Dutch aim for Super League in Ten Years

[Wellsy4HullFC]

Will never happen. Not because it wouldn't be possible if the will was there from Ingerlund. But the flatcaps that make up the majority there deathrode a Welsh team at every turn so you can imagine what a Dutch team would be up against. A second French team will be lucky to get a start there in 10 years at this rate and it has a proven successful precedent behind it in Catalans.

Flatcappers are not the reason why SL clubs don't just pop up in random places.

 

[sheepbender]

Seen as we're so pessimistic as to the progression of global Rugby League, lets say 50+ years, what then, are we saying that its still so unlikely for the game to have developed enough to support a European based competition.?

 

[Wilson1]

Seen as we're so pessimistic as to the progression of global Rugby League, lets say 50+ years, what then, are we saying that its still so unlikely for the game to have developed enough to support a European based competition.?

It's a waste of time even thinking about what will happen in 50 years.

 

[PacificCoastRL]

Other sports would consider this a very modest and achievable aim.

Our sport was static or even contracting for 50 years till roughly 10 years ago, while other sports have been powering ahead.

We have seen good growth since the turn of the century and it is picking up in pace.

People still think small and love their doom and gloom and seige mentalities. It's the RL way. But literally anything is possible in the next 10 years, presuming we actually have a go and don't just collectively cry in our beer about how it's useless to try because not everything will work.[/QUOTE]
I couldn't agree more billy2. To me, rugby league is the ultimate sport. The problem here where I live is that 95% of the people I talk to don't know the sport of rugby league exists. But that's not going to stop me from preaching the rugby league gospel. I truly believe that rugby league can be a major professional sport in North America within 20 years, and I'm going to do everything I can to make it happen.
The worst thing that can happen is that things don't work out, but it won't be for lack of trying. And besides, those 20 years are going to pass whether I make the effort or not.
Wellsy - I'm wondering if the majority of folks involved in rugby league in England share your attitude. If this thread, and other threads in this forum are a barometer, I'm thinking that may be the case.
So keep it up, and let the world pass you by.

 

[billy2]

I think anyone expecting a new club in effectively a league free area to be in SL for more than a couple of years can only expect doom and gloom and we have no other examples to show us otherwise.

ever heard of the Melbourne Storm?
Little club set up in a League free area that's gone OK by all accounts.

 

[franklin2323]

It's not like these countries are 3rd world. It's not like they can't manage sporting teams. Barcelona in soccer spends $1b yearly. Now $10m would run a pretty successful League team. Same with the dutch setup. they only need to raise a small % of what they use in Soccer & we get a decent RL Budget. Sure it may not happen for 20years but it's possible.

 

[Bluebags1908]

Pie in the sky stuff, but I like their ambition. They should be aiming to setting up a strong domestic comp with maybe a team in one of the regional English or French lower amateur leagues one day.

 

[NRL-TGG]

Ten years ago there were things that are true now that would of been considered pie in the sky stuff back them. So good luck to this organisation for trying this, I wish them all the best and hope they pull it off successfully and I'll be cheering them on in their first Super League Grand Final in 15 years.:thumb

 

[Nederland Rugby League]

Hello everyone,
I am the Chairman for the NRLB (Nederlandse Rugby League Bond).
I just want to make things clear as I have only just found all these posts floating around on multiple forums that the Dutch are aiming at requiring a lisence for the super league in 10 years. To put the records straight I would like to put forward this statement:
These actions and words of "Dutch aim for Super League", is not the actions of the NRLB but the actions of a individual.
The sole goal of the NRLB is to develop the game of Rugby League within our borders, to grow a self sustanable domestic competition with multiple clubs through out the country and to plant that seed of Rugby league culture into the Netherlands culture which is a hard task in a soccer crazed country. It has never been a goal and will never be a goal of the NRLB to get a team into the super league especially at such early stages of development, but rather, this is the goal & opinion of an individual who beleives he can create miracles (In my opinion he is trying to fly even before he knows how to crawl) and I am not someone to stand in his way to pursue his dreams but this is something that the NRLB do not support as we believe that this does not help with local development, as his plans are to bring in a bunch of expats from Aussie to make up his squad. I do not want to see a bunch of Aussies / Kiwis (I myself am a Kiwi (and half dutch)) and Poms playing RL in the Netherlands but I want to see Dutch People playing Dutch Rugby League in a dutch Competition, and hopefully get the dutch national team back on the international scene and untill we can acheive this, there are no other plans for the NRLB.
I hope this clears things up for everyone.

 

[sheepbender]

So you would be Jason Bruygoms then? As your based in Holland, could you tell us more about the [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rotterdam Spartans Rugby League and their Chairman Philip Kimmet. Or is this thread the first you've heard about it all..[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]

 

[sheepbender]

also, you should probably update the Netherlands League website a bit more, seems a bit outdated..

http://nederlandrugbyleague.atspace.com/

 

[Nederland Rugby League]

also, you should probably update the Netherlands League website a bit more, seems a bit outdated..

This website was created by the old chairman before me, the new website also needs to be updated and the webmaster is currently working on it and should be finished mid January:

rugbyleague.nl

I can give you some info on the Spartans and the chairman if you want but I would rather not post it on a forum so if you like I can send you an email?

 

[Evil Homer]

Hello everyone,
I am the Chairman for the NRLB (Nederlandse Rugby League Bond).
I just want to make things clear as I have only just found all these posts floating around on multiple forums that the Dutch are aiming at requiring a lisence for the super league in 10 years. To put the records straight I would like to put forward this statement:
These actions and words of "Dutch aim for Super League", is not the actions of the NRLB but the actions of a individual.
The sole goal of the NRLB is to develop the game of Rugby League within our borders, to grow a self sustanable domestic competition with multiple clubs through out the country and to plant that seed of Rugby league culture into the Netherlands culture which is a hard task in a soccer crazed country. It has never been a goal and will never be a goal of the NRLB to get a team into the super league especially at such early stages of development, but rather, this is the goal & opinion of an individual who beleives he can create miracles (In my opinion he is trying to fly even before he knows how to crawl) and I am not someone to stand in his way to pursue his dreams but this is something that the NRLB do not support as we believe that this does not help with local development, as his plans are to bring in a bunch of expats from Aussie to make up his squad. I do not want to see a bunch of Aussies / Kiwis (I myself am a Kiwi (and half dutch)) and Poms playing RL in the Netherlands but I want to see Dutch People playing Dutch Rugby League in a dutch Competition, and hopefully get the dutch national team back on the international scene and untill we can acheive this, there are no other plans for the NRLB.
I hope this clears things up for everyone.

Good to hear. Thanks for clarifying things.

What people need to understand is that we've seen press releases like this countless times in RL, from David Niu's pro USA league to all kinds of made-up expansion teams. The bottom line is that until there is actually something concrete to talk about, then people shouldn't get ahead of themselves as they have done on this thread.

 

[Wellsy4HullFC]

ever heard of the Melbourne Storm?
Little club set up in a League free area that's gone OK by all accounts.

I have. I'm not sure how much you know about them, but they compete in the NRL, not the SL (which is what I was talking about).

Melbourne have the advantage of being in the same country as a place where RL is biggest in the world. They have the advantage of actually KNOWING what RL is, and they've had (albeit small) League competitions running for nearly a century.

And yet the only reason they've survived this long (and will continue to survive) is because they are bankrolled 100% by News Limited, part owners of the league. It's not outside investment.

The Melbourne model will not work in Europe. The owners of SL cannot afford to spend millions on a SL club to keep them afloat for 10 years. It's a very poor example.

Only Australians suggest these European based competitions involving the likes of Barcelona, Italy, etc. are viable. If they're that viable, how come the NRL hasn't expanded further than the East Coast and Auckland?

 

[Wellsy4HullFC]

I couldn't agree more billy2. To me, rugby league is the ultimate sport. The problem here where I live is that 95% of the people I talk to don't know the sport of rugby league exists. But that's not going to stop me from preaching the rugby league gospel. I truly believe that rugby league can be a major professional sport in North America within 20 years, and I'm going to do everything I can to make it happen.

The only way RL will be a major sport in America in 20 years time is if numerous people with many millions of pounds invest in the sport. And I mean MANY people. USA is huge and has four HUGE sports in Grid Iron, Baseball, Basketball and Ice Hockey. Even soccer with it's many billions worldwide is struggling to make a dent.

If RL became a niche sport in USA in 20 years with a few fully professional clubs I'd be very very happy. But you have more chance of winning the lottery than RL has in breaking into the big four (or even taking over MLS).

The worst thing that can happen is that things don't work out, but it won't be for lack of trying. And besides, those 20 years are going to pass whether I make the effort or not.

You can try your hardest to develop the game there, and I applaud anyone that gives it a go. If you have no money, all you can do is offer your services to try and bring in investment and sponsorship to develop players, coaches, etc. And in all fairness, that is a huge achievement in itself which is why I don't see why people keep trying to grab the brass ring from day one as all it inevitably does is disappoints everyone when it doesn't happen. I know I've used this simile earlier, but it literally is like buying lottery tickets for years and being disappointed that you don't win the jackpot.

Wellsy - I'm wondering if the majority of folks involved in rugby league in England share your attitude. If this thread, and other threads in this forum are a barometer, I'm thinking that may be the case.
So keep it up, and let the world pass you by.

I'm not sure what attitude you are alluding to other than realism? I've toured Malta and France the last couple of years with my club to play and referee games. I've had a tremendous time doing it, and I would love nothing more than the game to grow in these places. But to believe that SL is an option in 10 years time in Malta (ranked 20th in the world) would be a pipe dream and anyone involved there would agree. In fact, I'd be very surprised if a team from the area we played in France (Nantes) is anywhere near the top league in France, let alone in SL.

That doesn't mean it won't happen. But that doesn't mean I won't win the EuroMillions tomorrow either. I'm simply putting things into perspective as people clearly are talking without any actual knowledge of what is going on or what it takes to run a SL club.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

I have. I'm not sure how much you know about them, but they compete in the NRL, not the SL (which is what I was talking about).

Melbourne have the advantage of being in the same country as a place where RL is biggest in the world. They have the advantage of actually KNOWING what RL is, and they've had (albeit small) League competitions running for nearly a century.

And yet the only reason they've survived this long (and will continue to survive) is because they are bankrolled 100% by News Limited, part owners of the league. It's not outside investment.

The Melbourne model will not work in Europe. The owners of SL cannot afford to spend millions on a SL club to keep them afloat for 10 years. It's a very poor example.

Only Australians suggest these European based competitions involving the likes of Barcelona, Italy, etc. are viable. If they're that viable, how come the NRL hasn't expanded further than the East Coast and Auckland?

I agree with a lot of what you have said in this thread, but what you have just said about the storm is wayyyyyyy off the mark.

 

[PacificCoastRL]

Good to hear. Thanks for clarifying things.

What people need to understand is that we've seen press releases like this countless times in RL, from David Niu's pro USA league to all kinds of made-up expansion teams. The bottom line is that until there is actually something concrete to talk about, then people shouldn't get ahead of themselves as they have done on this thread.

This forum is a place to discuss everyone's thoughts. There is nothing official about it. So what is the harm in making projections, etc. about topics. It is supposed to be all in fun. This is like sitting in a pub, having a beer and shooting the breeze. Harmless.

 

[PacificCoastRL]

The only way RL will be a major sport in America in 20 years time is if numerous people with many millions of pounds invest in the sport. And I mean MANY people. USA is huge and has four HUGE sports in Grid Iron, Baseball, Basketball and Ice Hockey. Even soccer with it's many billions worldwide is struggling to make a dent.

If RL became a niche sport in USA in 20 years with a few fully professional clubs I'd be very very happy. But you have more chance of winning the lottery than RL has in breaking into the big four (or even taking over MLS).


You can try your hardest to develop the game there, and I applaud anyone that gives it a go. If you have no money, all you can do is offer your services to try and bring in investment and sponsorship to develop players, coaches, etc. And in all fairness, that is a huge achievement in itself which is why I don't see why people keep trying to grab the brass ring from day one as all it inevitably does is disappoints everyone when it doesn't happen. I know I've used this simile earlier, but it literally is like buying lottery tickets for years and being disappointed that you don't win the jackpot.


I'm not sure what attitude you are alluding to other than realism? I've toured Malta and France the last couple of years with my club to play and referee games. I've had a tremendous time doing it, and I would love nothing more than the game to grow in these places. But to believe that SL is an option in 10 years time in Malta (ranked 20th in the world) would be a pipe dream and anyone involved there would agree. In fact, I'd be very surprised if a team from the area we played in France (Nantes) is anywhere near the top league in France, let alone in SL.

That doesn't mean it won't happen. But that doesn't mean I won't win the EuroMillions tomorrow either. I'm simply putting things into perspective as people clearly are talking without any actual knowledge of what is going on or what it takes to run a SL club.

Your absolutely right about the first point.
About the second, I beg to differ. I'm saying in 20 years that league will be poised to overtake one of the Big 4. Things will have to be done right, I can't agree more, but in time it can happen. Not that long ago in North America bicycle racing was huge, running was a huge spectator sport. They have been eclipsed by the Big 4. There is nothing to say that rugby league can not eclipse one or any number of the Big 4. But it has to be done right. Part of doing things right is learning from mistakes, yours and other peoples mistakes. Believe me, I not going into this without doing my homework first.
As for your third point - if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. As I said, the time will pass anyway. I won't lose any sleep over it either way. But, as I've said countless time before, and will say again - rugby league deserves to be on a bigger stage world-wide. So I'm going to see what I can do about it.

 

[Wellsy4HullFC]

I agree with a lot of what you have said in this thread, but what you have just said about the storm is wayyyyyyy off the mark.

How so?

 

[Wellsy4HullFC]

This forum is a place to discuss everyone's thoughts. There is nothing official about it. So what is the harm in making projections, etc. about topics. It is supposed to be all in fun. This is like sitting in a pub, having a beer and shooting the breeze. Harmless.

Agree. Nothing wrong with talking about it on a forum.