titoelcolombiano
First Grade
- Messages
- 6,664
I just wanted to put forward a few points that I believe show that the international game, and indeed the game as a whole is moving in the right direction.
First of all, The RLIF is slowly but surely getting things together. There are more nations than ever playing the game, the next world cup is set to be the biggest and best earner yet, in 2018 the RLIF is introducing our first ever international calendar that will provide a clear schedule for all nations for eight years including an additional tournament to provide more revenue to the national body.
Secondly, the big 3. I would like to remind everyone that just over ten years ago, most in RL circles were complaining that Australia were the only team that would win any series / tournament. We would have killed to be in the situation that we are in now where going into the 2016 four nations and the 2017 world cup we have a 'big 3' and that they are seriously all capable of winning. RL is now spread across the UK like at no other time in the game's history, it is more popular in NZ than ever before, they have the world number one side, an exciting generation of young players that will ensure that the game's popularity grows and in Australia the game has just signed a record (close to) $2 billion TV deal. It is far from doom and gloom.
Developing nations: Two French sides in the English pro-ranks will continue to strengthen the French national side, a Canadian side being financially backed with their sights set on SuperLeague gives us an open door into North America, two Welsh sides in the pro ranks and many positive developments going on right around Europe. Plus, PNG and Fiji (soon to come) having club sides in Australia's second tier which is both an extremely high level of Rugby League plus a great platform for these nations to build national squads on and a pathway to the NRL for their players. Competition may dictate that Samoa and Tonga follow and enter teams also. Again just behind the big 3, there are many positives.
Let's just remember that, yes, we have problems (eligibility laws, competitiveness of some nations, depth of some nations) but let's not forget that these are not signs we are going backwards, if we look back into the not too distant past, we might find that they are just growing pains that are inevitable as the game expands. I for one am very excited about the development of the game at this time in history.
First of all, The RLIF is slowly but surely getting things together. There are more nations than ever playing the game, the next world cup is set to be the biggest and best earner yet, in 2018 the RLIF is introducing our first ever international calendar that will provide a clear schedule for all nations for eight years including an additional tournament to provide more revenue to the national body.
Secondly, the big 3. I would like to remind everyone that just over ten years ago, most in RL circles were complaining that Australia were the only team that would win any series / tournament. We would have killed to be in the situation that we are in now where going into the 2016 four nations and the 2017 world cup we have a 'big 3' and that they are seriously all capable of winning. RL is now spread across the UK like at no other time in the game's history, it is more popular in NZ than ever before, they have the world number one side, an exciting generation of young players that will ensure that the game's popularity grows and in Australia the game has just signed a record (close to) $2 billion TV deal. It is far from doom and gloom.
Developing nations: Two French sides in the English pro-ranks will continue to strengthen the French national side, a Canadian side being financially backed with their sights set on SuperLeague gives us an open door into North America, two Welsh sides in the pro ranks and many positive developments going on right around Europe. Plus, PNG and Fiji (soon to come) having club sides in Australia's second tier which is both an extremely high level of Rugby League plus a great platform for these nations to build national squads on and a pathway to the NRL for their players. Competition may dictate that Samoa and Tonga follow and enter teams also. Again just behind the big 3, there are many positives.
Let's just remember that, yes, we have problems (eligibility laws, competitiveness of some nations, depth of some nations) but let's not forget that these are not signs we are going backwards, if we look back into the not too distant past, we might find that they are just growing pains that are inevitable as the game expands. I for one am very excited about the development of the game at this time in history.