The Future of the Pacific Championships

[Mother Nature's Son]

I wish it had been scheduled every 2 years and alternating the host nation, like it was pre-1995 (e.g. play in England in 2025, Australia in 2027, England in 2029, Australia in 2031 etc.). This would mean the Baskerville Shield - England vs. New Zealand - would be in four year intervals (at least the series held in the UK), commencing in 2028.

Having Ashes series back-to-back in 2028 and 2029 is going to be a very risky proposition, especially if Australia wins the home 2028 Ashes tests by blow-out scorelines. If that happens, it will be incredibly difficult to convince the RFL to host the 2029 Ashes tests at the larger soccer venues such as Wembley, Old Trafford, Everton Stadium, Elland Road, St James' Park etc. I can see the RFL would be more likely to take the ultra-conservative option like they did in 2001 and 2003 (albeit, circumstances around test match footy were very different back in the early 2000s compared to now), playing them at the typical Super League venues reknown for guaranteeing a 20-25k test match attendance (based on past stats), such as Wigan, Huddersfield, Hull etc. As long as Headingley doesn't host another Ashes test. Sorry to the folk in Leeds, but the 3rd test at the 19,500 capacity venue looked and sounded very amateur on tv (like it was played at a suburban park ground), compared to the atmosphere at Everton Stadium.

As someone said elsewhere there is only one certainty in International Rugby League and that is that there will be a Rugby League World Cup next year, anything after that is supposition.

 

[Hellwege]

You could always one ANZAC test before one of them leaves fpr England or before England arrives....so the tours definitely halt the progress of the Pacific Nations Tournament but htey do not have to kill prevent the comeback of this series

 

[adamkungl]

Lets see, 19 years of Catalans in SL hasnt made a jot of difference to French Int competitiveness, lets see if adding Toulouse does anything.

Catalans has undoubtedly raised the number of Super League contracted French players from between 0-2 to around 20.
But it is a valid and interesting point that France actually haven't improved their results in that time. Would love someone to figure that one out.
Perhaps the quality of non-SL French player 15 years ago was not far off what a SL French player is now and all they've done is pay them more. Maybe the French national team and high performance setup is just a shambles and isn't equipped to deliver results.

 

[Dogs Of War]

I know I posted a link to this article in another thread of the International section on this forum, but a country that was left off this article was Lebanon:

The biggest rugby league attendances by nation

There are plenty you might not expect. 👇

www.zerotackle.com

The 2002 Mediterranean Cup fixture between Lebanon and France at the Tripoli International Olympic Stadium drew nearly 10k fans (9,713 to be exact), which is the largest crowd for a rugby league match in Lebanon:

Mediterranean Cup 2002 - Game 1 - Lebanon 36 def. France 6 - RLP

Match info page for the Lebanon vs. France game in Game 1 of the 2002 Mediterranean Cup season. won 36 to 6 at International Stadium.

www.rugbyleagueproject.org

So, there is some level of interest for rugby league in Lebanon to build off, not to mention the national team made the quarter-finals of the past two RLWC tournaments.

But 3 teams who actually only played 3 games against each other really isn't good enough for a top level comp. It's nice they have a uni comp etc, but they really need more teams and a longer season to develop players.

 

[adamkungl]

But 3 teams who actually only played 3 games against each other really isn't good enough for a top level comp. It's nice they have a uni comp etc, but they really need more teams and a longer season to develop players.

I'm assuming this is why they were stripped.
In addition to governance and financial requirements, The playing requirement for full membership is 250+ registered players and a senior competition having at least 6 clubs.
Additionally at least 4 of those clubs having junior teams in annual competition, and evidence of womens game development.

 

[Dogs Of War]

I'm assuming this is why they were stripped.
In addition to governance and financial requirements, The playing requirement for full membership is 250+ registered players and a senior competition having at least 6 clubs.
Additionally at least 4 of those clubs having junior teams in annual competition, and evidence of womens game development.

I can see how it will work, but they need that mass of players that are coming through the uni's (8 teams) and whatever junior comps they have below that, to make the leap to playing the local comp and getting more teams happening. Probably also need some rich dudes to fund the comp for a while.

 

[adamkungl]

I can see how it will work, but they need that mass of players that are coming through the uni's (8 teams) and whatever junior comps they have below that, to make the leap to playing the local comp and getting more teams happening. Probably also need some rich dudes to fund the comp for a while.

Idk if it's a matter of money. Money always helps (otherwise people are running the comp and clubs in their spare time) but it's fundamentally a steep climb to get people to devote themselves to brand new clubs in a sport with no visibility. I don't know how you'd get over that hurdle.
Have a paid IRL development officer in the country. You definitely need some coordinator on ground to assist new startups.
Make sure NRL and Super League are on TV. Run ads during the broadcasts targeting people to get involved locally?

 

[adamkungl]

Sometimes I think a 5 year World Cup cycle might suit Rugby League better.

The biggest difficulty I find with the calendar is how to fit in regional championship tournaments alongside tours, which are both great and necessary content, but we have a short international window which in all likelihood will never be extended in such a way that fits both in 1 year. Almost every calendar idea prioritises one over the other.

A 5 year cycle would simplify and balance things, 4 years in between with 2 tournament years and 2 major touring years:
2026 - World Cup
2027 - Pacific + Northern Championships
2028 - England or NZ tour
2029 - Pacific + Northern Championships
2030 - Kangaroo tour
2031 - World Cup

Problem is the RLWC is the main money spinner for the IRL. This could reduce their income. But then again, maybe giving the rest of the calendar time to breathe would make the World Cup stronger to compensate.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Sometimes I think a 5 year World Cup cycle might suit Rugby League better.

The biggest difficulty I find with the calendar is how to fit in regional championship tournaments alongside tours, which are both great and necessary content, but we have a short international window which in all likelihood will never be extended in such a way that fits both in 1 year. Almost every calendar idea prioritises one over the other.

A 5 year cycle would simplify and balance things, 4 years in between with 2 tournament years and 2 major touring years:
2026 - World Cup
2027 - Pacific + Northern Championships
2028 - England or NZ tour
2029 - Pacific + Northern Championships
2030 - Kangaroo tour
2031 - World Cup

Problem is the RLWC is the main money spinner for the IRL. This could reduce their income. But then again, maybe giving the rest of the calendar time to breathe would make the World Cup stronger to compensate.

Or given where the game is internationally, just have an 'all in' World Championship every year after the GF.

Aus, NZ, Eng, Tonga, Samoa, PNG, Fiji, France. All the key nations we want to develop, no P&R, lock it in. Two pools of four and a final.

All other nations play regional tournaments each year underneath and if in the future, a nation shows promise in terms of playing talent, finances, participation etc, we can look at the structure, but for now, those 8 are it. They can all field professional squads and it should be a really competitive tournament.

 

[Hellwege]

like Rugby Union until 30 years ago, only they had two separate tournaments with 6+4(starting with 3) nations

 

[Manurewa_Marlins]

6 used to be 5 before the allowed Italy in as well, and only a matter of time before TRC allows Japan and Fiji in...

 

[Ideas Man Stephen]

I believe there needs to be a good mix of scarcity and competitiveness for international footy to grow.

I would be more than satisfied with one tour series per cycle, over two cycles. A SH tour and a NH tour. For the tours, I would bring back the GB Lions brand as well.

Lions tour to SH in one four year cycle to play top six SH nations once each would be mega. Bring France along too for matches against the lower ranked SH nations.

Then Aus and NZ tour for two matches each against Lions and a third against the French in the other four year cycle. Bring PNG along to play each nation as well.

Outside that, a Six Nations held the year after a WC in the other hemisphere to the WC (losing WC quarter finalists play each other for final two spots in the following year’s Six Nations - when the competition has quarter finals again ).

Pacific and European competitions to be held the year before a WC.

 

[Gobsmacked]

I think a year where Tonga and Samoa play each other in a 3 game Origin style series, while Australia And NZ tour the UK in a tri nations would be good.
Same year have France come and play a comp involving PNG,Fiji and Cooks

 

[Perth Red]

Would love to see png tour france and wales. That would be a great experience for the png players.

 

[Coastbloke]

Would love to see png tour france and wales. That would be a great experience for the png players.

PNG toured France a couple of times in the 90s IIRC.. They always seemed to be entertaining matches with crowds just below 10,000.

 

[shadowformz]

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/12/15/pacific-is-rugby-leagues-new-true-heartland-and-hawaii-should-be-its-home/

 

[titoelcolombiano]

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/12/15/pacific-is-rugby-leagues-new-true-heartland-and-hawaii-should-be-its-home/

NSW, QLD and Emus to represent Australia, what an awful f**king idea