The 2008 World Cup - Will it happen??

[Woods99]

I wonder if the announcement for the preliminary rounds of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup is in as much doubt as the Wallabies appointing a new coach who is to George Gregan’s satisfaction.

GM,

I think the first step would be for a decision to be announced for the playing schedule for the finals. Shouldn't be too hard, should it? 10 teams is not exactly a huge event.

Maybe you know more about George's influence than I do. But I think the reality is that he will be battling to hold down his position in the national squad, no matter who the coach is.

 

[taipan]

Well, after the disappointment of 2004, I suppose a lot of people are are impatient to see something in writing.



I don't know. But I do know that just over 1000 spectators were at a league international between France and England a couple of months ago. Let us be generous and assume that half of them were French. If only 500 French supporters can be bothered travelling across the English Channel to watch their team play, I wouldn't be holding out high hopes for any more than a handful of French spectators here in 2008. If it happens.



Discrimination? In Australia? Do you mean the formative years when rugby union virtually disappeared in Queensland? Or the years when the international game here was only saved by the Fijian tour in the fifties?

I think you are confusing what happened in the north of England with what happened here. However, if you have any facts, I would be interested to hear about them.



I have never heard of a sport being flattened by having $400 million poured into it.

And rugby union is growing too, in Australia, and elsewhere in the world. Mostly on hard work by locals. It is kind of hard to imagine Western Sydney producing any international rugby union teams.

Yes true followers of the game are impatient, rah rah cynics are just wasting time and space on a rugby league forum.

And the crowd at the rugby league between Oz and France a few months ago,at a match in which the dates had to be changed,because the local union team booked the ground despite no union match being played.
If you pretend not to know about discrimination against people who played rugby league in the formative years in Oz,by union types,then you ignorance is manifold. I dont confuse anything on rugby league,I have studied its history,perhaps you could delve a little further it may assist.

You havent heard of a sport being flattened by $400m aka Super league war: well old buddy just about everyone else including the sport of rugby league's administrators and sponsors stated it was happening.The country rugby league said it was happening,the drop in junior numbers said it was happening -err split,err losing support ,because it simply went into the hands of players ,not for the juniors,not for the benefit of spectators.If you made those comments to Arthurson,he would suggest you arrived recently from another planet.Ive heard of a business flattened by misuse of money its called Bond corp.
Im sure that one day western sydney(which comprises 60% of the cities population and has a huge youth population) will have a rugby union team capable of performing,just as only 2 states Qld and NSW(northern and eastern suburbs) combine to form the Wallabies .

 

[carlnz]

I don't know. But I do know that just over 1000 spectators were at a league international between France and England a couple of months ago. Let us be generous and assume that half of them were French. If only 500 French supporters can be bothered travelling across the English Channel to watch their team play, I wouldn't be holding out high hopes for any more than a handful of French spectators here in 2008. If it happens.

Was it not 3,000 people that turned up?

 

[Green Machine]

GM,

I think the first step would be for a decision to be announced for the playing schedule for the finals. Shouldn't be too hard, should it? 10 teams is not exactly a huge event.

Woods, last year you were worried about how many people would turn up at Suncorp for the Bundaberg Test match after the 2004 test was played at a smaller sold out venue in Newcastle. 40,000 turned up at Suncorp this last season. I was worried about International Rugby League 5 years ago, but I think we are over the hump now and back on track. I’m sure come March, the IRLF will announce the preliminary schedule for the Rugby League World Cup in 2008, with is still two years away.

Maybe you know more about George's influence than I do. But I think the reality is that he will be battling to hold down his position in the national squad, no matter who the coach is.

No, just looking from the outside in. I have noticed that has been impossible to get George benched at the Brumbies and for the Wallabies. I did read somewhere that the senior players had David Nucifora sacked at the Brumbies with David now as a candidate for the Wallaby coaching position. I saw an ad for the Wallaby Coaching Position in the SMH a couple of weeks ago. Just reading the requirements for the position, it all seemed a bit scientific to me. The only prerequisite missing was how to make a good cappuccino for the captain and to build a team around that captain. What is Peter Davis looking for Woods? Does he know?

 

[brendothejet]

Woods99,

You really are keen to get those tickets aren't you?

Mate the France vs Australia part was a bit of a windup mate. I for won will be there cheering the French on. You will be trolling this forum crying into your Bundy and coke as you realise the only people on this planet who talk to you are all out for the evening enjoying the highpoint of RL for many a year.

 

[Copa]

Still no news. **sigh**

 

[YANTO]

Lets just say IF every thing is agreed at the RLEF meeting in February,the WC qualifiers in europe will be start with Holland at home on 28th April and away on 3rd June.
The TWO group winners in European "B" will contest the right in a play off to go into the main European qualifiers.
It looking like six nations will play in two three team groups in the Euro " B" this summer.
Cant say any more guys until all nations agree in Feb sorry.

 

[milton]

And i take it that these wont be the full teams with their proffessional players such as el masri for lebanon

 

[screeny]

And i take it that these wont be the full teams with their proffessional players such as el masri for lebanon

Surely that's up to each country, but, yes, you're right, if it's in the middle of the season there's no chance that NRL or SL players will be playing in qualifiers. For the likes of Lebanon they'd be reliant on their NSWRL players.

Would they be allowed to play in the middle of the season or is the NSWRL pretty strict about letting its players play internationals in the middle of the club season?

 

[bowes]

Lets just say IF every thing is agreed at the RLEF meeting in February,the WC qualifiers in europe will be start with Holland at home on 28th April and away on 3rd June.
The TWO group winners in European "B" will contest the right in a play off to go into the main European qualifiers.
It looking like six nations will play in two three team groups in the Euro " B" this summer.
Cant say any more guys until all nations agree in Feb sorry.

Do you know how many are in the main qualifiers, or can't you say yet?

 

[bowes]

Surely that's up to each country, but, yes, you're right, if it's in the middle of the season there's no chance that NRL or SL players will be playing in qualifiers. For the likes of Lebanon they'd be reliant on their NSWRL players.

Would they be allowed to play in the middle of the season or is the NSWRL pretty strict about letting its players play internationals in the middle of the club season?

Depends which round Lebanon start at. They might start in the final round, which is post season.

 

[YANTO]

Do you know how many are in the main qualifiers, or can't you say yet?

With England and France already given places in the finals it should be easy to work out
Sorry until everything is confirmed in february we are trying to concentrate on what is required.
Europe should have at least ten teams in their qualifying groups.

 

[bowes]

Okay trying to work it out now, just not obvious which round Lebanon and Russia will start at. 5 in the finals sounds odd if that's it, I'd assume 4 or 6
At least 10 teams in qualifying groups sounds good, but I hope they haven't slacked the qualifiers enough for Italy (for example) to get in. Sounds like it's a bit easier. It's ridiculous for you lot not to be let in, as it's all locals, even if not an organised league yet, in union that's enough. Anyway good luck on meeting those criteria

 

[hgfds]

wales,ireland,scotland,russia,georgia,lebanon,morocco?,holland,serbia,germany?

 

[bowes]

Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Russia, Lebanon, Georgia, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece and probably Morocco (possibly Malta) is my guess