RLWC - Getting Smaller !!!

[SteveM]

The last RLWC has 16 teams. Why are there only 10 this time round ?. The papers and public are going to pick up on this and really pull the piss.

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

not if its managed well

 

[SteveM]

In Oz because RL is so popular you can get away with it. But the other country (England) that will be interested, there is just no way it's going to get any serious coverage.

You should have seen the coverage of the Georgia / Holland game. Starting with not even a local comp between them, No RL players in the Georgian side, and only a couple in the Dutch side - just no credibility.

It's going to be a media massacre!!!!!.

 

[mattystans000]

And yet they pulled 11,000 people out to see them on a public holiday! I'd like to see the figures for a union match between these two nations.

Also with the way the pools are structured the people will see its going to be more competitive than previous years, with less minnows and more competitiveness it should be welcomed by all. And there are only ten nations to manage funds and keep things real, 16 was too many and they realised this.

 

[langpark]

The last RLWC has 16 teams. Why are there only 10 this time round ?. The papers and public are going to pick up on this and really pull the piss.

the 'papers and public' that you seem to fear so much would respect a 10 team comp much more than 16.

With 16, we really were scraping the bottom of the barrell, with teams like NZ Moari and Indigeneous Australia probably gaining inclusion to make up numbers.

 

[Sam_the_man]

Ignore SteveM, he's nothing but a sh*t stirring unionest.

 

[Calixte]

In Oz because RL is so popular you can get away with it. But the other country (England) that will be interested, there is just no way it's going to get any serious coverage.

You should have seen the coverage of the Georgia / Holland game. Starting with not even a local comp between them, No RL players in the Georgian side, and only a couple in the Dutch side - just no credibility.

It's going to be a media massacre!!!!!.

You still haven't pointed out the problems with the 1995 RL World Cup.

Compared to the interminable cricket WC the rugby league version should be a better length.

The number of countries competing in qualification is up. Just the finals structure has changed re- number of teams at the actual finals.

 

[LeagueXIII]

I remember when we had 4 teams in 1977, so I would say a team 10 tournament in 2008 with qualifying rounds shows pretty good growth.

 

[marshall stalin]

It's a disgrace as Soviet Russia have a national comp and had to play qualifying matches and sadly did not qualify for this cup.

The next world cup should be in Soviet Russia

 

[bobbis]

The 10 team 1995 WC was far more successful and had better press than the 16 team 2000 one. The number of teams won't determine how successful this cup is. Not only that but the number of teams entering is far more this time than last time, there's simply less at the finals.

 

[brendothejet]

Steve M Is Just Another Useless Troll

 

[bender]

The last RLWC has 16 teams. Why are there only 10 this time round ?.

What the hell are you talking about? By my count this is an 18 team world cup!

Australia
New Zealand
England
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
France
PNG
Russia
Georgia
Holland
Fiji
Cook Islands
Samoa
Tonga
USA
Japan
Serbia


Furthermore, the successful expansion from the last world cup and the streamling of the finals series means that the smaller nations are now given decent matchups. This means that they are encouraged to get their grass roots development and own house in order so that they can play meaningful qualifying games. It is expected that South Africa, West Indies, Malta, Italy and Greece, at the very least will enter the tournament next time around, with domestic competition and stronger finances as a result of their decision to pass on this years competition.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

After the cricket world cup where the inclusion of minnows ensured it was draawwwwnnn out far too long, I don't think anyone is going to complain about a short and sweeet RLWC. What's important for RL is to continue to have these cups every four years and steadily show signs of improvement from the developing nations.

 

[yosh64]

From SMH

The International Rugby Board (IRB) is considering cutting the number of teams taking part in the World Cup from 20 to 16, the sport's ruling body said in a statement.
The IRB is concerned about the number of one-sided matches at recent World Cups involving the smaller rugby nations, a trend likely to continue at this year's 20-team tournament in France.

Australia ran in 22 tries to beat Namibia 142-0 in 2003 and New Zealand crushed Japan 145-17 in 1995, the two most one-sided matches in World Cup history.
The IRB also announced changes to the qualifying system for the World Cup with a view to reducing the number of international matches.

"In recognition of the amount of rugby now being played and the implications on the establishment of an integrated season the RWC board has decided that there should be 12 automatic qualifying places for future tournaments," IRB chairman Syd Millar said.
The top three teams in each World Cup group, starting this year, will qualify automatically for the next tournament.

The IRB is introducing a World Trophy qualifying tournament the year before the World Cup, a move designed to make the second and third tier teams more competitive.

"The World Trophy tournament, played at one venue, with places determined from the regional championship competitions will be highly competitive," Millar said.

"The tournament along with the upgrading of the regional championships will replace the existing qualifying process that has in the past duplicated existing match schedules and the repechage process that sees teams qualify very late in the lead up to RWC," Millar added.

To all the guys that think having more teams is better. This at least shows its not working so well with a more established world cup such as the RWC.

Still i think its probably a good idea for them. Hope they decide to stay with 16 teams so they continue to have boring matches for their showpiece tournament.

 

[Manurewa_Marlins]

Im glad its going to be a relativley short cup, with plenty of exciting matches as the teams will be more even. They wont waste time getting to the innevatable finals (Australia v GB/NZ), like the Cricket WC did, and there shouldnt be too many blowout scores.

 

[t-ba]

It's a disgrace as Soviet Russia have a national comp and had to play qualifying matches and sadly did not qualify for this cup.

The next world cup should be in Soviet Russia

Can Trans-Dniester host a World Cup though? F*ck, is it even around anymore? Soviet Russia is dead...You're nation is now just another third world tin pot dictatorship keeping a Nuclear arsenal so China doesn't overrun Siberia...

 

[mtngry]

IF this WC bears NO RESEMBLENCE at all to the Cricket WC it will be a success.

I am a big fan of teh whole CUp/Plate/Bowl system. you get blow outs in first round, but after that it is all pretty even and all finals.

 

[bowes]

After the cricket world cup where the inclusion of minnows ensured it was draawwwwnnn out far too long, I don't think anyone is going to complain about a short and sweeet RLWC. What's important for RL is to continue to have these cups every four years and steadily show signs of improvement from the developing nations.

The length was nothing whatsoever in any way shape or form due to the inclusion of minnows. It was entirely due to the drawn out Super 8 stage

 

[NK Arsenal]

It's a disgrace as Soviet Russia have a national comp and had to play qualifying matches and sadly did not qualify for this cup.

The next world cup should be in Soviet Russia

comrade, you are a disgrace.

i bet you aren't even russian.

 

[coldhardbitch]

It's a disgrace as Soviet Russia have a national comp and had to play qualifying matches and sadly did not qualify for this cup.

The next world cup should be in Soviet Russia

We'd have to go back about 20 years for that. I don't think Georgia would be competing either, or USA for that matter.