16 teams for the 2021 RLWC?

[kiwileaguefan]

Can the game successfully stage a competitive 16 teams for the next RLWC?

Scotland will more than likely be gone by 2021 so which nation is going to fill their position plus the two additional positions? Russia, Cook Islands, Jamaica, Canada, Serbia, or South Africa?

They should be reducing it to 12 teams as its already clear by this World Cup there is a gap now being established between the tier two nations.

We have shown previously a 10 team RLWC (1995, and 2008) has been arguably the most competitive and successful. I'm all for growing the game but i honestly believe the organisers are trying to grow too fast.

 

[deluded pom?]

Similar feeling here. I was all for expanding to 16 but some of the score lines are making me think again. Yes, other sports get blow outs but it's usually when the big guns meet the minnows. We are seeing good but not top drawer teams hammering other sides in their group. Are there now three/four tiers at this WC?

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

It's a tough balancing act.

The relaxing of the eligibility laws has pretty much catapulted the likes of Tonga, Samoa, Fiji above a lot of other tier 2 nations.

Even the QLD Cup has helped push PNG up a level above nations with developing or second tier leagues.

Not sure what the solution is. Removing a couple of teams might limit the damage but it won't really make a difference.

 

[kdalymc]

alternatively, instead of saying "sack this team, sack that team", we have 4 years to fix this...

 

[Force]

Yes, Wales, USA, Scotland so far look crap but I still think we should build on what we have. Taking a step backwards wont do the game any favours.

 

[langpark]

4 groups of 4 is the perfect format and one that we can then keep for the next century. Top 2 in each group go through, so there is no stuffing around with cross-group matches etc. If you look at teams that missed out, there's very little separating them from some of the teams that qualified.

USA -> Not much better than Canada and Jamaica

Then if you look at Serbia, once they get a few more heritage players in the mix, they won't be far off the likes of Wales and Scotland either. An extra two teams won't kill us and will do wonders for the game in those countries!

 

[JamesBrandy]

There's always blowouts in tournaments like this. The only way for the minnow teams to grow is to get them playing more football, not less. Sure, blowouts aren't great but at least give these teams a chance to redeem themselves in this tournament before writing them off.

 

[deluded pom?]

Wales hammered Serbia in the qualifiers and are missing some decent players who would make a difference to the current team.

 

[BuderusIsaBeast]

I’m also a little worried about the move to 16 but I wouldn’t want to deny a country like Serbia or Canada an opportunity to play in a World Cup because we’re worried about some thrashings. Hopefully countries like the USA will get a lot out of the World Cup and teams can make some strides Over the next 4 years.

If we do got to 16 we need to have super groups with 3 in group A and B going through and one in C and D imo. If Fiji and Tonga can put 50 on USA and Scotland u can imagine what Australia, NZ and England could do

 

[isaiah]

4 groups of 4 is the perfect format and one that we can then keep for the next century. Top 2 in each group go through, so there is no stuffing around with cross-group matches etc. If you look at teams that missed out, there's very little separating them from some of the teams that qualified.

USA -> Not much better than Canada and Jamaica

Then if you look at Serbia, once they get a few more heritage players in the mix, they won't be far off the likes of Wales and Scotland either. An extra two teams won't kill us and will do wonders for the game in those countries!

USA were lucky not to play Trinidad and Tobago in qualifying

 

[RedVee]

I’m wondering what happens as the Grandparent rule on eligibility runs out for some countries. Different countries may come through qualifying but there may be a lag in quality for a while.

I’m thinking that Italy, Ireland (though not many in their squad this time), Scotland had their immigration to Australia ‘bump’ post WW2, and that’s going on for 60 years ago now. Tonga, Samoa, Fiji has been more recent and the GFather affect will be available.

I acknowledge that I am not up on immigration to England, and that Ireland for one seem to be utilising the heritage rule successfully with players in the various English competitions.

Maybe some countries that have been developing their own comps, like Serbia, Canada & Jamaica may have an increased chance of coming through to RLWCs.

 

[hutch]

Can the game successfully stage a competitive 16 teams for the next RLWC?

Scotland will more than likely be gone by 2021 so which nation is going to fill their position plus the two additional positions? Russia, Cook Islands, Jamaica, Canada, Serbia, or South Africa?

They should be reducing it to 12 teams as its already clear by this World Cup there is a gap now being established between the tier two nations.

We have shown previously a 10 team RLWC (1995, and 2008) has been arguably the most competitive and successful. I'm all for growing the game but i honestly believe the organisers are trying to grow too fast.

2013 was by far the most successful World Cup and the most competitive. 14 teams is perfect but 16 teams could be just as successful and a good number to stay at.

 

[langpark]

The pros definitely outweigh the cons, two extra nations, extra matches, and all without the duration of the competition increasing at all. Look at Serbia for example, they are starting to get some decent heritage players on board, and with 4 Trbojevic brothers and Cotric there, if any of them are not playing for Australia in 2021, there's a good chance they will switch allegiances and suddenly the Serbia team is looking a lot stronger.

 

[Pommy]

I’m wondering what happens as the Grandparent rule on eligibility runs out for some countries. Different countries may come through qualifying but there may be a lag in quality for a while.

I’m thinking that Italy, Ireland (though not many in their squad this time), Scotland had their immigration to Australia ‘bump’ post WW2, and that’s going on for 60 years ago now. Tonga, Samoa, Fiji has been more recent and the GFather affect will be available.

I acknowledge that I am not up on immigration to England, and that Ireland for one seem to be utilising the heritage rule successfully with players in the various English competitions.

Maybe some countries that have been developing their own comps, like Serbia, Canada & Jamaica may have an increased chance of coming through to RLWCs.

The Irish have always migrated to England even today there are plenty of people who effectively fly in and fly out every week due to lack of work in the island. The numbers may reduce but I think there’s still going to be plenty of English Irish eligible players. There was freedom of movement before the EU and I believe it’s the aim to keep that freedom of movement post Brexit.

West Indians migrated to the UK in the post war period as everyone was dead and people were needed whilst that migration has continued it hasn’t been at the same rate so I would expect the numbers to steadily fall away.

I’m surprised there’s no Pakistan RL side as I certainly know a good number of British Pakistanis who play league and they have a large community in the heartlands.

In the next 10 years I think there is going to be a lot of young people with eastern bloc backgrounds coming of age. Teams like Poland could really benefit from it.

 

[Rory]

Firstly, why would Scotland be ruled out by 2021? Really player hatin the Scots, there missing 8 players ffs, i guess we should just get rid of Samoa aswell cause of there shit domestic league and thumping loss to nz? Yeah nah. But i do agree the organisers are going to fast, if Jamaica get a reality check from a shite french team, then i really dont think there ready, the best i can think of would be either serbia (as long as Trobjevic bros play, Cotric and Jason Muranka) And possibly Africa United? Africa United play in NSW and QLD, there represent the whole of Africa, could get some decent players (Matongo, Mazive, Mbye, Kwarwin, jayden okunbor) should be a couple super league players aswell.

 

[hutch]

Firstly, why would Scotland be ruled out by 2021? Really player hatin the Scots, there missing 8 players ffs, i guess we should just get rid of Samoa aswell cause of there shit domestic league and thumping loss to nz? Yeah nah. But i do agree the organisers are going to fast, if Jamaica get a reality check from a shite french team, then i really dont think there ready, the best i can think of would be either serbia (as long as Trobjevic bros play, Cotric and Jason Muranka) And possibly Africa United? Africa United play in QLD, there represent the whole of Africa, could get some decent players (Matongo, Mazive, Mbye, Kwarwin, jayden okunbor) should be a couple super league players aswell.

Scotland no longer meet the minimum domestic rugby league comp requirements to qualify for a World Cup.

 

[Rory]

Scotland no longer meet the minimum domestic rugby league comp requirements to qualify for a World Cup.

Pullin my leg, source? Or rule, or something?!?!?!?!?

 

[Pommy]

Pullin my leg, source? Or rule, or something?!?!?!?!?

They have no domestic scene and are making no effort to change that.

 

[Rory]

They have no domestic scene and are making no effort to change that.

i know that but id like to see a source, im a pretty stubborn bloke unless theres fax

 

[Pommy]

i know that but id like to see a source, im a pretty stubborn bloke unless theres fax

I don’t have a fax machine