Euro seedings

[milton]

Official RLEF Seeding 2006:

1. England
2. France
3. Wales
4. Lebanon
5. Ireland
6. Scotland
7. Russia
8. Georgia
9. Holland
10. Serbia
11. Morocco
12. Malta
13. Germany
14. Estonia
15. Czech

 

[Copa]

I suppose they have to start somewhere...

 

[roopy]

Malta would be 5 if I were doing the ratings.

 

[carlnz]

Malta would be 5 if I were doing the ratings.

I dont think they should be reated higher than any nation that has a domestic competition.

 

[Mr_Ugly]

If you include Malta and Morocco (... okay Screeny / LF, I'll take their absence from WC qualifiers to mean the Moroccan's probably don't have even a small comp), then why not Greece and Italy? Similarly, if you include the Czechs, then why not the Austrians? (I'd be tempted to leave them all off until they have regular "home-grown" games).

Other than that, the list looks pretty good with only Malta, if included, probably being the only one well out (I would have thought 8 or above). Most of the others are only debatable over a position or so.

The problem with these type of rankings in our game however, is that many sides are completely different depending on whether they include their "heritage" players or not. By the look of the list though (e.g. Lebanon at 4), I assume that you have included these players.

 

[Mr_Ugly]

I dont think they should be reated higher than any nation that has a domestic competition.

Do the Netherlands or Georgia actually have domestic competitions (rated above Serbia)?

I see your point though, given that both of these field pretty much local players.

 

[HelperMonkey]

I think you will find that neither Greece, Italy or Portugual were considered is because they neither have a domestic competition, or have played an international in the past 12-24 months.

At least that would be my line of thinking....does seem a bit wierd though, that said it may just be a start so they can better caculate rankings as time goes along.

 

[Ari Gold]

I think you will find that neither Greece, Italy or Portugual were considered is because they neither have a domestic competition, or have played an international in the past 12-24 months.

At least that would be my line of thinking....does seem a bit wierd though, that said it may just be a start so they can better caculate rankings as time goes along.

Italy played USA last week... we attended the meeting as well, don't see why Malta should get in if we didn't.

 

[screeny]

Mr Ugly, what are you on about, "if they use their 'heritage' players"?

We have to stop thinking like that. Either a player is eligible for a nation or he isn't. If Lebanon, or for that matter any other nation in the world, chooses to field a 100% ex-pat team, if those expats fit the eligibility criteria, then it's legal. In fact, RL's the only sport I know where a quota is put on this kind of team selection.

You could enter a team in the Fifa WC or the Olympic games with 100% ex-pat players if you chose to as long as they were at least grandparent eligible or had a residency of 3 years.

What we should be looking at in the rankings is activity and record. Malta has played one match in Europe and is therefore not ranked higher.

France are European champions, Wales runners up and WC semi-finalists, while Lebanon are undefeated since 2000, have beat France three times and are five times Med Cup winners.

It's a fantastic initiative and the qualifiers will surely see a few nations shift around.

My tip for a climb up the rankings: Serbia. I reckon they'll improve in the qualifiers and qualify for the October fest. Russia are going backwards.

 

[HelperMonkey]

Italy played USA last week... we attended the meeting as well, don't see why Malta should get in if we didn't.

Wasn't it an Italy A side that one? Look I'm just playing devil advocate here in throwing up the other potential points of view. I honestly do think they just wanted a start, just so teams could move from and be measured upon...

 

[colonel_123]

Italy played USA last week... we attended the meeting as well, don't see why Malta should get in if we didn't.

Maybe because that match was played in Australia. Perhaps being the RLEF, having played an international match in Europe was part of the qualification for seeding.

I don't know, just throwing out ideas...

 

[Mr_Ugly]

Mr Ugly, what are you on about, "if they use their 'heritage' players"?

We have to stop thinking like that. Either a player is eligible for a nation or he isn't. If Lebanon, or for that matter any other nation in the world, chooses to field a 100% ex-pat team, if those expats fit the eligibility criteria, then it's legal. In fact, RL's the only sport I know where a quota is put on this kind of team selection.

You could enter a team in the Fifa WC or the Olympic games with 100% ex-pat players if you chose to as long as they were at least grandparent eligible or had a residency of 3 years.

I wasn't actually referring to the pros or cons of using heritage players. Rather, I was commenting on the fact that the makeup and "ability" of some of these teams changes dramatically depending on whether the heritage players are included or not, and this makes it difficult to assign rankings.

For example, late last year, a side that got to call itself "Ireland" (not Ireland A, Irish Exiles or anything else) got beaten fairly comprehensively by Cumbria (I think it was Cumbria). As I understand it, the "Ireland" side was made up of Irishmen living in the Cumbria region (or where ever it was). This is a different Ireland side from that which plays in the ENC, and different again from that which would play in a WC, where all ESL / NRL players would be available.

No matter what ranking system is used, this kind of wild variation in the team composition and performance will make it difficult to calculate and interperet rankings

 

[YANTO]

No sure how it works but it is based on the results played in europe over the last two years.
Strength of opposition was also taken into consideration.

Malta "should maybe "be ranked higher but on the one game and strength of opposition (England Summer Conference side) they have at least made a start.
As for teams with domestic competitions I dont think this reflected on the standings just the results of Internationals.
In Holland we have had Ter Werve,Hook van Holland,Rotterdam,Mecca Boys and Sassenheim play club football in the last two years.
Getting them into an organised League is a lot more erm lets say complicated but we are working on it.
As for Serbia making the cut in the European nations "B" this year will be very interesting with all four countries out to show improvement.
Russia travelling to minnow's Holland and Serbia could spring some suprises.
Georgia look to be to be favourites but again they have to travel to Moscow where they lost heavily last year.

As for the Serbian ranking remember they have yet to win an International game at senior level and their best result to date is a draw with marocco.
Holland have beaten them home and away in less than twelve months thats why the Dutch are ranked higher.

 

[brendothejet]

The rankings look pretty fair to me although being Irish i think we could dust off the Lebanese

I'm interested in this whole Czech thing. Where the hell did that come from? Not heard anything about them. Anyone got any info?

I'd love to see holland qualify for the WC. That would be a lark!

 

[YANTO]

The rankings look pretty fair to me although being Irish i think we could dust off the Lebanese

I'm interested in this whole Czech thing. Where the hell did that come from? Not heard anything about them. Anyone got any info?

I'd love to see holland qualify for the WC. That would be a lark!

The latest European nation that looks set to take up Rugby League is the Czech Republic. Despite sub-zero temperatures in Prague, European RL Development Officer Kevin Rudd has reported a surge of interest in the sport having just returned from meeting officials of the newly-formed Czech RL.

Principal driving forces behind the new association are Milan Mrtynek, a noted rugby player and administrator in the country and Jan Sluka, who has just returned home from a spell in Ireland where he played for the Kilkenny Wild Cats in the Irish RL Conference under Ireland ‘A’ coach Damian Welland.

A clearly impressed Rudd commented, “Both of them have been delighted with the initial response from players and fans within the country that are desperately keen to give the sport a go. The new organisation has ex-patriate English and Scots support off the field alongside the native Czech’s.”

During his visit Rudd attended some taster coaching sessions. “There were a lot of natural League players on show and you could see the amazement in the player’s eyes as they quickly took to the code. It is hoped that Czech RL will be part of the World Cup Qualification Process for 2008, with final decisions on that set to be made at the forthcoming Rugby League European Federation Board meeting in London on 12th February.”


Met the guys in London and they seem very possative about the whole thing.
Milan is an ex Czech union international and also a buisness man who sounded very very possative about his LONG term goals.

 

[brendothejet]

That is awesome Yanto. You've got all the goss.

You think they can do it? get a comp and a team up and running in time for the euro qualifiers?

 

[hgfds]

So if we have two groups of three and the seedings stay the same group 1 would be wales ireland russia ,gp2 lebanon,scotland,georgia,looks like lebanon will go through,however ireland will give wales a tough time especially {if they can gain a few aussies} wales are no certs and may have to face a wc playoff

 

[bender]

It seems a bit ridiculous that some people can suggest that nations be ranked based on a domestic competition. This is stupid. Do we rank Souths as the number 1 club last year, because they have a good junior setup? If a country plays internationals, they deserve a ranking based on those results. If they choose to play with weaker than full strength teams, then so be it. It is up to other nations to improve and beat them. Yes, Holland (for example) will not beat Italy and raise above them (due to expats). So be it. They wont beat New Zealand either. But they do have a good chance to beat Germany, Austria or Czechs. Let them get the enjoyment and satisfaction of doing this on the field and not in the administration building.

Due to the very few internationals played, i think that you need to go back much further than 2 or 3 years with results, even though you can give more weight to the recent results (eg France). Also, as good as this ranking is, there needs to be a website somewhere that lists the actual results of the international sides, so that you can see why nations were ranked where they are (assuming they are not using some type of points formula).

Not that anyone cares and without referring to other rankings, i would expect rankings should look something like this:

1. England - Undisputed Standing.
2. France - European Champions and performed well against NZ and Aust.
3. Lebanon - Undefeated in Europe for some time and hold recent win against French
4. Wales - Consecutive 4th Placings in World Cups and seem to be gaining in depth.
5. Ireland - Underated, pushed England hard in last WC and have done very well in European Tournaments.
6. Italy - Very unlucky not to qualify for last WC, after losing to Lebanon but beating France.
7. Scotland - Have been very solid consistently against other British nations, but cant quite take the next step.
8. Malta - Good win against Lionhearts and also have previously done well against southern hemisphere opposition.
9. Greece - A very good side about the same level of Malta and Ireland.
10. Russia - Consistently qualify for Euro cup and beat Georgia well.
11. Georgia - Not too far from Russia after qualifying for Euro Cup.
12. Holland - I am fairly certain that they beat both Georgia and Serbia
13. Serbia -
14. Germany
15. Other nations who have not yet played a game

Looking at those nations, a European Cup would be a very good competition. Maybe more exciting than a World cup.

 

[carlnz]

Greece - A very good side about the same level of Malta and Ireland.

Didnt they get thrashed by Italy in their last match though? I dont rate Greece at all, in fact i think Ireland would thrash them.

 

[whatsdoing1982]

ENC A

I thought it would be just one pool and everybody plays each other once in 2006 and once in 2007. That would be the best option and that way you have a clear 3 placed team to go in the repacharge. This would be a great tournament.