Actually putting the RLWC in South Africa would break any issues
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
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.
Indeed. Would the SARU be liable for a lawsuit if they openly discriminated against a SARL club/s?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.
So the next question is are basketball and netball under the same umbrella? Ice hockey and field hockey? Etc.etc.
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
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.
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?
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.
Best to target the younger players. U20’s and u18’s.Should give League a crack...