Some Background on PNG

[ali]

The ARL gives PNG something like $200K AUD every year, which is pretty close to 70K quid.

They are doing some decent work up there, obviously I´d love to see more. There are still some massive missing links, such as getting PNG kids down to NRL clubs at a young enough age to turn them into top class players.

But one thing I have noticed while travelling through South America and the Caribbean, is that there is far less sporting infrastructure here than in develped countries.

I was in cricket mad Saint Lucia for 4 days, and didn´t see any cricket grounds or nets, other than the Test ground. Kids were playing a fair bit in the street. But the lack of infrastructure is the one obvious reason why Saint Lucia has never produced a test player for the West Indies. Even in Barbados, a more wealthy nation that has produced some of the West Indies greats, I hardly noticed a cricket field.

I´ve also decided that it is almost impossible for RL or union for that matter, to make much of an impact in third world countries, unless they are tropical countries. When you see some of the terrible soccer grounds over here, it is impossible to imagine anyone wanting to be tackled onto a surface like that. Obviously the tropics are more fertile, and the grounds should be softer. Argentina in Union, is the obvious exception in this part of the world, however even in Argentina I got the feeling it was a sport restricted to certain parts of society. Going by media coverage and what I saw on the street, soccer is about 20times bigger.

So for now, I think we can really forget about South America and Africa (other than the Saffers) until these countries become a bit richer. Any little nibble of interest in these areas is not going to lead to much. Europe and PNG have the most potential for development in RL and all efforts should be concentrated there.

 

[screeny]

The ARL gives PNG something like $200K AUD every year, which is pretty close to 70K quid.

They are doing some decent work up there, obviously I´d love to see more. There are still some massive missing links, such as getting PNG kids down to NRL clubs at a young enough age to turn them into top class players.

But one thing I have noticed while travelling through South America and the Caribbean, is that there is far less sporting infrastructure here than in develped countries.

I was in cricket mad Saint Lucia for 4 days, and didn´t see any cricket grounds or nets, other than the Test ground. Kids were playing a fair bit in the street. But the lack of infrastructure is the one obvious reason why Saint Lucia has never produced a test player for the West Indies. Even in Barbados, a more wealthy nation that has produced some of the West Indies greats, I hardly noticed a cricket field.

I´ve also decided that it is almost impossible for RL or union for that matter, to make much of an impact in third world countries, unless they are tropical countries. When you see some of the terrible soccer grounds over here, it is impossible to imagine anyone wanting to be tackled onto a surface like that. Obviously the tropics are more fertile, and the grounds should be softer. Argentina in Union, is the obvious exception in this part of the world, however even in Argentina I got the feeling it was a sport restricted to certain parts of society. Going by media coverage and what I saw on the street, soccer is about 20times bigger.

So for now, I think we can really forget about South America and Africa (other than the Saffers) until these countries become a bit richer. Any little nibble of interest in these areas is not going to lead to much. Europe and PNG have the most potential for development in RL and all efforts should be concentrated there.

Sweeeeeeeeeping statements there Ali, although respect due for the analysis on the ground (no pun intended).

I have seen plenty of playable fields in Kenya, for example, and North Africa is a huge area of massive potential for RL to exploit, with fields aplenty. I know nothing about West Africa but I would concur, why waste our efforts and limited resources on these completely alien territories (to the game, that is).

As for South America, I always thought of countries like Uruguay, Chile, Colombia and Argentina as very lush, and I think your assessment of RU in Argentina is pretty well known throughout the world - that it's a sport for the AB demographic. There's no reason why RL can't shoot for the same audience and market in these areas.

 

[deluded pom?]

As an aside does anyone have any good websites for PNG rugby league? I know the Lae Bombers have a site but are there any other club sides that have a site? I'm also struggling to find a decent official website for the PNGRFL. Thanks in anticipation.

 

[ali]

Sweeeeeeeeeping statements there Ali, although respect due for the analysis on the ground (no pun intended).

I have seen plenty of playable fields in Kenya, for example, and North Africa is a huge area of massive potential for RL to exploit, with fields aplenty. I know nothing about West Africa but I would concur, why waste our efforts and limited resources on these completely alien territories (to the game, that is).

As for South America, I always thought of countries like Uruguay, Chile, Colombia and Argentina as very lush, and I think your assessment of RU in Argentina is pretty well known throughout the world - that it's a sport for the AB demographic. There's no reason why RL can't shoot for the same audience and market in these areas.

Yeah fair enough, it was a very quick assessment of something that has far more depth.

Ok, well maybe Kenya might be doable, but Uruguay and Chile I really doubt. I only saw the central and northern bits of Chile, and I´d say it´s too dry to produce enough lush grounds. Ok, Chile is doing quite well economically and there is a small amount of union played there, but I just can´t see it happening. Uruguay in a tiny country and Colombia, which I haven´t seen much of yet, is probably too isolated from anywhere else likely to take up the game. I guess we can never say never, but it certainly wont happen without TV coverage. Our best chance of getting RL into South America, may be by first getting the game played in Spain.

Our dollar investments can go far further in PNG and places which are at least geographically close to established RLs. If I was handing out the cash, I´d be concentrating on places such as Serbia, Russia and Lebanon, which are showing good potential, and are not overly isolated.

 

[brendothejet]

i think its not just PNG but the entire pacific. ten years development and funding and you will have competitive test nations surrounding the country.

 

[mtngry]

Yah.. but that requires long term thinking, a touch of altruism and acting globally instead of just locally, things the ARL has never seemed to get right ( OK< I am a cynic about these things)

 

[yosh64]

Yeah fair enough, it was a very quick assessment of something that has far more depth.

Our best chance of getting RL into South America, may be by first getting the game played in Spain.

Our dollar investments can go far further in PNG and places which are at least geographically close to established RLs. If I was handing out the cash, I´d be concentrating on places such as Serbia, Russia and Lebanon, which are showing good potential, and are not overly isolated.

Yeah i agree. Its best not to spread the money too thin. Effort and investment into league should be done where the greater gains can take place. Since we have europe and america and the pacific that have great potential we shouldnt do much in africa and south america (apart from small support for individuals setting up games themselves - say a website with rules and information on training and other bits of information).

There is just so much potential in europe and they are closer to league infrastructure and support.