Aboriginal team to play in Hawaii

[Willow]

The Australian Aboriginal Rugby League team has been invited to play in the Asia Pacific Cup. The tournament will be played in Hawaii in February 2002.
Eight teams will participate: USA, Papua New Guinea, The Cook Islands, Tonga, Japan, Fiji, New Zealand Moari and Australian Aborigines.
The teams have gained approval from the Rugby League International Federation.

I think this is pretty good news for Rugby League internationally and depending on how it's done, should help to promote RL in the USA.

 

[imported_Roopy4246]

The biggest problem with this tournament is the uneven nature of the teams invited. Teams like PNG, Aboriginals and Maoris would be in the top eight in the World, while USA and Japan would not beat Dubbo CYMS. I would like to see the US and Japanese teams put into a camp where they could get some really top grade coaching and training before the start of the comp.

 

[Willow]

Roopy. Coach Artie Beetson reckons it will be a development team and not the national squad. Don't know about the Maori or PNG teams.
I posted this in the 'Asia Pacific (?)..' thread in the US RL forum as well.

 

[imported_Roopy4246]

Thanks for that Willow (for giving me the info. and for putting it on the North American board).
I see that the yanks are now going to put on a student World Cup in 2005 and a few leadup tournaments;
http://www.amnrl.com/news/082401.html
I wonder if they will put it on in the North East or in Hawaii - I suppose it depends on how this tournament goes.