Restructure in France

[taste2taste]

France is a bit like NZ, union is king.

Its a fight to get media attention and a fight keep the talented players from switching codes.

I remember watching France V the kangaroos ten years ago, France had a few good stand outs with the best being an exceptional backrower. When the roos played France a few years later these players we gone. The commentater mentioned France had lost a few players to union.

Not sure if this still happens, sounds like France has some good talent coming through.

With the fast improvement of the islands, France will find it hard to compete with the top 6 sides in the coming years.

 

[yakstorm]

We would all love France to have it's own 6, 8, 10 or however many professional national league, however as many have mentioned, only a handful of clubs so far have the budget to afford full time, and unless some billionaires who like RL come along who want throw some money into the game, it is not something that is going to happen quickly.

France needs to grow support and investment into the game, which is by no means an easy task.

One thing I do think they should potentially consider though is stealing a bit of a 'Big Bash' concept for the end of the Super League season, used to declare the French champions.

The event can involve just four teams to begin with, Catalan Dragons and Toulouse the obvious picks for two spots.

The Chevaliers Cathares (Lezignan, Carcassone and Limoux) as the third team, and then looking towards someone like Avignon or another combined team to make up the fourth.

Encourage Catalans to only use French players and put a trophy up for grabs.

Sure it would only be a short tournament and initially it should be Catalans to lose, but hopefully it would be appetizing enough to get BeIN to televise it and draw some decent crowds.

Anyway, there is no doubt there are flaws in the plan, but its a least a lower risk strategy then a full pro league.

 

[paulmac]

I wouldn't exclude foreign players.Maybe a quota of 3 but as it would be after the nrl season there is a chance you could sign some star players.Package it to fox as summer sporting content and we could even see it on our screens here in Aus.

 

[Bombay Devils RLFC]

I wouldn't exclude foreign players.Maybe a quota of 3 but as it would be after the nrl season there is a chance you could sign some star players.Package it to fox as summer sporting content and we could even see it on our screens here in Aus.

It would interesting to see what content Fox is going to look for going forward.

One negotiating point with the new TV negotiations is that the NRL is looking to have its own channel as have the AFL.

It would be good to fill it with lots of RL content outside of Australia. Last year the AFL channel just ran replays of round matches during the off season which I am sure did not rate that well for them.

 

[Evil Homer]

They aren't going to show domestic French RL on Australian TV. Just stop it with this.

 

[langpark]

They aren't going to show domestic French RL on Australian TV. Just stop it with this.

Why you always gotta be the pessimist??

This is a fantastic idea and it should have already happened by now. If the matches in France were played at midday on a Sunday, that would be 10pm in NSW and 9pm in Qld. If you saw some of the CRAP they show on these fox sports channels; replays of darts, golf, curling.... you name it they show it. Why should we not be able to watch a semi-pro match of Rugby League (especially when it's NRL off-season and fans are craving it)!?!?

 

[biggestbroncosfan]

I dont think they even broadcast them on tv in France.. so how the .... are they supposed to do it here! :crazy:

 

[phonetic]

I'd watch it.

You think French top 14 rates out here?! Surely not but fox keeps playing it. The rampant Francophile in me sees me tuning in from Time to time. Thank god it's over and le tour is soon to start.

 

[Evil Homer]

Why you always gotta be the pessimist??

This is a fantastic idea and it should have already happened by now. If the matches in France were played at midday on a Sunday, that would be 10pm in NSW and 9pm in Qld. If you saw some of the CRAP they show on these fox sports channels; replays of darts, golf, curling.... you name it they show it. Why should we not be able to watch a semi-pro match of Rugby League (especially when it's NRL off-season and fans are craving it)!?!?

I'm not pessimistic at all, they don't even show the matches in France or England so it's ridiculous to suggest that they would be televised in Australia, not to mention the fact that creating a French competition for Australian TV is about the last thing we should be prioritizing right now.

Look, I would love it if RL was like soccer with major professional leagues throughout the world that have huge interest and are televised in all countries. But that isn't how it is. It's unrealistic and ridiculous to discuss, we struggle enough to get Aussie TV to broadcast ESL and international/World Cup matches.

 

[deal.with.it]

Realistically, with 1 SL club, 1 league 1 club, a strong Elite 1 and several players at other SL and chpionship clubs ... Where do you think France should be at internationally?
With the right coaching and matches (playing a top tier nation at least annually)?
Is that enough resources to beat Samoa and Fiji?

I think that equips France to beat PNG and Fiji. Samoa perhaps not yet.

 

[Bombay Devils RLFC]

I'm not pessimistic at all, they don't even show the matches in France or England so it's ridiculous to suggest that they would be televised in Australia, not to mention the fact that creating a French competition for Australian TV is about the last thing we should be prioritizing right now.

Look, I would love it if RL was like soccer with major professional leagues throughout the world that have huge interest and are televised in all countries. But that isn't how it is. It's unrealistic and ridiculous to discuss, we struggle enough to get Aussie TV to broadcast ESL and international/World Cup matches.

My statement was more about showing different RL content if there was an exclusive channel rather than specifically French RL.

I understand that they do not televise their games and to suggest that an Australian channel would establish this would be ridiculous.

In some cases there may be a final televised and so this may be picked up by a broadcaster. Other than that the ESL and Challenge Cup would fill content. Maybe some other matches if they can get the proper support.

Anyway we are getting off topic here so maybe when it happens it can be up for discussion.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

I like that, all cup finals that are televised to be shown live on a RL channel, would be awesome. England and France already have their CC and LDC televised plus the French comp also has their GF televised. Would certainly open a few peoples eyes to the fact the game is even played there even though they've probably heard of Les Catalans but it just hasn't clicked :crazy:

 

[langpark]

I'm not pessimistic at all, they don't even show the matches in France or England so it's ridiculous to suggest that they would be televised in Australia, not to mention the fact that creating a French competition for Australian TV is about the last thing we should be prioritizing right now.

Look, I would love it if RL was like soccer with major professional leagues throughout the world that have huge interest and are televised in all countries. But that isn't how it is. It's unrealistic and ridiculous to discuss, we struggle enough to get Aussie TV to broadcast ESL and international/World Cup matches.

A lot of what youre saying is true, but I refuse to accept that it's "unrealistic and ridiculous". It's 2015, the Serbs manage to live stream all their domestic matches, you can watch live ping pong matches from China on Fox Sports. Have one live Elite match per week, is not out of reach. Someone just needs to take the initiative and have the balls to take the (small) risk.

 

[Storm13]

Be great if there was an app (like the NRL) for all these nations who self fund their domestic/international live streams. Charge $50 a year and all profits get shared between all nations evenly. Have news and stats ect $$$$

 

[Evil Homer]

A lot of what youre saying is true, but I refuse to accept that it's "unrealistic and ridiculous". It's 2015, the Serbs manage to live stream all their domestic matches, you can watch live ping pong matches from China on Fox Sports. Have one live Elite match per week, is not out of reach. Someone just needs to take the initiative and have the balls to take the (small) risk.

It is out of reach when the French don't even have that.

 

[Sgt. Kabukiman]

Fox will never show French games shot with a single camera and without proper lighting, because it makes their channel look cheap. They need at least half-decent coverage (similar to what they have with the Q Cup) before a proper network will even think about it, and right now the French don't have the dosh to get that going. It sucks, but that's just how it is.