RLWC 2017 may only feature full RLIF members

[Misanthrope]

Well at least it sounds like they are having qualifiers.
Hopefully they have full qualifiers and not 12 automatics this time.

Agreed. It makes the competition look even more of a Mickey Mouse when almost all of the spots are just given away.

Rugby manufactures the illusion that it is a truly global game by allowing and encouraging qualification campaigns for as many teams as possible. Hell, China tries to qualify and I can tell you now the team would almost entirely be made up of people from 2 or 3 amateur clubs started by foreigners.

Nothing to stop League from doing the same. Encourage as many nations as possible to participate in qualification, but restrict actual participation in the tournament to full members.

Steve Mascord

re: 2017 RLWC in AUS/NZ "concerns only full members of the RLIF will only be allowed compete in the next WC will effectively rule them out (USA) and also also effectively Italy (FIRL)" RLIF/ARL Andrew Hill said it was under consideration. If your not a full member of the RLIF you can not compete in the 2017 WC, even though it is not intended as such this is a big stick to people in the United States and in Italy to clean up their acts and to mend bridges and have one governing body, the RLIF will not deal with you if you have two governing bodies. (18 full members competing for 14/16 spots). Italy/USA can kick off the qualifying series, compete to the end of the qualifiers and use as many NRL players and they can get through to the world cup...... But If they at that stage are not full members they are not full members they can be replaced by someone they beat in the qualifiers"

http://www.spreaker.com/user/www.leagueunlimited5/white-line-fever-podcast-episode-59

About time. I actually assumed this was already the case :lol:

 

[Rodney]

I applaud the stance of being a member before you get to go to a world cup. That is a great motivator for nations to actually focus on growing the game domestically.

I DO NOT agree with using as many NRL players as you like in the WC. This very clearly spells out exactly the same issue that has seen players walk away from the game since the last world cup, in the USA. This clearly says to the domestic players "You will be good to play in the lead up games, and the stuff we can't get NRL (Heritage) players for, but once the big games come around we are just going to replace you.

It is up to the National Governing Body in each nation to self-police selections into the world cup, and in a national like the USA, in a team of 24 - HALF should be registered, and playing in the USA. IF YOU WANT TO PLAY FOR THE USA, COME AND PLAY IN THE USA! (and that means at least a season)
Having 12 guys from overseas is MORE than enough for any nation.

I hope the RLIF Application that the USARL submitted is soon approved and we can get on with developing the game in the USA, continue to grow at the grassroots level, and policing our own National team selection, without the influence of people from overseas who are not living, nor helping develop the game, in the USA!

Depends on the country.
In the USA, its probably a good idea because they aren't exporting players yet so the only 'expats' playing for them are either through heritage or through circumstances before they took up the sport (born in the USA, moved to Aus/ Eng before they were 13). As there are very few (i know one player who went from Canada to play for Parra's NSW cup side) players leaving the Americas for the NRL it isn't necessary and dosen't help the growth of the sport.

In places like the PI's its not as there are frequent NRL scouts allow up and coming players to come through local systems to play in the NRL. The best domestic PI players will probably move to Australia/ NZ/ England to make a living off of what they do.

 

[deluded pom?]

^ That would be so stupid and unnecessary. I don't even know why you would post that.

Because I can.

 

[roughyedspud]

italy & usa need to pull their heads in and knock them together...


acutally having 2 competing bodies per country can drive growth & development if you remove the hositilies...and have a joint board overseeing everything..

take the usa for example...

USARL could run 1 conference(s) & the Amnrl could run the other conference(s) and then play offs could come from the top 2 from each conference the a grand final...much like the NFC & AFC structure in the NFL system

theres also scope for a conference v conference origin type series from which to pick the national team...


same goes for italy

 

[JonNgog]

Panicked when I saw the first part of the topic title 'RLWC 2017 may only feature f....'

Anyway, it is good news. Sort yerselves out boys.

 

[CQ Italia]

Here's the RLWeek article by Steve Mascord. Not sure if its for 2014 or 2015 (I'll assume 15). So basically have the rlif just admitted behind close doors the Italian and USA rebels were right after 4 years? And after all the criticism. Looks like top 7 + maybe PNG (if they host games) get auto so 6 spots up for grab if they keep it at 14 nations, 4 spots if 12. How Ireland, Wales, Cooks and Tonga qualify I'm not sure....
The rest: Euro, Atlantic and ME & Africa
Far&wide can reveal that the WC qualifiers will take place in July -deliberately ruling out full-time pros from taking part.
The federation sees this as a way to ensure the strongest countries get through, rather than the countries who can call on the most heritage players from Australia and England.
We are also told there will be a new qualifying group in Africa and the Middle East, which should make it easier for the well-organised South Africa to get through.
But when it is announced that the top seven teams from the last world cup will qualify for the 2017 tournament, watch out for the fireworks - make that "rockets' red glare" - from America. On points difference in the quarters, they finished eighth.
Without coming out and saying so, the RLIF is hinting with this development - along with the stipulation that only full members can take part in the next tournament - that having Italian and American sides stacked with expats last year was a mistake.

 

[Rodney]

You'd think they'd expand the number of countries WC for next time.
There's so many more competitive nations now, you'd have to think they'd include more nations this time.
4 groups of 4, no more inter group matches for the minnow pools.
Or even 4 even pools so the quarter finals and semi finals don't feature as many blowouts.
If they keep it at 14, or even cut it to twelve a LOT of viable countries could miss out

Top 7 from the WC:
Aus
NZ
Eng
Fij
Samoa
France
Scotland

Countries left to fight over 7 or 5 spots (-1 if PNG are hosting a pool):
USA
Canada
Jamaica
Ireland
Wales
Russia
Serbia
Lebanon
South Africa
Tonga
Cook Islands
Italy
Potentially PNG
Possibly Germany, the Netherlands and Malta (they've been competetive with the other European nations before, and without heritage players this time around they could squeeze in)
And there could be others, who knows if other nations might muster up some competitive players by then

At best there'll be
12-15 countries viably fighting for 6 spots (13-16 nations fighting for 7 spots if PNG isn't host)
if they reduce the cup it goes to
12-15 countries fighting for 4 spots (13-16 for 5 if PNG doesn't host)

 

[deal.with.it]

You have to be a full rlif member. Ruling out half the countries you named

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

Which nations have the potential to get bumped to Full Member status in the next 3 years?

Surely if a nation qualified but weren't FM yet they would do whatever is necessary to achieve that status? And they'd get government help to get there?

 

[CQ Italia]

You have to be a full rlif member. Ruling out half the countries you named

Which nations have the potential to get bumped to Full Member status in the next 3 years?

Surely if a nation qualified but weren't FM yet they would do whatever is necessary to achieve that status? And they'd get government help to get there?

well according to Steve mascord they can compete in the qualifiers, just need to be a full member by the end of them(?)

USA via USARL have applied for full membership
Greece would be pretty close in the next couple of years, just need a junior NT, 10 week comp (their 5 clubs look to have completed a 9/10 week comp), 6 team junior comp, etc), 500 registered players.
They now have 8 clubs (including recently new ones and reserve/second div clubs)

there's actually 18 RLIF Full member Nations
not sure on everyone else.

 

[Evil Homer]

Canada could be a shout, still no idea about the status of their Ontario operation but they are entering a junior team in the Commonwealth Games and the BC competition alone should meet most of the domestic requirements. I think their goal was to compete in the WCQs this time around so you would think they would be looking to get their act together pretty quickly.

 

[deal.with.it]

Conduct regular Rugby League Competitions within the country – Competition is defined as a League Competition played under International Laws of Rugby League over a minimum of a 10 week period.
(a) Minimum 8 senior teams
(b) Minimum 4 reserve/U21/Student grade teams
(c) At least 500 registered participants (players, coaches and match officials)
(d) A registered office and admin.
(e) At least a 6 team Junior RL and/or School (Under 18) competition.
(f) Coach Education Scheme approved by the RLIF.
(g) Referees Accreditation Scheme approved by the RLIF
(h) Approved International programme at various levels which must include Full International and may in addition include “A” International, Student International, Junior (Under 18) International. All at Male or Female.

 

[deluded pom?]

Conduct regular Rugby League Competitions within the country ? Competition is defined as a League Competition played under International Laws of Rugby League over a minimum of a 10 week period.

Does this rule out England and Australia from participating in the 2017 WC because neither of them play their domestic competition under international laws?

 

[roughyedspud]

lol...

 

[roughyedspud]

Canada could be a shout, still no idea about the status of their Ontario operation but they are entering a junior team in the Commonwealth Games and the BC competition alone should meet most of the domestic requirements. I think their goal was to compete in the WCQs this time around so you would think they would be looking to get their act together pretty quickly.

i really like how canada is going about things......usa take note!

 

[deal.with.it]

Pretty sure Q Cup, CRL etc are played under Int'l rules

 

[Rodney]

So what would be the ideal qualifying groups and how many spots should they all be awarded?
my view-
Middle East/ Africa
The proposed Middle-East/ Africa pool is interesting, but it'd need some other qualifier or condition attached.
At present there'd be 2 member nations (lebanon + South Africa) , 1 ranked affiliate (Morrocco, currently last) and one unranked (UAE, have played lebanon on a semi-regular basis).
I'd prefer 1.5 for this group just because Morocco and the UAE are so lowly and it could help balance out the relative easiness of the current pacific pool.
1st in pool qualfies automatically
2nd in pool plays off against the 2nd place in the Pacific pool
Pacific
If PNG host a pool they're likely to auto qualify leaving the Pacific pool with few contenders.
Tonga and the Cook Islands would be the front runners, with potential contenders/ cannon fodder being Tokelau, the Solomon Islands, Nuie and Vanuatu (doubts over whether veanuatu would have the domestic muscle to put out a squad).
Cooks and Tonga source a LOT of players from the NRL so this pool could possibly see a few boil overs, but the contenders are too far fetched for me to see any upsets.
Again 1.5 spots would be ideal, as the initial stage of qualifying shouldn't provide much (if any) challenge for Tonga and the Cooks and we can't just let every team with poor neighbors get in.
Europe
Plenty of viable nations in Europe.
A qualifying group could even be split up if all the current RLEF test playing nations are willing to attempt to qualify.
This pool (or pools) will feature full members Wales, Ireland, Serbia and Russia as well as several competetive affiliates (Italy, Germany, Ukraine ect.).
Without heritage players there could be a fair few surprises from this pool, especially concerning Ireland and Wales.
I'd tentatively give Europe 3.5 qualifiers, maybe 4 depending on the state of the Atlantic pool.
Atlantic
This pool will heavily depend on the state of memberships heading into the world cup.
The only member from this region is Jamaica but both the USA and Canada should be able to qualify as members with the resources they have at the moment.
I'd give this group 1.5 spots with the 2nd place in this group to play the fourth placed nation in Europe.
I expect all three nations to be members by WC time, but if there isn't two their half spot would automatically go to the European group.

If 16 nations it too many then the halves can go and we'll have the same amount of nations as last time.

 

[bender]

So is the current plan as follows:

USA and Italy (and other nations) are allowed to enter the qualifiers, but if they win all of their games, they will not be allowed to Qualify? Unless they get "political approval" by becoming full time members.

I know this seems popular here, but it is ridiculous, and especially contradictory since most of the people supporting this are also jumping up and down arguing against nation hopping or super pools or no domestic players because of "credibility". The only place that qualification should be decided is on the field and nowhere else.

 

[Evil Homer]

So is the current plan as follows:

USA and Italy (and other nations) are allowed to enter the qualifiers, but if they win all of their games, they will not be allowed to Qualify? Unless they get "political approval" by becoming full time members.

I know this seems popular here, but it is ridiculous, and especially contradictory since most of the people supporting this are also jumping up and down arguing against nation hopping or super pools or no domestic players because of "credibility". The only place that qualification should be decided is on the field and nowhere else.

They shouldn't be allowed to enter the qualification process. I guess they might be entered anyway on the premise that they will get membership some time in the future, which would be f**king lackluster but unsurprising if so. It does seem like you've completely missed the point here though as usual.

 

[bender]

They shouldn't be allowed to enter the qualification process. I guess they might be entered anyway on the premise that they will get membership some time in the future, which would be f**king lackluster but unsurprising if so. It does seem like you've completely missed the point here though as usual.

yeah i know, the point is to have less qualifiers rather than more qualifiers. That should help grow the game :roll: