Some good news for France, Wales

[Coastbloke]

Lets hope they stick to this. Very welcome news IMHO..

IRL Board identifies priority nations

intrl.sport

 

[taste2taste]

Overall this is the best strategy, concentrate on the countries most likely to grow league rather than spreading our limited funds too thin.

although I would question PNG and Wales.

Wales has a tiny population and any talented youngster is going to be poached by Union.

PNG already has 600m from the Oz government, the IRL doesn’t need to give them any more.

Imo the 4 countries should be France, Jamaica, Lebanon/Kenya and USA

 

[jim_57]

Maybe once the PNG side is up and running the NRL could change the 2 player cap exemption announced today to any player from outside of Aus-NZ-England.

 

[yakstorm]

PNG already has 600m from the Oz government, the IRL doesn’t need to give them any more.

I can guarantee you the IRL won't give them an extra cent (outside of the $25K annual IRL membership fee), they are just attaching themselves to the funding the NRL has secured for PNG to make themselves look good. It's like how they claim credit for the Pacific Championship even though it is completely driven by the NRL and the member leagues.

Even in the article, that's all the reference

Rugby League in Papua New Guinea is set to receive massive investment from the Australian Government, while a Port Moresby-based team will join the NRL in 2028.

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has announced a new policy aimed at developing rugby league talent in Papua New Guinea, with NRL clubs allowed to sign up to two PNG Pathway Players - defined as those who have participated in junior rugby league in PNG - outside the salary cap.

I'll be interested to know what the investment in France & Wales is going to look like. The IRL has been bleeding money and has no known sponsors, so I can't imagine it will be much (or maybe it's tied to NRL Europe)

 

[Broncos thats my team]

What about USA?