France

[Walter sobchak]

Reading the article lately of the Melbourne storm taking a couple of New Caledonian youngsters on trial should the international community help France a little more by introducing and help develop RL in overseas French territories like New Caledonia, Martinique, reunion and Guadeloupe etc?

To the best of my knowledge these French overseas territories haven’t as yet been targeted heavily by rugby union.

 

[deluded pom?]

IMO the returns from such small populations wouldn’t be worth the finance or the effort. The countries you mentioned have a combined population of about 1.5 to 2 million. How many of those are rugby players or even sportsmen of the right age group to make it worthwhile? A non starter for me.

 

[Walter sobchak]

IMO the returns from such small populations wouldn’t be worth the finance or the effort. The countries you mentioned have a combined population of about 1.5 to 2 million. How many of those are rugby players or even sportsmen of the right age group to make it worthwhile? A non starter for me.

Quite a few professional football players have come from these territories as well as basketball and athletics.

Of course money plays a huge role in things especially RL where it’s scarce to begin with.

 

[adamkungl]

Wouldn't hurt to promote the game a bit in New Caledonia.
It would be a relatively small investment in the grand scheme of things with few barriers to entry, it's not like kicking things off in the US

 

[Walter sobchak]

Wouldn't hurt to promote the game a bit in New Caledonia.
It would be a relatively small investment in the grand scheme of things with few barriers to entry, it's not like kicking things off in the US

A few pre-season NRL trial matches every year combined with some school coaching clinics could do wonders.

 

[adamkungl]

A few pre-season NRL trial matches every year combined with some school coaching clinics could do wonders.

Even 1 game every couple of years from the NRL. A cheap broadcast deal.
A couple of visits a year from an Asia Pacific development officer.
Find an NRL player with NC heritage.
The occasional visit from the French national team when they come down under.

 

[Getmefood]

For France as I believe was mentioned somewhere before they need to focus on developing quality coaches & improve their systems. For most of their best up & coming young players they can either go to Catalans or Toulouse or the XV man game to earn a living. Trent Robinson should be coaching the French national team for the 2021 WC & yea the New Caledonia idea wouldn't hurt as we have seen many players scouted from Fiji, the potential athletes from there just need coaching & guidance in there career.

 

[adamkungl]

France could have a good year if a few things pan out

Roosters are visiting Catalans next month for a training camp. (It's a pity we aren't playing a trial game!)

Hopefully Australia will play a test in France on tour.

Hopefully France will have 2 home games in the European Cup - England and Wales would be great.
A mid-season test would be good too, unfortunately England aren't interested and the professional players will probably be blocked by clubs.

And if that's the case, France would be smart to play a home warm-up game against a team from outside their Cup pool. Italy, Jamaica, Lebanon, Greece, all World Cup teams that might be keen.

This kind of season would be huge

July (Bastille Day) - mid-season test (H) France v Ireland
October - test (H) France v Jamaica
October - test (H) France v Australia
October - Euro Cup (A) France v Ireland
October - Euro Cup (H) France v England
November - Euro Cup (H) France v Wales
November - Euro Cup Final (A) France v England