ENG v NZ @ KCOM Stadium // Saturday 27 October - Sunday 00h30 (AEDT) 02h30 (NZDT)

[miguel de cervantes]

Just on the ref situation:

https://www.rlef.eu.com/articles/16...ficial-appointments-for-european-championship

RLEF CELEBRATES MOST DIVERSE EVER MATCH OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
27 OCT 2018

The 2018 European Championship match officials list has been confirmed, with the group drawn from seven of the RLEF's member federations, the most diverse representation ever.

A number of graduates from the RLEFs part EU-funded technical development programmes will feature after the appointments were made by the recently formed RLEF Match Officials Panel, made up of Steve Ganson (RFL), Mohammed Drizza (FFRXIII) and Tom Mather (RLEF).

“It’s very pleasing to see such a number of federations being represented in the match officials appointments,” said match commissioner David Butler, also a graded referee. “The MOP was formed to create greater cooperation between The RLEF and key governing body partners to ensure a pathway across the continent, and it is already bearing fruit.”

The European Championship matches which kick off tomorrow (Saturday) also double as 2021 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers. Butler noted: “The RLEF has a target of at least one match official graduating from its various education programmes being involved in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, and the appointments for this year's European Championship point to that being achievable."

A Frenchman, Benjamin Casty - brother of Catalans Dragons skipper and recently retired international Remi - will referee a European Championship game for the first time since the RLEF was created.

Andrew Pilkington (Spain) will touch judge, whilst Jarda Bzoch (Czech Republic) will be one of the reserve officials as will Guido Bonatti (Italy). Both Pilkington and Bonatti have refereed Euro B and Euro C games this season. Irish duo Paul Causby and Eamonn Whelan, and Welshman Jamie Jones will also act as reserve officials.

The appointments also see the largest contingent of French officials selected for a European Championship, with six being involved. Furthermore, Geoffrey Poumes will also travel to the USA to be part of the MO squad for the 2021 RLWC Americas qualifying games.

The full match officials appointments are:

Ireland v Scotland

Referee: Tom Grant (England)
TJ: Jack Pullein (England)
TJ: Liam Moore (England)
Reserve: Paul Causby (Ireland)
Reserve: Eamonn Whelan (Ireland)
Match Commisioner: David Butler (England)

France v Wales

Referee: James Child (England)
TJ: Cameron Worsley (England)
TJ: Geoffrey Poumes (France)
Reserve: Quentin Boissannade (France)
Reserve: Kevin Delarose (France)
Match Commisioner: Remod Safi (Lebanon)

Ireland v France

Referee: Scott Mikalauskas (England)
Touch Judge: John McMullen (England)
Touch Judge: Andrew Pilkington (Spain)
Reserve: Jarda Bzoch (Czech Republic)
Reserve: Michael Mannifield (England)
Match Commissioner: David Butler (England)

Scotland v Wales

Referee: Ben Casty (France)
Touch Judge: Quentin Boissannade (France)
Touch Judge: Gareth Jones (England)
Reserve: Craig Smith (England)
Reserve: Guido Bonnatti (Italy)
Match Commissioner: Phil Smith (England)

Wales v Ireland

Referee: Gareth Hewer (England)
Touch Judge: Andrew Smith (England)
Touch Judge: Paul Marklove (England)
Reserve: Gareth Jones (England)
Reserve: Jamie Jones (Wales)
Match Commissioner: David Butler (England)

France v Scotland

Referee: Greg Dolan (England)
Touch Judge: Craig Smith (England)
Touch Judge: Cyril Vergnes (France)
Reserve: Sebastian Vincent (France)
Reserve: Ben Casty (France)
Match Commissioner: Phil Smith (England)

 

[Walter sobchak]

Watches footy for the crowd... righto

Better things to watch and do than a soulless international game of RL.

 

[AJB1102]

Better things to watch and do than a soulless international game of RL.

Like coming here to complain about it more than once?

 

[Walter sobchak]

Like coming here to complain about it more than once?

And sticking your head in the sand helps how exactly??

 

[AJB1102]

And sticking your head in the sand helps how exactly??

Didn't say addressing the issue was wrong or unhelpful. Just found it strange that someone who cares enough about international RL to knuckle into it's problems would turn a game off after a few minutes because the crowd was quiet.

 

[deluded pom?]

There was 17,500 there.

Small crowds to the first test of a 3 game series in England v NZ is nothing unusual:

1961 - 16,540

1965 - 8,541

1971 - 3,764

1980 - 7,031

1985 - 12,591

1989 - 18,273

1993 - 36,131

1998 - 18,500

2002 - 16,654

2007 - 16,522


Other then the 1993 game at Wembley which was heavily advertised and had a huge lead in all games since 1961 have attracted less then 20,000. Yesterday's attendance was continuing that trend.

At least try and argue with me. Put some recent Australia crowds up that weren't played in Perth.

 

[deluded pom?]

Eh, it had no room for growth. It's worth getting rid of it if we are going to have expanded tours and tournaments in its place, instead of pissing about like we currently are.

Expanded tours? Australia aren't interested so we get England v New Zealand every season.

 

[Walter sobchak]

Didn't say addressing the issue was wrong or unhelpful. Just found it strange that someone who cares enough about international RL to knuckle into it's problems would turn a game off after a few minutes because the crowd was quiet.

That’s just it though mate. I’m fast losing interest and love in a game that converted me from football(soccer). I grew up on watching the likes of ellery Hanley, Jonathan Davies, Martin offiah and Gary schofield doing battle against the Aussies at packed stadiums like Wembley, elland rd and old Trafford etc.

 

[AJB1102]

That’s just it though mate. I’m fast losing interest and love in a game that converted me from football(soccer). I grew up on watching the likes of ellery Hanley, Jonathan Davies, Martin offiah and Gary schofield doing battle against the Aussies at packed stadiums like Wembley, elland rd and old Trafford etc.

So do you appreciate the game at all or just like a big noisy crowd?

Maybe stream the next game at a nightclub; footy with lots of noise!

 

[Walter sobchak]

So do you appreciate the game at all or just like a big noisy crowd?

Maybe stream the next game at a nightclub; footy with lots of noise!

The poor crowd and poor atmosphere didn’t appeal to me as like I said before I’m fast losing love for the game. I’d rather watch football these days. Even watching Sunderland is more appealing.

 

[deluded pom?]

Even watching Sunderland is more appealing.

Have you ever thought about getting treatment for your mental issues?

 

[Springs09]

Expanded tours? Australia aren't interested so we get England v New Zealand every season.

I know, I said 'if'

Though it's not like England and NZ are blameless

 

[Springs09]

There was 17,500 there.

Small crowds to the first test of a 3 game series in England v NZ is nothing unusual:

1961 - 16,540

1965 - 8,541

1971 - 3,764

1980 - 7,031

1985 - 12,591

1989 - 18,273

1993 - 36,131

1998 - 18,500

2002 - 16,654

2007 - 16,522


Other then the 1993 game at Wembley which was heavily advertised and had a huge lead in all games since 1961 have attracted less then 20,000. Yesterday's attendance was continuing that trend.

2015 didn't and besides it's not the point - we are supposed to be growing the sport not stagnating or (compared to 2013/2015) - going backwards.

 

[Walter sobchak]

Have you ever thought about getting treatment for your mental issues?

Runs in the family apparently. Well my mams side at least as they are from mackem land ;-)

 

[AJB1102]

The poor crowd and poor atmosphere didn’t appeal to me as like I said before I’m fast losing love for the game. I’d rather watch football these days. Even watching Sunderland is more appealing.

What if your telly was on mute and the camera didn't show the crowd, could you still watch soccer?

 

[Springs09]

At least try and argue with me. Put some recent Australia crowds up that weren't played in Perth.

13k in Darwin and 21k v Lebanon were pretty good last year. Before that 27k at Newcastle 2016, 18k in Wollongong v Samoa and 47k in Brisbane for 2014 4N.

 

[Walter sobchak]

What if your telly was on mute and the camera didn't show the crowd, could you still watch soccer?

Never happens. Have you never heard about the famous roker roar ;-)

 

[roughyedspud]

This. The venues should have been :-
London
Manchester/Liverpool
Leeds/Sheffield

No venues under 30,000.

I'd go London,Manchester,Newcastle..all bases covered then...south,North and even norther....lol

 

[Walter sobchak]

I'd go London,Manchester,Newcastle..all bases covered then...south,North and even norther....lol

Great minds and all that.

I’ve been banging on about taking a proper test match against the Aussies or kiwis to st James park for years what with the success of magic weekend and Newcastle thunder up there in Geordie land.

 

[deluded pom?]

13k in Darwin and 21k v Lebanon were pretty good last year. Before that 27k at Newcastle 2016, 18k in Wollongong v Samoa and 47k in Brisbane for 2014 4N.

Darwin is a town starved of any high quality sport so when something comes along it's no surprise it fills a 13,000 seat stadium.
What about a WC final in 2017? How many freebies were given away for the Lebanon game? What was the attendance for the semi against Fiji in 2008?