Many International News Bits: Mascord

[miguel de cervantes]

*World Club Challenge*
- 2014 WCC to be held in Perth
- 2015 WCC upped to 6 teams (3 each from NRL and ESL) to be held in the UK with all matches on one weekend, exhibition matches in London and Perpinya

*Mid-Season Tests*
- ANZAC test for at least four more years
- 2014 will see Fiji v. PNG with possibly Tonga-Samoa as a double header
- Possible Pacific All Stars match

*Four Nations*
- Highest rank Pacific Team in World Cup 2013 to take fourth spot in 2014
- Games to be bid out to Aus and NZ cities.

*Tours*
- Probable return of the GB Lions to tour Aus and NZ, four games in each, two tests and two mid-week games
- Possible concurrent Aus and NZ tour to England and UK nations.

*World Cup 2017*
- South Africa still a serious consideration as host
- Aus/NZ more likely, possibly 100% NZ host
- No reason final would be in Australia. Games out to bidding.
- 2014/2015 Euro Shield to act as qualifiers


Source: http://stevemascord.com/2013/06/10/...by-league-will-look-over-the-next-five-years/

 

[Misanthrope]

Some bloody intriguing news there. It'd be fantastic if things in South Africa fell into place. I could certainly see me spending a few months there traveling about and watching games.

 

[Evil Homer]

Disappointing news about the Euro Shield doubling up as WC qualification, Pacific All-Stars and the possible return of GB tours. Good news about Fiji vs PNG and the WCC being held in Perth. Great news about a potential South Africa or 100% NZ WC.

 

[Misanthrope]

What is disappointing about the GB tours?

 

[Springbokfly]

There's a RL lions..:?

 

[Misanthrope]

There's a RL lions..:?

Has been for ages.

 

[Big Sam]

There's a RL lions..:?

Almost as old as the RU Lions.

 

[Springs]

Liking the news. Upgrade the two tests in Aus for the GB Tour to three tests and it would be better. No need for Pacific All Stars and 2016 should have World Cup qualifiers for all teams apart from the top 4 finishers in 2013 and the host(s).

I honestly think the return of tours is the way to go. Four Nations restricts the expansion of international footy instead of helps it. Within the four years of a World Cup cycle we could have a Lions Tour, Kangaroo Tour, Kiwi Tour, a Trans-Tasman test series, a Euro Six Nations, two European Cups, three Pacific Cups and full World Cup Qualifiers. With the club matches on tours replaced with tests against other countries it would lead to more tests for all countries plus more competitive games.

 

[LordLeague]

Good news but needs some tweaks.

1. GB tour MUST be 3 matches with the Ashes on the line. Otherwise why bother?

2. Start marketing the Anzac tests for what they are. That is, the "Bill Kelly Cup". This will at least create some continuity from year to year and help build tradition, increasing the value of the event over time. I am sick of this game being the "Bundaberg Test" one year, then the "VB Test", then the "Holden Test". They can have a naming rights sponsor but what's wrong with the "Holden - Bill Kelly Cup"?

Lord League

 

[nadera78]

Steve Mascord? At best a 20% chance of half that lot being right.

 

[Misanthrope]

Good news but needs some tweaks.

1. GB tour MUST be 3 matches with the Ashes on the line. Otherwise why bother?

2. Start marketing the Anzac tests for what they are. That is, the "Bill Kelly Cup". This will at least create some continuity from year to year and help build tradition, increasing the value of the event over time. I am sick of this game being the "Bundaberg Test" one year, then the "VB Test", then the "Holden Test". They can have a naming rights sponsor but what's wrong with the "Holden - Bill Kelly Cup"?

Lord League

Who is Bill Kelly?

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Bill Kelly represented both Australia and New Zealand in the early 1910s.

He had successful careers in both Australia and New Zealand as a player and a coach. Also coached New Zealand I believe.

 

[Misanthrope]

Bill Kelly represented both Australia and New Zealand in the early 1910s.

He had successful careers in both Australia and New Zealand as a player and a coach. Also coached New Zealand I believe.

Seems a bit obscure to be the focus of marketing aimed at attracting more fans.

 

[LordLeague]

The Rugby League fans are already there, but they just don't care too much about "one-off" tests. If more fans knew that they were actually playing for the same trophy each year, that is, the Bill Kelly Cup, the blood spilt over the years competing for the trophy creates a tradition and adds value to the prize. The fans can get engaged in that sort of thing. You've got to start somewhere.

The Charity Shield is a good example of a reguler one-off event that has built some tradition and successfully engages fans.

Lord League

 

[hutch]

The bill Kelly cup is outdated, the players aren't playing for the trophy. Maybe a new trophy, the johns/jones cup, or Lewis/mcgahan would be more relevant!

 

[Misanthrope]

The bill Kelly cup is outdated, the players aren't playing for the trophy. Maybe a new trophy, the johns/jones cup, or Lewis/mcgahan would be more relevant!

Or just call it the ANZAC Cup or something.

 

[Knownothing]

Or just call it the ANZAC Cup or something.

The Something Cup?


Forget about using the name ANZAC -- there are protocols about this.

 

[Misanthrope]

The Something Cup?


Forget about using the name ANZAC -- there are protocols about this.

The Trans-Tasman Cup. The Mateship Cup. Whatever.

 

[The Voice of Reason!]

Think the Bill Kelly trophy is fine. How will we ever build up traditions if we keep chopping and changing everything every decade or so?

 

[LordLeague]

The NRL/RLIF do their best to keep the Bill Kelly Cup a secret. The Trans Tasman Cup was once the prize for test series between NZ and Aus. It's probably gathering dust in the trophy cabinet next to the Ashes trophy. The lack of respect shown by RL administrators for the traditions of our great game is unforgivable.

Lord League