RLWC 2025

[The Great Dane]

Looking at the rfls financials for 2022 it looks like the RLWC revenue was around $35million. On that it only just broke even. I guess that shows the level of money needed to be brought in to make it work!

That's not surprising, it's a very long time since international RL has been a money spinner.

International RL that makes money is the exception to the rule if truth be told, and most IRL fans complain about the events that actually make money because they aren't glamorous enough.

Qatar would need to pony up $100mill you'd say, cant see them thinking its worth it. Best option would be to move it to 2026 to give NZ opportunity to put a decent bid together. Play the Kangaroos games in Oz to bring in some cash and keep Aussie TV interested. Rest to be played in NZ and PNG and maybe Fiji for some spice.

Considering the recession and other socioeconomic factors I highly doubt that NZ would be able to put forward a decent bid even if it was delayed a year and the PI's element was totally abandoned. With all due respect, the NZRL are well out of their depth at this point.

The IRL need to accept the position they're in, get into a room with PVL and Abdo as quickly as possible, and start negotiating how a 2025 RLWC held in Australia will look. It's the only reasonable option they have given the timeframe, and pushing on with something else is just asking for trouble.

Give NZ 2029 if they're serious about hosting.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

That's not surprising, it's a very long time since international RL has been a money spinner.

International RL that makes money is the exception to the rule if truth be told, and most IRL fans complain about the events that actually make money because they aren't glamorous enough.

Considering the recession and other socioeconomic factors I highly doubt that NZ would be able to put forward a decent bid even if it was delayed a year and the PI's element was totally abandoned. With all due respect, the NZRL are well out of their depth at this point.

The IRL need to accept the position they're in, get into a room with PVL and Abdo as quickly as possible, and start negotiating how a 2025 RLWC held in Australia will look. It's the only reasonable option they have given the timeframe, and pushing on with something else is just asking for trouble.

Give NZ 2029 if they're serious about hosting.

To be fair also, it's been a long time since any International RL event has generated that sort of revenue. It's unfortunate that the extra costs of the delay and attaching the women's and wheelchair events (wheelchair may have actually paid it's own way, hard to say) didn't allow for a good profit.

 

[Perth Red]

To be fair also, it's been a long time since any International RL event has generated that sort of revenue. It's unfortunate that the extra costs of the delay and attaching the women's and wheelchair events (wheelchair may have actually paid it's own way, hard to say) didn't allow for a good profit.

You have to factor in what the uk govt gave grassroots rl as well. That’s not shown on the profit figure, When you factor that in it was hugely successful for the game in uk.


https://www.rlwc2021.com/article/347/£15-million-pounds-awarded-in-large-grants-as-part-of-rlwc2021-createdby-capital-grant-programme

 

[The Great Dane]

You have to factor in what the uk govt gave grassroots rl as well. That’s not shown on the profit figure, When you factor that in it was hugely successful for the game in uk.


https://www.rlwc2021.com/article/347/£15-million-pounds-awarded-in-large-grants-as-part-of-rlwc2021-createdby-capital-grant-programme

It's not factored in because it does absolutely nothing to improve the bank balance of the IRL or any of the nation's outside of the UK.

It's nice for the RFL, but largely irrelevant to the profitability of International RL.

 

[Perth Red]

It's not factored in because it does absolutely nothing to improve the bank balance of the IRL or any of the nation's outside of the UK.

It's nice for the RFL, but largely irrelevant to the profitability of International RL.

its still good for the game.

 

[The Great Dane]

its still good for the game.

Good for the game in England sure, but it does nothing for other nations and there needs to be some significant return for them as well if international RL is going to be successful.

This is a perfect example of why the NRL is cool on internationals. They're expected to carry a large portion of risk whether or not Australia is involved and they stand to gain financially from it, losing money in the process more often than not as well, then things like this happen and they're told it's all alright because it's helping the game in some nebulous sense.

In theory the whole point of the RLWC is to make a profit that the IRL can then reinvest into the sport in developing nations, and this money did absolutely nothing for that. So yeah, England may have won a consolation prize, but basically everybody else involved lost their ass, and that can't continue if international competition is going to grow into anything significant.

 

[Perth Red]

Good for the game in England sure, but it does nothing for other nations and there needs to be some significant return for them as well if international RL is going to be successful.

This is a perfect example of why the NRL is cool on internationals. They're expected to carry a large portion of risk whether or not Australia is involved and they stand to gain financially from it, losing money in the process more often than not as well, then things like this happen and they're told it's all alright because it's helping the game in some nebulous sense.

In theory the whole point of the RLWC is to make a profit that the IRL can then reinvest into the sport in developing nations, and this money did absolutely nothing for that. So yeah, England may have won a consolation prize, but basically everybody else involved lost their ass, and that can't continue if international competition is going to grow into anything significant.

Australia didnt lose anything, all the nations taking part got paid. Only people who lost out are the IRL and the smaller nations who rely in IRL support. Not ideal for sure and would have been nice to have made some money for the IRL to invest, but given grassroot RL in the hosting nation benefitted enormously, we got a great tournament watched all over the world, we introduced wheelchair RL to the world with a massive bang etc it wasn't a fail and the RLWC is there for much more than just a funding stream for the IRL. In fact imo the two main RL bodies should be providing funding to the IRL at an agreed % of revenue. The ARLC pretty much runs the IRLF now anyway since it moved to an Australian company.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

It's not factored in because it does absolutely nothing to improve the bank balance of the IRL or any of the nation's outside of the UK.

It's nice for the RFL, but largely irrelevant to the profitability of International RL.

Yes completely agree. The only positive moving forward is if we can generate this type of revenue with a lower cost base under ''normal circumstances'' and we can get some actual profits into the international game.

 

[The Great Dane]

Australia didnt lose anything, all the nations taking part got paid. Only people who lost out are the IRL and the smaller nations who rely in IRL support. Not ideal for sure and would have been nice to have made some money for the IRL to invest, but given grassroot RL in the hosting nation benefitted enormously, we got a great tournament watched all over the world, we introduced wheelchair RL to the world with a massive bang etc it wasn't a fail and the RLWC is there for much more than just a funding stream for the IRL. In fact imo the two main RL bodies should be providing funding to the IRL at an agreed % of revenue. The ARLC pretty much runs the IRLF now anyway since it moved to an Australian company.

I never said that Australia lost out in this case specifically. The point was demonstrative of a broader issue with international RL that needs to be addressed if it's going to continue to grow.

You're currently displaying the very English "it's good for us and the Aussie can afford it" attitude that is one of the biggest problems with relations between the two leagues at the moment. It's one of the key reasons why most NRL types can't be bothered with the RFL and SL when you really get down it.

BTW, I'm going to have to be the honest arsehole in the room again, but I couldn't give less of a f**k about wheelchair RL if I tried if I'm honest, and the same is going to true of the vast majority of people. I don't even think it's similar enough to RL in practice to consider it the same sport in any meaningful sense.
It was only made a part of the WC as a political publicity stunt to draw more funding and interest from the 'inclusion and diversity' sloganeering types, and I see it as a distraction that would be better off run independently from the rest of the RLWC as a whole.

The IRL should be looking to build the Women's WC into an independent event as well, though for different reasons.

 

[Perth Red]

I never said that Australia lost out in this case specifically. The point was demonstrative of a broader issue with international RL that needs to be addressed if it's going to continue to grow.

You're currently displaying the very English "it's good for us and the Aussie can afford it" attitude that is one of the biggest problems with relations between the two leagues at the moment. It's one of the key reasons why most NRL types can't be bothered with the RFL and SL when you really get down it.

BTW, I'm going to have to be the honest arsehole in the room again, but I couldn't give less of a f**k about wheelchair RL if I tried if I'm honest, and the same is going to true of the vast majority of people. I don't even think it's similar enough to RL in practice to consider it the same sport in any meaningful sense.
It was only made a part of the WC as a political publicity stunt to draw more funding and interest from the 'inclusion and diversity' sloganeering types, and I see it as a distraction that would be better off run independently from the rest of the RLWC as a whole.

The IRL should be looking to build the Women's WC into an independent event as well, though for different reasons.

You’re welcome to your opinion, I couldn’t disagree more. On pretty much every point lol.

 

[Perth Red]

The Rugby League World Cup in England last year has been hailed by UK Sport as a blueprint for future sporting events through the tournament's social impact program.

A new report, commissioned by RLWC2021 and delivered by The Sports Consultancy and Substance, found that RLWC2021 and its social impact programs have “demonstrated meaningful impacts for those that watched, engaged, attended and took part”.

Pioneering a unique delivery model for social impact, RLWC2021 was an exemplar social impact program that will set the standard for future sporting events, using an approach that puts social impact at the heart of planning and delivery.

Because of the geographic footprint, and impact of the tournament’s social impact programmes, 96% of the public believe that hosting RLWC benefited the North of England.

Led by £30 million of investment, the tournament achieved its ambition of making a positive difference in communities, in grassroots rugby league clubs, and in the lives of people living across the country, especially in the most deprived areas of England.

The Rugby League World Cup’s social impact programme focused on six key strands:

• Creating strong communities through new community hubs, new social connections, increased civic pride and increased volunteerism
• Growing the game through increased participation and interest in rugby league
• Stimulating physical activity and health
• Improving mental wellbeing and increased awareness of mental fitness
• Developing people through new skills and knowledge
• Boosting the economy, particularly in more deprived areas and creating more financially sustainable community clubs and more commercial interest in rugby league

In particular, the report highlighted the positive impact that RLWC2021 had on community cohesion and how social impact programs “brought communities together, broke down barriers, changed perceptions and gave people something to be proud of".

IRL - News

Global rugby league news

www.intrl.sport

 

[Coastbloke]

Dan Andrews has canceled the Comm Games worth $2.5 BILLION..

Seems League isn’t the only sport/s on politicians radars when it comes to money..!!

 

[taste2taste]

Dan Andrews has canceled the Comm Games worth $2.5 BILLION..

Seems League isn’t the only sport/s on politicians radars when it comes to money..!!

Apparently they budgeted for 2.6b but costs will likely blow out to 7b....Not too sure how they budgeted so poorly, pulling out this late doesn't give the organisers much time to find a plan B.

Still, in comparison the French couldn't give the RLWC 12m ? I'm still waiting to see what they will be doing to help league 'get back to its glory days' as they promised.

 

[Perth Red]

Makes $35mill for a RLWC seem cheap!!

 

[The Great Dane]

You’re welcome to your opinion, I couldn’t disagree more. On pretty much every point lol.

That's because you're more interested in performative activism than substance or the business of RL, which is further evidenced by the article you linked. A sporting event that made no money is the 'blueprint for future sporting events' LOL! Only overeducated and underpaid civil servants could come up with such utter BS and say it with a straight face.

And way to disprove the "it's good for us" attitude of English RL. . .

Raising awareness about social issues that everybody is already painfully aware of because every major political, corporate, and media institution in the West universally supports amplifying those issues might make you feel good, but it does f**k all to either help address those issues or grow the sport internationally.

 

[Coastbloke]

Does anyone else think Great Dane carries a Thesaurus whenever he posts…?? (Just kidding GD, love ya posts lol)

 

[Perth Red]

That's because you're more interested in performative activism than substance or the business of RL, which is further evidenced by the article you linked. A sporting event that made no money is the 'blueprint for future sporting events' LOL! Only overeducated and underpaid civil servants could come up with such utter BS and say it with a straight face.

And way to disprove the "it's good for us" attitude of English RL. . .

Raising awareness about social issues that everybody is already painfully aware of because every major political, corporate, and media institution in the West universally supports amplifying those issues might make you feel good, but it does f**k all to either help address those issues or grow the sport internationally.

Nonsense, I'm interested in seeing our great game continue to grow and evolve. There can be no argument that, despite a world wide pandemic impacting it, that this RLWC did that. And yes it did make money, about $35mill in revenue plus $30mill in legacy sport funding for RL in UK. Competing nations got paid, production costs got covered and no one lost anything.

At the least you'd want a major sport event to improve the sport in the host country, this did that. Yes it'd have been nice for the IRL to have had a few mill in the bank to spend on developing countries RL programs but covid put paid to that (and relying on a 4 year WC as a main source of revenue for Int development is something that the game needs to look hard at if it is serious about supporting sustained Int growth).

The tournament broke even, broke records, broke new ground and left a legacy. Not bad all covid and economic environment things considered. It certainly performed better than the previous WC and thats a positive we can build on each event.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Nonsense, I'm interested in seeing our great game continue to grow and evolve. There can be no argument that, despite a world wide pandemic impacting it, that this RLWC did that. And yes it did make money, about $35mill in revenue plus $30mill in legacy sport funding for RL in UK. Competing nations got paid, production costs got covered and no one lost anything.

At the least you'd want a major sport event to improve the sport in the host country, this did that. Yes it'd have been nice for the IRL to have had a few mill in the bank to spend on developing countries RL programs but covid put paid to that (and relying on a 4 year WC as a main source of revenue for Int development is something that the game needs to look hard at if it is serious about supporting sustained Int growth).

The tournament broke even, broke records, broke new ground and left a legacy. Not bad all covid and economic environment things considered. It certainly performed better than the previous WC and thats a positive we can build on each event.

Agreed, if it wasn't for the black swan event that occurred the cup would have been the most profitable ever. Hopefully this momentum is continued in 2025 and the organising committee is just as professional. If anything, the way the tournament was organised and funded was the turning point for our sport that could pay dividends in the future.

 

[taste2taste]

Stumbled across this article from January, its mostly about the French Elie 1 competition but there is any interesting mention that off the back of the 2025 WC France were hoping to launch a fully professional 10 team competition.

I wonder if this will still go ahead ? The French government did 'promise ' to help the game financially...

In other news, over the weekend France 34 defeated England 20 in the under 17's...so there's a glimmer of hope that France can get back to the glory years when they beat England regularly.

Why rugby league fans across the world should follow France’s top tier | Gavin Willacy

The Elite 1 league, which returns this weekend after its festive break, is packed with former NRL and Super League stars

www.google.com

 

[Perth Red]

Stumbled across this article from January, its mostly about the French Elie 1 competition but there is any interesting mention that off the back of the 2025 WC France were hoping to launch a fully professional 10 team competition.

I wonder if this will still go ahead ? The French government did 'promise ' to help the game financially...

In other news, over the weekend France 34 defeated England 20 in the under 17's...so there's a glimmer of hope that France can get back to the glory years when they beat England regularly.

Why rugby league fans across the world should follow France’s top tier | Gavin Willacy

The Elite 1 league, which returns this weekend after its festive break, is packed with former NRL and Super League stars

www.google.com

Its really interesting that the French jnrs for years have been more than competitve with England. The lack of development pathways and level of competition and funding in the French league is the only thing holding France back from being competitive on the International Stage. You need at least 100 players at the very top level domestically to be competitive Internationally unless you get really lucky and unearth a group of real stars together at same period of time. At moment France only has about 20 players in the elite level.