Qualification details for 2017 RLWC announced

[gyallop]

Why is it 'ridiculous' if they aren't good enough to qualify? Every nation should earn their place. What happened last time was unacceptable and shouldn't ever be repeated.

In what sense , who wasnt good enough to qualify?

I think they need to run the Cup differently. Let the nations other than the big 3 battle for a semi spot with them, this gives the other nations some experience. Hard to see this RLWC making money given the travel costs and likely small crowds (except for when the big 3 clash) even if they play in rural centres so they may have been better off playing up to the 1/4s maybe even the semis away from Australia. I know that detracts from a "world cup" but it does need to make money for the RLIF.

 

[FortyTwenty]

MENA getting their own qualification spot? Looks like Lebanon finally catch a break after years of bad luck. I wonder if we'll see any other nations emerge to enter that qualification section, or the Asia/Pacific section which at this stage looks like including Tonga, PNG and CI's. Hopefully the whole process involves as many nations as possible.

As the guy above said, the only problem I see with this is too few teams, they could realistically have gone with 16. I would also have liked to see a repechage/play-off between the second North American team and third European team.

"MENA" has recently been replaced with "MEA"; encompassing all of Africa, not just North Africa. So, Lebanon will still have to qualify against South Africa ... and that's going to be extremely interesting. (Not least for myself; as a half-Lebanese (half-British) working in LRLF -&- married to an Afrikaans! LoL!)

But, I couldn't agree more with your sentiment; that 16-teams may have represented a nicer spread. Still, I understand the RLIF's concerns, that they are focused on a slow / gradual growth strategy which doesn't over-expose them to financial risk.

 

[hutch]

In what sense , who wasnt good enough to qualify?

I think they need to run the Cup differently. Let the nations other than the big 3 battle for a semi spot with them, this gives the other nations some experience. Hard to see this RLWC making money given the travel costs and likely small crowds (except for when the big 3 clash) even if they play in rural centres so they may have been better off playing up to the 1/4s maybe even the semis away from Australia. I know that detracts from a "world cup" but it does need to make money for the RLIF.

The last World Cup in Australia made millions. This one will have more games played over 2 countries, why won't it make money? Having 11 nations play for 1 spot in a semi against 3 nations who automatically qualify is ridiculous. That's what the 4 nations are for!

 

[Kurt Angle]

MENA auto qualifying?

Someone must have some contacts with some Middle East broadcaster, and they want to up the appeal.

Overall, brilliant. it now becomes a festival of RL from around the world.

 

[expansionist]

Agree - I would have liked 16 teams this time around.

 

[sharkies9]

How can you pick 7 teams out of 8 quarter finalists to automatically qualify? If you are going to give 7 out of 8 automatic qualification, then a more accurate and fair selection would be to have the top 3 semifinalists qualify automatically. Aka the Big 3, and let everyone else win there way into the rlwc 2017. I think that it is wrong that the USA is excluded. I have a feeling that if it was Ireland, Wales, or PNG that made the top 8, then they would of automatically qualified.

 

[Bronco Rob]

How can you pick 7 teams out of 8 quarter finalists to automatically qualify? If you are going to give 7 out of 8 automatic qualification, then a more accurate and fair selection would be to have the top 3 semifinalists qualify automatically. Aka the Big 3, and let everyone else win there way into the rlwc 2017. I think that it is wrong that the USA is excluded. I have a feeling that if it was Ireland, Wales, or PNG that made the top 8, then they would of automatically qualified.

The USA aren't in there as automatic qualifiers because they are not a full member of the RLIF which is now a requirement to participate in World Cups. Yes if it was Wales, Ireland or PNG then they would have given exemption because they are full members!

 

[papabear]

if they are too shite to qualify they would be too shite to do anything anyways except get smashed.

the important thing is the tournament time frame is kept short and sweet.

 

[roughyedspud]

its gonna last a month whether you like it or not..

 

[Bronco Rob]

if they are too shite to qualify they would be too shite to do anything anyways except get smashed.

the important thing is the tournament time frame is kept short and sweet.

That's the spirit!!!!

 

[yakstorm]

Shows how far we've come as a sport since the 2000 RLWC and even 08.

We have gone from a scenario where we were struggling to make up numbers to now there isn't enough spots for everyone we feel deserves to be there.

Now whilst the new qualification structure means a not all the teams that made 2013 can be at 2017 the whole structure makes it clearer for any nation that takes up the game to know what they need to do to qualify for a World Cup.

In terms of the MEA pool expect to see Ghana, Sierra Leone and UAE join South Africa and Lebanon in the qualifiers. With Morocco and Nigeria outside chances.

 

[hutch]

Thanks yakstorm. You have been 'in the know' for years so make sure you drop in and keep us informed if any other news pops up.

 

[taipan]

Seen nor heard very little about Morocco in rugby league .Can Yakstrom give me an update if possible,thanks.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

http://www.rlif.com/rankings

Morroco is ranked as low as 34.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Seen nor heard very little about Morocco in rugby league .Can Yakstrom give me an update if possible,thanks.

National Site with some history info (français):

http://www.fmrl.ma/index.php

At one stage the capital of the French XV was Morrocan.

Facebook pages (français):

https://www.facebook.com/fmrl.maroc?fref=nf
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maroc-rugby/501372283257478 (mix of XV et XIII)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/maroc-rugby-league/114068135277792 (mix of XV et XIII)

 

[Evil Homer]

Morocco relaunched a couple of years ago, they had big plans for a domestic competition with about 8 teams but I think there were bureaucratic problems as usual, and then the Moroccan RU got involved to ruin a GB Pioneers tour and effectively ban the sport.

http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/641/gb-student-pioneers-return-from

Great news if they are able to recover from these demoralizing setbacks and participate in the RLWCQ.

 

[mikail-eagle]

Cook Islands worried over new Rugby League World Cup qualification

Moves by the Rugby League International Federation to change the World Cup qualifying path for the lower ranked Pacific teams have not gone down well in Cook Islands.

Under the new system, which includes just two spots for the Pacific, one of PNG, Tonga or Cook Islands is destined to miss out.

And with PNG pushing for joint hosting rights in 2017 with Australia and NZ, the Cooks and Tonga are the teams in the firing line.

Listen to the Full interview here:
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/in...-rugby-league-world-cup-qualification/1353588

 

[Evil Homer]

^ They're unhappy that they aren't going to be gifted automatic qualification without ever playing any games? Are they serious?

Edit: Listened to the whole thing. Jeez, what a load of ill-informed drivel. No wonder nothing ever gets done in the Pacific with blokes like that in charge.

 

[marv]

We need a competitive qualification process. We want a strong and competitive WC. To achieve this we cant have everyone there, In the last two competitions Lebanon have been hard done by, In 08 Wales missed out. 7 Automatic qualifiers is ridiculous and I desperatley wouldnt want the comp to be any bigger just yet.

Whoever misses out next time will be unfortunate for them but this is a WC- not an under 10's festival

 

[adamkungl]

Big deal if Cooks miss out. Pretty average world cup if half the spots are automatically given to tiny islands. If they want in they have to prove they're worthy of being there.

I'm a big fan of what they've put together here, assuming a good, full schedule of games happens. Bonus points if they're well publicised and accessible to watch, even if just online.

My only criticism is that I'd prefer 16 teams, with the final 2 spots decided by playoffs, something like
Next ranked Pacific team v Next ranked Americas. eg Cooks v Canada
Next ranked Euro v next ranked MEA