What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

We got ourselves a real Super league involving 8 nations

Coastbloke

Bench
Messages
4,051
What needs to happen now is for the RLEF and RLIF to give as much support as humanly possible.

Perhaps stump up some prizemoney. Help with exposure, sponsorship and marketing. This has sortof sprung up quite suddenly in the last couple of years. Failure to capitalise on it could lead to it collapsing if left to it's own devices..

It might be a challenge in the short term, but if the game can get it to take hold over the next couple of years it's less likely yawnion can get it's hands on it and destroy it..
 

taipan

Referee
Messages
22,402
If this Balkan League plays its cards right,it may well end up with Russian teams wanting to get on board.ATM rugby league is just marking time in the land of the Ivans.
 

DlEHARD

Juniors
Messages
823
Price money would really be an x factor and something the RLIF/RLEF should be looking into.
 

langpark

First Grade
Messages
5,867
It's a real shame, when something like this happens, and we still get comments like "why are no Russian teams!?" "where are the Scandinavian teams"? (not so much here, more so on social media) These guys, in some of Europe's poorest countries, are pulling off a logistical miracle yet some people still want more.

BSL 2019 is already looking much better, as they've separated the stronger teams (Serbian, Greek, Turkish), then the newer ones like Albania, Montenegro etc. are together in their own groups. This will help avoid some of the blowout scorelines we saw last year.

It's a shame we cannot get a big shot investor on board. I really believe this could be a future semi-pro competition, though for that to happen, I'd start off with only 6 teams, from the 3 major cities: Belgrade, Athens, Istanbul. You could still run that league for a fraction of a cost of what Crowe has spent at Rabbitohs, Argyle at Salford etc...
 

yakstorm

First Grade
Messages
5,293
Russia has tried to join the Balkan Super League previously, CSKA Moscow attempted to sign up in season 2018, and were knocked back due to logistics and the fact that Russia not part of the Balkans. (They also had South African sides ask to join - http://rlif.com/article/8388/expand...cks-off-featuring--teams-from-seven-countries)

The new 'Continental Cup' later in the year with 8 teams is meant to be the Serbian RL's solution for some of the 'other' neighbouring nations.
 

langpark

First Grade
Messages
5,867
"Not being in the Balkans" is irrelevant. Turkey and Italy are not in the Balkans but have been able to enter teams. Russia is way too far and too costly. But, last year Partizan travelled to Moscow for a match against CSKA, then (I think Lok. Moscow) came to Belgrade to play against Red Star. These types of one-off matches are a more realistic approach. The likes of Red Star and Partizan, it seems, can afford the occasional trip to Russia, no other side in the Balkans can.
 

adamkungl

Immortal
Messages
42,955
It's a real shame, when something like this happens, and we still get comments like "why are no Russian teams!?" "where are the Scandinavian teams"? (not so much here, more so on social media) These guys, in some of Europe's poorest countries, are pulling off a logistical miracle yet some people still want more.

People are always looking for all in one solutions, trying to squeeze things where they don't fit.
BSL should be an inspiration to other nations/regions.
 

Walter sobchak

First Grade
Messages
5,845
People are always looking for all in one solutions, trying to squeeze things where they don't fit.
BSL should be an inspiration to other nations/regions.
This. Copy and paste this model/format for regions like Scandinavia, Baltic states and the Low Countries etc.
 

yakstorm

First Grade
Messages
5,293
"Not being in the Balkans" is irrelevant. Turkey and Italy are not in the Balkans but have been able to enter teams.

Depends what definition you use for the Balkans. In the Balkans Peninsula, the European part of Turkey plus Trieste & Monfalcone of Italy are included.

Anyway, I feel Moscow's bid was possibly just a year too early. The BSL underwent significant expansion last year, going to Russia was always going to be too ambitious. This year the Serbian Rugby League may have been more open, especially as the new Divisions structure allows them to protect the weaker clubs / leagues a lot more.
 

adamkungl

Immortal
Messages
42,955
If Moscow can afford to fly a team down to Serbia and Turkey 6 or 7 times, maybe they should consider investing closer to home?
Serbia have planted seeds in their local region. Other national leagues and clubs with the resources to do so should emulate rather than piggybacking.
 

Coastbloke

Bench
Messages
4,051
I see on the BSL FB page that FOX League's The Professor has been taking the p!ss of the BSL. The page has stated that even 'bad' publicity is still good publicity but it's a stark example of how hard it is to to expand the game when all Australians care about is the NRL and Origin..You would think fans of the game would applaud attempts to kickstart the game elsewhere..
 

Irish-bulldog

Juniors
Messages
785
I see on the BSL FB page that FOX League's The Professor has been taking the p!ss of the BSL. The page has stated that even 'bad' publicity is still good publicity but it's a stark example of how hard it is to to expand the game when all Australians care about is the NRL and Origin..You would think fans of the game would applaud attempts to kickstart the game elsewhere..
I seen that also
 

Latest posts

Top