2009 Four Nations Opener

[JasonE]

Will be at Wembley Stadium between England and Australia. Good news i think.

 

[pcpp]

And where did you get this information?

France aren't even confirmed yet.

 

[Calixte]

One can only hope this tip is on the money, Jase...

 

[jim_57]

Will be at Wembley Stadium between England and Australia. Good news i think.

Hopefully this is true, is it official?

For the record here's what I would go with:

Week 1:
England V Australia - Wembley Stadium, London - 90,000
France V New Zealand - Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan ~ 10-12,000

Week 2:
Australia V New Zealand
France V England - Stade Municipal, Toulouse - 36,000


Week 3:
France V Australia - Parc Des Princes, Paris - 49,000 (for lack of a decent sized rectangular ground)
England V New Zealand - Elland Road, Leeds - 40,000

Week 4:
Final - City Of Manchester Stadium, Manchester - 48,000

Have to give credit for the DH idea to Spud ;-)

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

I haven't come across anything about this, I hope it's true.

 

[roopy]

JasonE is usually right (i'd say always, but i just know it would bite me on the arse if i did)

 

[Desert Qlder]

After having attended the Wembley weekend only a couple of months earlier, would Englands predominantly Northern based fans be willing to make another rather costly trip down to London for this game? Cas, Rougheyd, DP?

 

[jim_57]

If this is official it is great news in 2 ways, 1. A game is being played at wembley and 2. the four nations is going ahead.

JasonE I hope you have something to back up this thread or I'll be dissapointed.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Just read on TRL that Stevo mentioned it in his column.

http://www.totalrl.com/fansforum/index.php?showtopic=49168

The Four Nations Rugby League tournament will hit these shores in just over 12 months time and the opening game will be at Wembley. England, Australia, New Zealand and France will battle it out to pick up a new trophy in an attempt to lift even further the profile of our game at International level

 

[screeny]

Good decision. Screw the north, get brave and in your face, good idea RFL....

 

[marv]

Its certainly brave........or stupid depends how we go in the WC for me

Id have it in the north, but Im lazy

 

[deluded pom?]

After having attended the Wembley weekend only a couple of months earlier, would Englands predominantly Northern based fans be willing to make another rather costly trip down to London for this game? Cas, Rougheyd, DP?

If you're a committed RL fan then you'd be looking at a trip to France (if you support a SL team or your NL team get drawn away in the CC), a trip to Wembley for the CC final and a ticket for the GF at Old Trafford. A possible double header at Wembley would have to be priced accordingly. This would put a small hole in the GDP of a fair few small countries. I personally think it's a huge step to go from choosing 25K seater stadia (which the RFL have used for Tests series for a while now) and then jumping straight into Wembley. A double header at OT might be a better prospect at this moment in time (or 2009 anyway). That is of course if Mr Ferguson would allow it.

 

[roughyedspud]

as a oldham fan i'll be looking at a weekend away @ toulouse...hopefully, a weekend away for the challenge cup final, a day out at the national league grand finals..and now wembley for the 4 nations (which i might add i called ages and ages ago)

HAPPY DAYS :lol:

 

[kiwileaguefan]

I think its a bad move, France are not up to the standard yet, it was proven this year by England.

It will look rather silly if Fiji or Tonga come fourth at this years World Cup and France comes last in their pool match.

I have always said that it should be the fourth top nation vs 5th top nation to earn the right to play in the Tri Nations.

 

[The Tank]

I think its a bad move, France are not up to the standard yet, it was proven this year by England.

It will look rather silly if Fiji or Tonga come fourth at this years World Cup and France comes last in their pool match.

I have always said that it should be the fourth top nation vs 5th top nation to earn the right to play in the Tri Nations.

You could say the same about New Zealand. The French are only going to get stronger. Can't wait.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

You could say the same about New Zealand. The French are only going to get stronger. Can't wait.

How can? We have made the Final 3 out of the last 4 major International Rugby League tournments...thats a pretty crap standard

 

[East Coast Tiger]

I can see why the Kiwis don't want the French in. They don't want to get beaten by another side.

 

[The Tank]

How can? We have made the Final 3 out of the last 4 major International Rugby League tournments...thats a pretty crap standard

My point was England may have thrashed France but they also thrashed NZ. And from memory France didn't do too badly against the Kiwis in their last matchup.

 

[jim_57]

France need to be put in regardless I say, they have a pro club, some great players and they have far more potential than any other country that could be considered. When Toulouse go full time they will be even stronger.

Besides France were missing Gossard, Ferrioll, Guisset, Greseque, Pelo and probably more players in the mid year test. Now that is 3 first choice forwards, halfback and a good winger and that is always going to hurt a side with little depth like France. Matter of fact it would hurt any team, England without Peacock, Morley, Gilmour, Raynor and Burrow.

 

[Calixte]

Excellent decisions in England.

Lewis is da man...