Pacific Island Team

[myrrh ken]

Access to players? Dual eligible players get to pick who they want to represent. The problem is tier 1 countries are able to pick the eyes out of the pacific teams and give them the dregs. They do that by offering the coin and promise of playing elite football - soo and regular test matches.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...s-bad-news-for-kangaroos-20141107-11ilp0.html. disclaimer im relying on freddy and bozo here

Besides world cup, pacific cup, these nations cant offer that. They cant get internationals cos they cant get bums on seats. Its all about $

Im talking one off tests or tours not four nations pacific cup or world cup. Ie basically for stuff thats not happening anyway

 

[jim_57]

All Stars yes.

But no way in hell should it be used as a full international side.

Definitely, I don't mind the idea, but definitely not as an International side.

Maybe Aboriginal V Maori & Polynesian V Melanesian all stars double header?

 

[myrrh ken]

Fair enough. But youd have to lock eligibility to home countries, otherwise its no disincentive to aussie jim, radradra, jennings, milford etc.

 

[yakstorm]

It's certain not a new idea the concept of a combined Pacific side, especially since Rugby Union had their short term attempt at it. Honestly, whilst I will always prefer to see the individual Pacific Nations getting a chance to play high profile internationals, I'm not against the idea of a combined side if it was to help address the following three issues:

• Ensuring players who are eligible for the Island nations commit to them via eligibility and can't 'move across' to one of the big three.
• It means that the best players who are eligible and have committed to the big three have a regular schedule of internationals against the big three.
• It generates revenues which can help fund having more matches involving the individual Pacific Nations.

If something like this meant Semi or Hurrell or one of the other legitimate star Pacific players staying committed to their side, then in my opinion it is the lesser of the current evil that happens.

I do question whether there is an appetite for a combined Pacific side from the fans and from those communities it would represent.

 

[expansionist]

Access to players? Dual eligible players get to pick who they want to represent. The problem is tier 1 countries are able to pick the eyes out of the pacific teams and give them the dregs. They do that by offering the coin and promise of playing elite football - soo and regular test matches.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...s-bad-news-for-kangaroos-20141107-11ilp0.html. disclaimer im relying on freddy and bozo here

Besides world cup, pacific cup, these nations cant offer that. They cant get internationals cos they cant get bums on seats. Its all about $

Im talking one off tests or tours not four nations pacific cup or world cup. Ie basically for stuff thats not happening anyway

What I mean by access to players is that i think its a self fulfilling prophecy.

They cant get $ they cant get bums on seats they cant get players to commit to only the developing nation because they simply dont get the games. Something has to come first - if youre a player dual eligible - youve got on one hand Aus / NZ etc OR a Fiji / Tonga etc.. your decision is not helped by the fact that no one has the least clue when Tonga etc are actually going to get to play a game??

You cant get the $ because you cant get sponsors because you dont know when youre playing next?

You base a sponsorship on many factors but including exposure through bums on seats and TV - this makes it difficult for Tonga for example as they cant promise either of these things?

If they had a schedule, over a number of years, and knew they would have access to top level players it would assist them incredibly in selling their product.

Youre right about RLWC's thats why these are easier sells; its currently the only time a Tonga for example actually knows when theyre playing!

 

[myrrh ken]

Mate good post, I agree whole-heartedly. This suggestion tries to break that cycle. As Yak says - its a necessary evil.

The other option is to restrict eligibilty to only where you are born. Pretty draconian but it might work.

 

[adamkungl]

Keep in mind the RLIF is supposed to be implementing an 8 year calendar and taking over all test matches after next year.
Ideally we'll see a big improvement in the frequency and quality of international football.

 

[myrrh ken]

A combined England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland team sounds good.

Not sure if you're joking but according to Wiki the GB Lions aint dead!

A 2015 Great Britain Lions and Great Britain Lionesses tour of Australasia was approved by the RLIF however the Australians wanted to have a year off before the 2016 Four Nations. The next opportunity for a Great Britain tour would be in 2019 after the 2017 World Cup and 2018 Four Nations.