england want rl ashes on the line

[superdog]

ENGLAND captain Jamie Peacock has called for rugby leagues Ashes to be put on the line when his men take on Australia during this years Four Nations tournament.

Excited by the hype surrounding the current cricket series, the Leeds star said over the weekend it would be a big bonus for league if its version was on the line at Wigan on October 31, a one off game to decide a title Australia has held for 36 years.
"The cricket Ashes this summer has been massive and really captured the imagination of everyone around the country,'' Peacock said.
"It's been a real talking point and the excitement at Headingley a few weeks ago when England met Australia was like something I've never experienced before, despite the result. I really miss playing Australia in a Test series like we used to and I'd be all in favour of bringing it back.
"Looking at the international calendar for the next few years though, there doesn't seem much room for a three match Test series. For now I think the starting point should be a one off Ashes game each year between England and Australia starting this October with the Four Nations.
"It would be brilliant to be the first captain from these shores to pick up that trophy since 1970.''
The call was supported by former Great Britain hooker Mike Stephenson, who said: "To take both sets of Ashes off the Aussies all in the space of three months would be sensational and leave those Down Under on a real downer. I know the cricket Ashes aren't won yet, but fingers crossed we're nearly there!''
The Rugby League International Federation has no three-Test series between leading countries planned before the next World Cup in 2013, with Four Nations tournaments seen as being more lucrative.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ashes-equivalent/story-e6frexnr-1225765392911

 

[deluded pom?]

Can't agree. All of the sides previously won it in a series not a one off. If England won a one off then no one would recognise them as the holder of the Ashes trophy. In fact the Aussie media would ridicule any such sentiment. We either play the 4N or we play a series. We can't do both.

 

[marv]

Yeah put 'em on the line, put my house on it, put my bird on it, we all know whos gonna win.

 

[Sam_the_man]

Yeah put 'em on the line, put my house on it, put my bird on it, we all know whos gonna win.

Is that like how we all knew who was going to win the world cup?

Stick the Ashes on the line.

 

[roughyedspud]

Yeah put 'em on the line, put my house on it, put my bird on it, we all know whos gonna win.

i'd back us in a one off game

 

[LeagueXIII]

How about we treat the RL Ashes with a little more respect. This is one of the greatest sporting contests, it has been a fantastic competition with a great history of over 100 years.

 

[hutch]

not many positive comments under the story. i posted a comment supporting international rugby league and a true ashes series for the future, but it didnt seem to get through. all the comments bagging rugby league seem to get through all the time.

 

[griff]

How about we treat the RL Ashes with a little more respect. This is one of the greatest sporting contests, it has been a fantastic competition with a great history of over 100 years.

Of course we should. I've been beating this drum for years.

Four yearly Kangaroo tour, four yearly Kiwi Tour, four yearly Lions tour, four yearly World Cup. It ain't effin rocket surgery.

 

[Coastbloke]

Isn't there a window in 2012...??

2012 - Ashes Tour
2013 - WC
2014 - 4N in Aust
2015 - 4N in UK / France
2016 - Ashes tour to UK
2017 - WC (Probaly in Oceania)....

????

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Of course we should. I've been beating this drum for years.

Four yearly Kangaroo tour, four yearly Kiwi Tour, four yearly Lions tour, four yearly World Cup. It ain't effin rocket surgery.

Yes but that dosent leave much room for competitions like the four nations and it only allows other nations one chance really to challenge the bigger nations.

We do need more International competitions though, but club Rugby League is significantly stronger and we should weaken it at all.

I would like to see it back though. Every four years, GB tour Aus or Aus tour GB. But I truely cant imagine a GB tour attracting much attendtion here crowd wise.

 

[griff]

Yes but that dosent leave much room for competitions like the four nations and it only allows other nations one chance really to challenge the bigger nations.

It doesn't really leave room for the four nations, but so what? The four nations doesn't actually offer anything more than a four year cycle does, and in fact it offers significantly less: no history, no tradition.

It does give plenty of room for other nations. On a Lions tour, they could play PNG, Fiji, Tonga, or NZ Maori, etc. A Kangaroo or Kiwi tour they could play France, Wales, etc. When the Kiwis are in Britain the Kangaroos could play PNG or the islands, and the same for the Kiwis when the Kangaroos are in Britain. Added to all this would be the "minor" nations playing each other in the Pacific Cup and European Cup.

We do need more International competitions though, but club Rugby League is significantly stronger and we should weaken it at all.

Do you mean shouldn't weaken club RL? I agree, but the great thing about a tour is that we can build on the strength of club RL by having traditional matches against the clubs. Australia vs Leeds for example would make a heap of cash.

I would like to see it back though. Every four years, GB tour Aus or Aus tour GB. But I truely cant imagine a GB tour attracting much attendtion here crowd wise.

You're kidding right? Last GB tour of Australia provided 3 of the all time highest rating shows on Sydney and Brisbane tv, and an aggregate crowd of 100,000 for the 3 tests in Sydney Brisbane and Melbourne. It would need to be promoted properly, but I think crowds like that or even higher are certainly achievable.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

You're kidding right? Last GB tour of Australia provided 3 of the all time highest rating shows on Sydney and Brisbane tv, and an aggregate crowd of 100,000 for the 3 tests in Sydney Brisbane and Melbourne. It would need to be promoted properly, but I think crowds like that or even higher are certainly achievable.

I truely hope your right. I would love it if the administrators of the game would have the same faith as you, but I just dont see big crowds for an Ashes series that is more then likely going to be a one sided affair.

 

[westie]

Lions/Roos tours to me aren't as interesting as a four nations with the ability to expand down the track. Plus, they probably aren't going to make the same amount of money, especially if you take into account the Kiwis/France etc not having the help of a big competition to boost crowds.

The Ashes shouldn't be on the line in a one off game. They should be earnt through a series. Seeing as how they seem to want to have a year off before world cups, why not have the series once every four years in that gap.

 

[LordLeague]

Why does there need to be a seperate series? The Bloody-slow is put on the line during the Rah Rah tri nations. We should re-work ours to do the same.

We could either:

1) go back to a tri nations where each team plays each other twice. The Ashes are put on the line for the OZ v ENG/GB games where the challenger must defeat the Ashes holder twice to claim the Ashes.

2) tack an extra Ashes test onto the four nations.

While we're at it, combine the mid-year Kiwi test and four nations as part of a year long series with the Kiwis and play for the old Trans Tasman Cup.

LordLeague

 

[druzik]

Well I think a much better international sries of tournaments needs to be done in general. For example is we were to start from next year

• 2010: Regional championship qualifiers. Top 3/4 nations get automatic qualifiers so can tour. Kangaroos and Kiwis tour UK and France playing 2 3 match series with each
• 2011: Regional championship finals, Pacific Cup, European Cup and Atlantic cup
• 2012: 6 Nations (RLIF Cup) where the top 2 European and Pacific nations go through from the finals, and the 3rd places and top Atlantic cup winner go ina two spot play off for the last two spots. A 4 Nations (Federation shield) where the team not to make play off, 2nd placed Atlantic nation and 4th place Euro and Pac nations play. These are the opener matches to the RLIF cup... so 10 nations playing in one spot... The RLIF cup nations get automatic qualification for the WC and the top two Federation shield teams also get automatic qualifcation... WC Qualifiers for all other nations for remaining spots.
• 2013: World cup!

• 2014: Same as 2010, but Australia tours NZ and PNG and NZ tour PNG, England Tour France and the home nations.
• 2015: Same as 2011.
• 2016: Same as 2012.
• 2017: Same as 2013.

• 2018: Same as 2010, but this time England and France tour Australia and NZ for two 3 match series
• 2019: Same as 2011.
• 2020: Same as 2012.
• 2021: Same as 2013.

• 2022: Same as 2010, but now NZ and PNG tour Australia for two three match series and PNG tours NZ.
• 2023: Same as 2011.
• 2024: Same as 2012.
• 2025: Same as 2013.

Its not rocket surgery... but it does take a bit fo common sense to try and give all international teams a chance to compete... It also has another 3 fold effect.
1. All teams have the incentive to field their strongest and best teams as they have the chance to move up through the rankings and get a shot at better teams over the years. Which menas...
2. This should be an incentive for players to chhose other teams rather than go for the top 4 since they have the chance to play the top nations in meaningful matches on a regular basis with the WC qualification being the end incentive.
3. Smaller nations who have aspirations to one day maybe host a WC can say well lets host a regional, 6N or 4N tournament and show the others what we can do... do it successfully and you can then have a shot at hosting the WC.

I have doen this up and also run some simulations here.

 

[druzik]

1) go back to a tri nations where each team plays each other twice. The Ashes are put on the line for the OZ v ENG/GB games where the challenger must defeat the Ashes holder twice to claim the Ashes.

I would go two steps further, have a 6 nations, two groups of three plating each other twice as you say... have England and Australia in one group and NZ and France in the other and then the next best team from Europe, Pacific or Atlandtic (see post above). OUt the various cup on the line then.

2) tack an extra Ashes test onto the four nations.

While we're at it, combine the mid-year Kiwi test and four nations as part of a year long series with the Kiwis and play for the old Trans Tasman Cup.

LordLeague

This could work as well

 

[Collingwood Storm]

Good idea!

Maybe Australia and NZ in RL can play for the Bledisloe Cup.

You can also change the name of the RL World Cup to the Davis Cup.

Also let's have 4 or 5 other countries play-off for the right to take on Australia over 7 matches in the RL America's Cup.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Good idea!

Maybe Australia and NZ in RL can play for the Bledisloe Cup.

You can also change the name of the RL World Cup to the Davis Cup.

Also let's have 4 or 5 other countries play-off for the right to take on Australia over 7 matches in the RL America's Cup.

I am sensing some sarcasm. You seem to have the perception that RL is stealing the Ashes name. Fact is the Rugby League Ashes have been contested for a 100 years.

 

[RL1908]

I am sensing some sarcasm. You seem to have the perception that RL is stealing the Ashes name. Fact is the Rugby League Ashes have been contested for a 100 years.

Spot on 1 Eyed TEZZA. The "ashes" are most prominent in cricket, but the "ashes" term existed in many sporting contests between nations/colonies, including rugby league from the first tour in 1908. Each match being called a "test match" is similarly as old.

Harry Sunderland and many other early RL administrators referred to RL tests between Aust & England as Australia's winter equivalent of summer's cricket contests - and looking at the Sydney/Brisbane attendances, the RL "Ashes" were just as big in NSW & Qld as the cricket Ashes series/tests.

 

[RL1908]

ENGLAND captain Jamie Peacock has called for rugby leagues Ashes to be put on the line when his men take on Australia during this years Four Nations tournament.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ashes-equivalent/story-e6frexnr-1225765392911

Hopefully Peacock's comments lead to some debate between Aust & England as to what the future of the RL Ashes is.

Are 3-Test series dead?

If we aren't to have any more 3 Test tours (and the Lions haven't been here since 1992), and there's no current plan for Aust to mount a 3-Test tour to England, then the RL Ashes are either dead and consigned to history, or some new system has to be brought into vogue.

If 3-Test Ashes series are no longer to played, then perhaps a system where to win the Ashes trophy the non-holder (currently England) has to defeat the current holder (Aust) in 3 consecutive Tests (including World Cup games), no matter how far apart the 3 matches are.