Fears 2025 RLWC USA may not happen

[latingringo101]

There are fears the 2025 Rugby League World Cup may not go ahead in the US as planned due to financial troubles surrounding the promoter.

The Rugby League International Federation had conditionally awarded the event to North America almost two years ago, signifying the first time the tournament will be taken out of traditional heartland areas. The bold foray into the US and Canada is still seven years away, but already there are concerns whether the event's promoter, Moore Sports International, is still in a position to bankroll the event.


TONGA
Proposed Tonga Test against Kangaroos hanging by a thread
Asked if the Kiwis would consider heading to Denver again next year, Peters said: “I would say it’s unlikely at this stage, unless the promoter delivers pretty quickly.”

One of Moore’s other projects, snowboarding competition Air + Style, was slated to be held in Sydney's Domain this month. However, it has been scrapped and Moore’s subsidiary firm, Moore Snow Sports, is one his companies currently in administration.

Moore has proven he can make big events happen. He brought Los Angeles and Arizona to the SCG for an historic Major League Baseball series opener in 2014. While that project was a success, his foray into Denver was impeded by resistance from the NRL and its clubs, which didn’t want the fixture to proceed.

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Moore declined to comment when contacted by Fairfax Media.

It is hoped Moore will find the funds required to fulfil his financial commitments from the Denver Test, the first step towards proving he can deliver on his World Cup commitments. But the large financial loss and the delays in paying up cast a doubt on the US venture.

“MSI has been awarded the 2025 World Cup subject to appropriate guarantees and finalisation of a staging agreement,” RLIF chairman John Grant said.

“When we have greater clarity on MSI’s position we will know whether we have to deal with anything or not.

“We’ll wait until things become clear.”

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The RLIF has yet to contact Moore about the issues, but said, “there are always contingency plans”, which could include the prospect of seeking alternative partners to promote the 2025 World Cup.

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“There are always options, particularly when we’re talking about an event seven years out and also particularly when there is every indication RLWC2021 [in England] will be very successful,” Grant said.

The fallout from the Denver foray comes at a time when the NRL is seeking to take more matches to the American market. The governing body gave some consideration to staging a season-ending Australia-Tonga Test in New York, but the promoter behind the initiative couldn’t convince head office he could make the project stack up financially at short notice.

Negotiations are also advanced to take the opening round match for 2019, most likely between Melbourne and South Sydney, to the US. A decision on the "round zero" project is imminent, although the NRL is wary of green lighting another loss-making match in America.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/pr...ver-2025-world-cup-in-us-20180825-p4zzqi.html

 

[Foreign Legion]

Why am I not surprised

 

[Foreign Legion]

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/pos...es-faces-uncertainty-due-to-financial-issues/

 

[jim_57]

In regards to the 2025 WC in North America I can't help but be 'believe it when I see it'. I really hope it happens and is a sucess but the pessimist in me won't let me believe it's actually going to happen.

Prove me wrong Jason Moore/RLIF.

 

[latingringo101]

Denver Test is dead after promoter misses payment deadline

The Denver Test is officially dead after the promoter failed to meet a final deadline to fulfil his financial commitments.

There are also fresh fears about the 2025 Rugby League World Cup going ahead after promoter Moore Sports International, the firm behind the Colorado concept, left the New Zealand Rugby League and the Rugby Football League (the governing body for professional rugby league in England) out of pocket.

It is understood each organisation is owed a six-figure sum, although the amount is less than the $500,000 previously suggested.

Rocky mountain high: The Kiwis perform the haka during the Denver Test.

Photo: AP
Moore Sports International was given a revised timeline, August 31 (American time), to pay the money. However, NZRL chief executive Greg Peters confirmed the firm had not done so.

“We haven’t received anything to date,” Peters said. “The number is commercially sensitive, but it’s a significant hold for us. We have a contractual agreement that currently hasn’t been fulfilled.

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“We have all the normal legal recourse you would have for a contract with someone who owes you money. We will be considering our options in the near future.”

The Denver Test between England and New Zealand, part of a three-year agreement for the fixture, was meant to be the first of a series of forays into the American market ahead of the 2025 World Cup.

Moore Sports International boss Jason Moore is also the promoter for that event, one that now appears to be in serious jeopardy following the non-payments and the collapse of his mooted snowboarding competition Air + Style.

No more: New Zealand's Martin Taupau tackles England's James Roby during the one, and it now seems, only Denver Test.

Photo: AP
The Denver Test, Peters said, will almost certainly be a one-off.


“It’s in serious jeopardy and unlikely to proceed,” Peters said. “Leaving aside the non-payment, the strategy was to take rugby league to a new market where it hadn’t been seen before. My personal view is that almost 20,000 [fans] in a brand new market where rugby league had never been played before is a pretty good result.

“The game itself, notwithstanding the fact the Kiwis lost, which is not what we set out to do, but the actual spectacle from a fan’s points of view showcased everything that is good about rugby league.

“All of those boxes are ticked. The unfortunate part is the NZRL and the RFL were a testing ground for a promoter who hasn’t been forthcoming with payments that were due.”

The players have been paid, but the outstanding funds have put further financial pressure on the cash-strapped NZRL. Kiwis players will be paid just $5000 for their season-ending Test against the Australians, who will pocket $20,000.

“We have some pretty big financial challenges ahead of us so we can’t afford to pay at the previous level,” Peters said.


“At the end of the day we’re trying to ensure we continue to have international football. We’re working towards a longer term model that will hopefully increase their payment over time. At the moment that’s all we’re able to pay and they’ve agreed to that.”

The Denver issues could prompt the NRL to reconsider the risk of staging an opening round game for 2019, dubbed "round zero", in America.

The Kiwis will play the Kangaroos on October 13, just a week before the proposed Australia-Tonga Test. NZRL officials were concerned the latter fixture could detract from the Kiwis game, but will likely be placated with the guarantee of more top flight Tests on home soil.

“We are close to coming out with a resolution,” Peters said.

“Our main objective is to give prominence to NZ versus Australia being played in Auckland. It’s the first time in six years, since 2012, that a trans-Tasman Test match is played in Auckland. We did play in 2014 in Wellington.


“That’s a pretty special occasion for us, the trans-Tasman rivalry is as big in rugby league as it is in anything else.

“We’re as excited about that as our players are and that’s what we want to give prominence to and continue to work on that.

“We have got a very good group of players who are excited about that Test match and the tour at the end of the year.

“They want to restore the public’s faith after the World Cup, which was obviously disappointing. Every player you ask will want to play for his county, first and foremost.”

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/de...-misses-payment-deadline-20180901-p50158.html

 

[CC_Roosters]

Denver Test is dead after promoter misses payment deadline

The Denver Test is officially dead after the promoter failed to meet a final deadline to fulfil his financial commitments.

There are also fresh fears about the 2025 Rugby League World Cup going ahead after promoter Moore Sports International, the firm behind the Colorado concept, left the New Zealand Rugby League and the Rugby Football League (the governing body for professional rugby league in England) out of pocket.

It is understood each organisation is owed a six-figure sum, although the amount is less than the $500,000 previously suggested.

Rocky mountain high: The Kiwis perform the haka during the Denver Test.

Photo: AP
Moore Sports International was given a revised timeline, August 31 (American time), to pay the money. However, NZRL chief executive Greg Peters confirmed the firm had not done so.

“We haven’t received anything to date,” Peters said. “The number is commercially sensitive, but it’s a significant hold for us. We have a contractual agreement that currently hasn’t been fulfilled.

Advertisement
“We have all the normal legal recourse you would have for a contract with someone who owes you money. We will be considering our options in the near future.”

The Denver Test between England and New Zealand, part of a three-year agreement for the fixture, was meant to be the first of a series of forays into the American market ahead of the 2025 World Cup.

Moore Sports International boss Jason Moore is also the promoter for that event, one that now appears to be in serious jeopardy following the non-payments and the collapse of his mooted snowboarding competition Air + Style.

No more: New Zealand's Martin Taupau tackles England's James Roby during the one, and it now seems, only Denver Test.

Photo: AP
The Denver Test, Peters said, will almost certainly be a one-off.


“It’s in serious jeopardy and unlikely to proceed,” Peters said. “Leaving aside the non-payment, the strategy was to take rugby league to a new market where it hadn’t been seen before. My personal view is that almost 20,000 [fans] in a brand new market where rugby league had never been played before is a pretty good result.

“The game itself, notwithstanding the fact the Kiwis lost, which is not what we set out to do, but the actual spectacle from a fan’s points of view showcased everything that is good about rugby league.

“All of those boxes are ticked. The unfortunate part is the NZRL and the RFL were a testing ground for a promoter who hasn’t been forthcoming with payments that were due.”

The players have been paid, but the outstanding funds have put further financial pressure on the cash-strapped NZRL. Kiwis players will be paid just $5000 for their season-ending Test against the Australians, who will pocket $20,000.

“We have some pretty big financial challenges ahead of us so we can’t afford to pay at the previous level,” Peters said.


“At the end of the day we’re trying to ensure we continue to have international football. We’re working towards a longer term model that will hopefully increase their payment over time. At the moment that’s all we’re able to pay and they’ve agreed to that.”

The Denver issues could prompt the NRL to reconsider the risk of staging an opening round game for 2019, dubbed "round zero", in America.

The Kiwis will play the Kangaroos on October 13, just a week before the proposed Australia-Tonga Test. NZRL officials were concerned the latter fixture could detract from the Kiwis game, but will likely be placated with the guarantee of more top flight Tests on home soil.

“We are close to coming out with a resolution,” Peters said.

“Our main objective is to give prominence to NZ versus Australia being played in Auckland. It’s the first time in six years, since 2012, that a trans-Tasman Test match is played in Auckland. We did play in 2014 in Wellington.


“That’s a pretty special occasion for us, the trans-Tasman rivalry is as big in rugby league as it is in anything else.

“We’re as excited about that as our players are and that’s what we want to give prominence to and continue to work on that.

“We have got a very good group of players who are excited about that Test match and the tour at the end of the year.

“They want to restore the public’s faith after the World Cup, which was obviously disappointing. Every player you ask will want to play for his county, first and foremost.”

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/de...-misses-payment-deadline-20180901-p50158.html

All these promoters and middle men, are thet really necessary? Granted it shifts the risk but if you want to do something right, do it properly and reap the rewards.

 

[Springs09]

Couldn't even get past the first test, I mean come on. Wants a World Cup but can't even pay for one test match.

 

[greenBV4]

whats the deadline on the location for the 2025 WC?
if the US can't hold it, where else could it be held?
Australia again? I'd like to see a joint Pacific/NZ world cup, or maybe even mainland Europe

 

[Springs09]

2021 was confirmed in October 2016, so I imagine they'd want 2025 confirmed by the end of 2020.

 

[jim_57]

All these promoters and middle men, are thet really necessary? Granted it shifts the risk but if you want to do something right, do it properly and reap the rewards.

That's what I was thinking, surely with 7 years to go the RLIF can assemble their own team to give it a crack even if it is more modest than what Moore was planning.

It would be pretty deflating to have it in Australia again at the next available opportunity after they flopped in 2017 and reportedly didn't pay the RLIF the guarentee they made.

 

[deal.with.it]

If they don’t, it means union will beat us to it.

 

[paulmac]

whats the deadline on the location for the 2025 WC?
if the US can't hold it, where else could it be held?
Australia again? I'd like to see a joint Pacific/NZ world cup, or maybe even mainland Europe

Give France a go. Stadia aplenty, close enough for English fans to travel en masse. With Catalans getting a bit of momentum this could be just as big for the game as a Nth American World Cup.

 

[Pommy]

Give France a go. Stadia aplenty, close enough for English fans to travel en masse. With Catalans getting a bit of momentum this could be just as big for the game as a Nth American World Cup.

I think there has to be more to it than just giving it to someone. The next World Cup has received financial backing from some devolved English body and I assume Moore sports had agreed to give some cash, if the French aren’t going to stump up something it will go to whoever pays the most.

 

[greenBV4]

I think there has to be more to it than just giving it to someone. The next World Cup has received financial backing from some devolved English body and I assume Moore sports had agreed to give some cash, if the French aren’t going to stump up something it will go to whoever pays the most.

That depends on if the RLIF wants to expand the game internationally or not.
Obviously there will be more people willing to spend more money in RL heartlands.
Promoters and money will of course be deciding factors but if its the only criteria it'll just continue to be played in the same countries over and over, and the game wont expand.

 

[Pommy]

That depends on if the RLIF wants to expand the game internationally or not.
Obviously there will be more people willing to spend more money in RL heartlands.
Promoters and money will of course be deciding factors but if its the only criteria it'll just continue to be played in the same countries over and over, and the game wont expand.

But the money earned by the RLIF goes in to growing the grassroots sport in developing countries.
It’s a catch 22 which is more important?

 

[siv]

If USA cant hold it - put it South America or NZ

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Well it looks as they wont have a Round Zero next year, stupid name for a round but disappointed.

I just hope they can all sit down and discuss how this will work in 7 years time.

 

[Disinterested third party]

We will have a RLWC somewhere in 2025. Maybe not the US, but it will proceed. As I said before the venues for 2017 were announced, NZ is well and truly overdue to host.

 

[taste2taste]

If they don’t, it means union will beat us to it.

True.
Union have plans to try and make some serious inroads in North America over the next decade.
If league doesn't try now it'll be too late.

 

[ULYSSES]

True.
Union have plans to try and make some serious inroads in North America over the next decade.
If league doesn't try now it'll be too late.

The Rah Rahs have kicked our arse in Nth America. The Us have over 115000 players spread across Youth, High School, College and seniors (according to USA Rugby website). They will hold a world cup in the US within 20 years because they built from the ground up. We try to be something before we are anything. I dream of us being in 50 years where they are now.