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South Africa

siv

First Grade
Messages
6,748
South Africa are a proud nation and will want to excel at whatever sport is on the world stage

Even a team of 70% RU converts would make a splash and being a World Cup will bring in corporates and tourists
 

Pommy

Coach
Messages
14,657
South Africa are a proud nation and will want to excel at whatever sport is on the world stage

Even a team of 70% RU converts would make a splash and being a World Cup will bring in corporates and tourists

How many RL tourists are really going to go to South Africa? I’m sure some would but a lot won’t the country is a f**king basket case and many won’t want the hassle.
You get a lot going between and Aus and UK as they can tie it in with trips to see family on both ends and not get murdered and raped walking the streets.
 

adamkungl

Immortal
Messages
42,971
Interesting development, Norway seems to have gained government recognition under a similar arrangement.

Rugby League has been accepted as a recognised sport and will be administered under the Norwegian Rugby Federation (NRF).

League will have a parallel legal status as other sports administered by the NRF.
As a recognised body, RLN will control its own governance and bank account whilst its clubs will, for the first time, be able to name themselves ‘rugby league clubs’ rather than ‘rugby clubs’. The clubs will also be voting members of NRF, whose board will have two rugby league directors, along with wheelchair rugby and rugby union. Funding for rugby league will now increase, especially for youth, club and technical development.

Perhaps some key differences to South Africa -

1, there isn't the massive imbalance between Union and League and Norway. Rugby League claims over 500 participants in Norway while the wiki on Union claims 1000. Growth could close this gap very quickly. Norway RL is a lot closer to WC qualification than Norway Union.

2, Rugby League clubs have voting members on the board.


Fwiw I am still finding it difficult to see how SARL membership to the Rugby governing body could be worse than being totally ignored. Membership under the governments sports committee rules gives them legal standing for funding and forming clubs.
 

deluded pom?

Coach
Messages
10,897
Interesting development, Norway seems to have gained government recognition under a similar arrangement.

Rugby League has been accepted as a recognised sport and will be administered under the Norwegian Rugby Federation (NRF).



Perhaps some key differences to South Africa -

1, there isn't the massive imbalance between Union and League and Norway. Rugby League claims over 500 participants in Norway while the wiki on Union claims 1000. Growth could close this gap very quickly. Norway RL is a lot closer to WC qualification than Norway Union.

2, Rugby League clubs have voting members on the board.


Fwiw I am still finding it difficult to see how SARL membership to the Rugby governing body could be worse than being totally ignored. Membership under the governments sports committee rules gives them legal standing for funding and forming clubs.
Indeed. Would the SARU be liable for a lawsuit if they openly discriminated against a SARL club/s?
 

Shark62

Juniors
Messages
2,497
The only reason this happens is we are far too focussed on the nrl and esl and nothing else. The international game is an afterthought and the poor buggers trying to grow the game are sitting ducks for this sort of bs. Same as it ever was.
 

LeagueXIII

First Grade
Messages
5,969
South Africa are a proud nation and will want to excel at whatever sport is on the world stage

Even a team of 70% RU converts would make a splash and being a World Cup will bring in corporates and tourists

You are in dreamland.
 

Walter sobchak

First Grade
Messages
5,845
I just get the feeling that South Africa is a bit like Russia. It’s never going to happen for RL unfortunately.

Best to try countries like Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana etc.
 

Pommy

Coach
Messages
14,657
Union is on a down in SA due to teams not been selected on merit.Internationaly they are only a shadow to what they were.

Isn’t it the case that all South African teams need to be selected by quota?
 

Whatwhere

Juniors
Messages
365
Union is on a down in SA due to teams not been selected on merit.Internationaly they are only a shadow to what they were.
Isn’t it the case that all South African teams need to be selected by quota?

They've recently done away with them because as it turns out most of the guys being selected on the teams who would have been mandated to be selected due to race are actually being selected because they are the best player in that position available. Most of the SR squads are 40% African and many of the academies are 50%.
 

Whatwhere

Juniors
Messages
365
Union is on a down in SA due to teams not been selected on merit.Internationaly they are only a shadow to what they were.

They are still a top 5 side which is were they've always been. And they are suffering provincially not from selection or popularity issues but from player drain. A weak Rand means Sth African players are popular options for the big Euro leagues and Japanese clubs. Players are faced with the option of either staying in SA and making R1m (around $100k AUD) or moving to say the UK and make £250k (a little over $450k AUD). It's a pretty easy choice.
 

adamkungl

Immortal
Messages
42,971
They are still a top 5 side which is were they've always been. And they are suffering provincially not from selection or popularity issues but from player drain. A weak Rand means Sth African players are popular options for the big Euro leagues and Japanese clubs. Players are faced with the option of either staying in SA and making R1m (around $100k AUD) or moving to say the UK and make £250k (a little over $450k AUD). It's a pretty easy choice.

Should give League a crack...
 
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