoa going over (BBC has expressed interest in broadcasting again, we have bigger venues wanting to host like Wigan, Hull, venues in London, etc) shows that there is value.

Also if we ever want internationals as a whole to grow, we need for more than the NRL, RFL and NZRL to be able to pay their way. Tonga received a tour fee for going over to England (none of the nations in the Pacific Championship received any appearance fees), which now gives them the ability to invest into something (whether they do or not is another question).

As @titoelcolombiano said, we have a responsibility to support England from an international front. Letting them die, or forcing them always to tour Australia & NZ is not only selfish, but shrinks the already small world that is international rugby league.

Well said, two good things about the current situation is that England can build each year towards the world cup. 2023- Tonga, 2024 - Samoa, 2025 - Australia, 2026 WC. It is a very good preparation for them.

Also, having two more teams able to tour means that its less likely to get stale just playing the Kiwis and Roos all the time.

 

[Wb1234]

If samoa are going to tour England then they should play some tests in France too

the French tests will probably be as well attended as the ones in England.

France has shown in the past how big rugby league can be there

 

[Perth Red]

If samoa are going to tour England then they should play some tests in France too

the French tests will probably be as well attended as the ones in England.

France has shown in the past how big rugby league can be there

France hasnt cracked a 15k home crowd since the early 70's!

 

[Wb1234]

France hasnt cracked a 15k home crowd since the early 70's!

12k is the benchmark unfortunately

and maybe if England played France in France they would get big crowds

playing England knights at the Leigh sports village on a Wednesday night seems to be englands idea of Improving nh international rugby league

 

[Perth Red]

12k is the benchmark unfortunately

and maybe if England played France in France they would get big crowds

playing England knights at the Leigh sports village on a Wednesday night seems to be englands idea of Improving nh international rugby league

13.3k was the avg crowd for this series v tonga. Id suggest thats the benchmark

It'd be great if France were more competitve and could give england a game, but they arent even close. Seeing France get smashed by england every year does the game no good.

Last results
64-0
42-18
30-10
44-6
Avg winning margin 39 points

 

[Wb1234]

Toulose were in super league

when did they play the toulose vs catalans derby ?

on a Thursday night!

 

[Wb1234]

13.3k was the avg crowd for this series v tonga.

So why did you use 15k

lmao

 

[Perth Red]

So why did you use 15k

lmao

Because that was the biggest crowd in this series.

 

[siv]

When is the next Kiwi tour of England scheduled?

 

[Perth Red]

Toulose were in super league

when did they play the toulose vs catalans derby ?

on a Thursday night!

eh? whats that got to do with int RL?
Like NRL, Tv (or the clubs choice when not on tv) dictates when games are played.