Qatar investment in RL.

[ParraEelsNRL]

Best thing would be to invest locally wouldn't it?

Can't have that, the children over that way might enjoy themselves.

 

[Billythekid]

Nothing will come of this, it's all hot air.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

It is nevertheless flattering that they think buying a rugby league club will get them recognition. They are obviously not doing it for the money.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

It's a Qatari propaganda initiative. If he must, talk to his chums at BeinSports and get them to roll out the french pro league.

There is no point investing in Australian rugby league, making it ever more wealthy compared to other leagues.

I agree mate - France or at least SuperLeague to bring some money into other leagues around the world.

 

[siv]

Perfect host location for the WCC

Venues are world class also

These guys have put money into Formula F1 and had a V8 race

After the Soccer WC they want to continue to use their stadiums and attract tourists

Perfect way to bridge the "apperance" funding gap of international RL

 

[Pommy]

I hope any of his money doesn't end up with 'World Rugby League' which are currently claiming existance in the arab world through Pakistan.

Pakistan isn’t in the Arab world though....

 

[Foreign Legion]

Maybe we should get this bloke to build the 2 stadium's in sydney...

 

[Stallion]

Oh God, how do we keep the NRL out of this..Any other sport would clamour for this sort of opportunity but the NRL like a drunken sailor will just f*** it right up and the Sheik will just throw his hands up in the air and walk away..

Maybe the Sheik should call Perez and they can bank roll a US/Canadian comp or shoot an email the FFRXIII Pres and throw a couple of hundred mill to the French comp.

Just don't let the NRL near him lest he pulls out all his hair and he ends up in an institution. We are talking about an organisation that has just watched a RLWC with Tonga, PNG, Fiji shining in NZ and then organising a couple of Pacific Tests in Western Sydney..I despair..

Very good idea the North American option! Good thinking!

 

[StadiumXIII]

Tell him to invest in that Balkans super league. They could instantly make it a professional comp and gain influence in a number of eastern European comps, including some which are in the EU.

League benefits but having a number of other countries being able to produce professional players.

If the Qatar developments were serious at developing RL in the Middle East I'd get a competition going similar to the BSL maybe clubs from Lebanon, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia etc.. TBH imo we need a new League to keep the RL season non stop (running 12 months every year) with a tv deal.. Maybe NZ and the Pacific he could invest in.. all the NRL really needs for now is maybe another Perth team and if ready PNG.. maybe a 2nd NZ team once established.. Sydney is a congested market for RL.. Need to be thinking outside the box here.

 

[Stallion]

If the Qatar developments were serious at developing RL in the Middle East I'd get a competition going similar to the BSL maybe clubs from Lebanon, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia etc.. TBH imo we need a new League to keep the RL season non stop (running 12 months every year) with a tv deal.. Maybe NZ and the Pacific he could invest in.. all the NRL really needs for now is maybe another Perth team and if ready PNG.. maybe a 2nd NZ team once established.. Sydney is a congested market for RL.. Need to be thinking outside the box here.

Surely Brisbane 2 is overdue! I think the fact that tangible things are happening in North America is very appealing for such an investor. The groundswell interest in the game is growing and the seeds of a fledgling North American competition are about to sprout. Could be a great investment!

 

[Robert B]

If the Qatar developments were serious at developing RL in the Middle East I'd get a competition going similar to the BSL maybe clubs from Lebanon, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia etc.. TBH imo we need a new League to keep the RL season non stop (running 12 months every year) with a tv deal.. Maybe NZ and the Pacific he could invest in.. all the NRL really needs for now is maybe another Perth team and if ready PNG.. maybe a 2nd NZ team once established.. Sydney is a congested market for RL.. Need to be thinking outside the box here.

Qatar has been ostracised from the rest of the Arabian Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman. All these countries have ceased diplomatic ties with Qatar. Qatar is looking for international support, hence it's possible interest in Rugby League being a predominantly western sport.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

You guys are funny. He isn't interested in rugby league, he's interested in buying soft power for Qatar.

 

[Perth Tiger]

You guys are funny. He isn't interested in rugby league, he's interested in buying soft power for Qatar.

You are right but that doesn't mean RL cant still take his money. As long as the administers are aware of this and are skill enough to mitigate any risk of association (I have no confidence in Greenburg or Grant to be able to do this).

It is not like there is much difference between accepting Emirates sponsorship or Saudi money with Qatar anyway.

 

[Coparugby]

You guys are funny. He isn't interested in rugby league, he's interested in buying soft power for Qatar.

Huawei is doing the same in Canberra. Money is money

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Pakistan isn’t in the Arab world though....

Where are they then? I know they are geographically part of the sub continent but they border the middle east and identify with the region through islam

 

[Perth Tiger]

The Arab world is generally used to describe countries with a majority ethnic Arabic and usually excludes Pakistan, Turkey and Iran which are not Arabs.

 

[Robert B]

From the Gulf Times...

http://www.gulf-times.com/story/573662/Rugby-League-set-to-make-big-splash-in

Qatar/By Sports Reporter

The national rugby league teams of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa will be seen in action in Qatar during a competition scheduled for early 2018, Michael Ibrahim, founder and CEO of Aqeeq Holdings LLC, has said.
Ibrahim noted that negotiations are in top gear between the sport’s governing body International Rugby League Federation (IRLF), the authorities of the three Pacific nations and his company.
The Australian entrepreneur has been having months of intense discussions with the IRLF and the Pacific Islands National Rugby League conglomerates aimed at playing some of their matches in Doha next year that also involves a Qatar select team.
“We are very close to finalising the deal and I’m happy to inform that all indications are pointing to a very strong interest from all concerned parties,” he said.
An avid lover of Qatar, Ibrahim said, “With Qatar’s resilience to the current blockade it’s important for the country to continue to progress and strive for more greatness. Rugby league is the greatest game of all and when it comes to Doha everybody will agree”.
Despite his business interests in Qatar, “it is His Highness the Emir of Qatar that I admire,” the magnate said. “I have the uttermost respect for His Highness Sheikh Tamim and his leadership”.
“Throughout the blockade, His Highness has exercised absolute restraint, refraining his majlis and nation from directing any kind of abuse to other countries and their leaders,” Ibrahim explained.
When asked about the facilities of choice for the international rugby league matches Ibrahim said, ““Qatar is not short of quality infrastructure and stadiums. It hosted the Asia games in 2006 and it will be entertaining the biggest sports event in the world - FIFA 2022”.
Ibrahim was the creator of the #Weareallqatar best video and photo campaigns which attracted over fifty thousand entries (50k) worldwide.
Ibrahim’s passion for Qatar saw him taking up the role of an ambassador for the ‘We Support Qatar Movement’, garnishing support from world leaders such as the Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepe Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi and International Rugby League former greats Andrew Johns and Brad Fitler.
The sheer tenacity of the Australian businessman enabled him to do the impossible. He convinced the IRLF to allow four of the participating nations in the recent World Rugby League Cup to bear Qatar’s flag with the words “We Stand With Qatar” across the front of their playing jerseys which was viewed by millions around the world.
Rugby League is a full contact sport governed by the International Rugby League Federation (RLIF). Though similar to rugby - rugby league has notable rule differences. Teams have 13 players, and no mauls or
lineouts are allowed. Each team has six tackles to score or advance field position after which the play must be handed over to the opposition. Four points are awarded for a try, not
five, and the field goal is worth one point, not three.
Rugby league is a popular sport in Africa, Australia, China, Europe, France, New Zealand, UK, the Americas, Lebanon, Philippines, UAE, USA, the Cooks Island, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Niue, Tokelau, Solomon Islands and is the national sport of Papua New Guinea.
The European Super League and the National Rugby League (NRL) are the premier club competitions. Rugby league is played internationally, predominantly by European, Australasian and Pacific Island countries.
The first Rugby League World Cup was held in France in 1954, and the most recent final was played in Brisbane, Australia, which Australia won.

 

[adamkungl]

Early 2018? I don't buy it. Doesn't fit anywhere.

 

[Ari Gold]

IRLF?

 

[Perth Red]

Tell him to bank roll a Perth side Close to Qatar, well close'ish lol so it wouldn't be a hard slog in his private jet to come and watch his team.

You could see someone like him behind the proposed NY SL team. Big concern with these things, if there is any truth at all in it, is what happens when they get bored and move on tot he next hobby?