Could we promote international RL?

[roopy]

After the success of the RUWC, do you think we could sell a few tickets to international RL games on the back of that success?

It was pointed out a month or so ago that the US Tomahawks are coming over again in the next pre season and are keen to play the Sydney based Greek side.

If the NRL actually put a few advertising dollars into supporting this and a few other fixtures around the same time, like New Caledonia V Lebanon or Russia V Italy or something - do you think we could get a decent crowd along?

Maybe this could be called 'The Emerging Nations Cup' (Tas Batieri Cup?) and be a regular part of the pre season - and teams invited each year could take part in the sevens as well.

I know it is all too much to hope that League could make an effort to spread the game like that, but the crowds are there if the promotion is done right - we have seen that.

Maybe the whole thing could be done in Newcastle where people really love their League, and RU have decided to ignore for their WC.

 

[JJ]

It's hard to know.

The RUWC has been a success attendance wise. But here in NZ (being rugby snobs) we're laughing a little about the quality of the games. Admittedly we might not be laughing so much if it was being held here. But, RU is the game here, a little like league is in NSW and Qld.

I don't think you would get big crowds here to watch 2nd rate Union. Would you get big crowds there to watch 2nd rate league? I suspect not (you can't even get big crowds to Aus vs GB/Kiwis), I think it's time both games accepted that they are not global, and never will be.

A few years back, we got large crowds to watch the U17 soccer world cup - but again the difference is the quality of the product.

The Uruguay vs Georgia match at RUWC was embarrassingly bad - if Union wasn't somewhat of a novelty in Aust, would people really pay to watch that rubbish?

 

[bayrep]

What you dont realise is for countries like Urugauy and Georgia who would have watched this game on TV and seen the great crowd and atmosphere that was generated will inspire some kids to go and take up the game. It doesnt matter to them that the game was crap as at this stage they do not care about quality.

If you held a similar competition for League with the same promotion that Union got I dont see any reason why Aus fans wouldnt get in behind it. Which will have the same effect to countries like Lebanon, Russia and Italy. Has to be good, and even though the standard was bad between some minow teams I still enjoy watching these unknown teams and it will be the same for the die hard league fans who are hungry to see the international scene grow. In 20 years if they stick to it you will see a rise in standard. Classic example was Japan in 91 RUWC the ABs beat them by 145 - 7, in this world cup they held France to within 20 points. Russia got d!cked by Aus in the 2000 RLWC watch them bounce back given time and competition.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

I don't see why there couldn't be night or weekend of games in Sydney when you consider the teams that could take part. If the US is coming, added to the Greek, Italian and Lebanese sides there is a good platform for a tournament. Who knows maybe other progressive teams may be invited and choose to come too. I know the Pacific is broke, but there are enought Australian based players to make up strong Tongan/Samoan etc. teams and if the Pacific RLs wanted to send players that would be great. New Caledonia seem to be very progressive, I don't know if the money is there, but they would be keen I think. The whole idea is a bit like the Asia-Pacific Cup (remember that) which was supposed to be in Brisbane, but fell through coz of lack of funds/sponsorship. If it was done right, by the NRL or ARL, instead of Pro-Rugby or whatever they were called it could work.

ps: the NZ v Japan RU game was in 1995, the year that that League junior Lomu killed it.

 

[bayrep]

.......

ps: the NZ v Japan RU game was in 1995, the year that that League junior Lomu killed it.

Was it ? As I thought it was Mark Ellis's (Spelling) first game which was against Japan were he scored something like 5-6 tires. I thought it was in 91. Mannnn I am getting old and losing memory already .

 

[JJ]

It was Ellis, and it was 95.

Calling Lomua league product is a bit like suggesting Wally Lewis is a Union product.

Dooes anyone really think that anyone in Georgia, the US, Uruguay, Canada, the US or even Italy give a toss about rugby???

I was in Canada and the US recently - and they don't know about it - check ESPN.com - very little coverage. The NZ Maori team were in Canada just before me, and nobody knew, and nobody cared.

These countries have their sports they are mad on (largely football) in Canada ice hockey is a religion, and we're all familiar with what the yanks play. Rugby and league mean very little in most places.

 

[bayrep]

It was Ellis, and it was 95.

Calling Lomua league product is a bit like suggesting Wally Lewis is a Union product.

Dooes anyone really think that anyone in Georgia, the US, Uruguay, Canada, the US or even Italy give a toss about rugby???

I was in Canada and the US recently - and they don't know about it - check ESPN.com - very little coverage. The NZ Maori team were in Canada just before me, and nobody knew, and nobody cared.

These countries have their sports they are mad on (largely football) in Canada ice hockey is a religion, and we're all familiar with what the yanks play. Rugby and league mean very little in most places.

Was there no coverage of the games at all ? even delayed ?

 

[JJ]

Not that I saw

Which is a real shame, as Canada had some very good players at one stage. Al Sharron IMO is one of the very best blind-side flankers ever.

But in Canada, there is ice hockey - and everything else is fairly much in line with tiddly-winks! Even the baseball and basketball has limited drawing power - although when the Blue Jays were winning in the early 90's they had sell-outs. I could walk up and get heavily disomerkined BlueJays tickets from scalpers - good seats, I really enjoyed it

 

[In-goal]

The blue jays in the World series seems like yesterday

 

[JJ]

we're all getting old In-goal!!!