The curiousity of where, how and MOST IMPORTANTLY 'why' of International expansion.

[The Partisan]

Been thinking about this for a while and so decided to throw it out there.

Where
With the game moving across the globe slowly and attracting new frontiers, participants and fans it is clear to see that the game can be commenced almost anywhere. Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the Baltics, Jamaica, Africa and Asia have all seen a RL footprint happen.

How
For this to happen obviously hard working passionate people on the ground are the key to seeds being sown and a fledgling comp nurtured. Be they expats from a RL background or locals with a genuine interest - the groundswell of support they provide, leads to the increase in participation on and off the field.

WHY
This is the one that I - and i am sure RL administrators - would like to know more more about.

Why are people attracted to this new game ?

Why do they want to play / be involved with it ?

What are the elements of the code that caught their eye ?

If they've been involved now for a number of years - what drives them to continue when often confronted with obstacles, ill-will or misinformation ?

Would love to hear from here from any of the people on here who have trailblazed the code into new territory.

 

[The Partisan]

Mmmmm....on reflection ...perhaps a bit too deep for a footy forum

 

[LJC]

Rugby league is essentially the new and improved version of rugby. It's been repressed for many years in a big way. Rugby league deserves to expand and be popular on a worldwide scale as it is one of the few(perhaps only) football code/s that immerses the player in a constant physical intensity that leads to a growth in confidence like no other football code on earth!

It's like the Spartan philosophy of boys into men! The other codes can only dream of the intensity and resultant team bonding, confidence & belonging that exudes itself from playing rugby league.

The game is a genuine development tool for our youngsters but it is being held back by "big brother RU" in many formats and scenarios.

 

[paulmac]

To answer why - you must ask yourself , when was the last time you took an interest in a new sport and why? There you will find your answer.

 

[roughyedspud]

Cheers yoda....

 

[expansionist]

My take on this is based on my own belief that RL is the worlds finest sport - and how I came to believe that.

I honestly believe that if you took a completely impartial person, with no preconceptions or knowledge of RL - anywhere in the world - and showed them RL they would be impressed.

I also believe that if you showed RU to that same person they would have a very different take on it.

Our sport suffers due to the fact that there is a very strong establishment in place designed to impede the exposure of our sport to people.

The why - is that I want the world to know about this game. I hate seeing people settling for something inferior when they simply havent been exposed to the best!

 

[adamkungl]

I'm most interested in the Where, the How is the tricky part though.

What we need as an international game going forward is a top 8 - a World Cup where every quarter finalist has a conceivable chance of winning the thing. Look at the RWC. This, I think, should be the medium term goal.

For that to happen is a pretty long path, but investment in specific countries could get us there.

All competing nations can be divided into probably 4 tiers. Australia is the obvious top benchmark (not talking in terms of rankings here but professional game reach and overall participation), but every country including Aus has a long way to improve. The key is for Int RL investment (where it exists ) to focus on important nations to jump up a tier - some should be ready, some are limited by external influences.

TIER A - FULLY PROFESSIONAL

Australia
Goal: National professional presence, increase support of International RL.
How: Easily achievable, willpower the only obstacle.

New Zealand
Goal: Second NRL team, improved domestic competition, increase support of Pacific RL.
How: Require NRL commitment to expansion and more financial support from the ARLC, and vision to drive domestic growth.

England
Goal: Beat Australia ffs... a Super League with competitive teams across the board, and strong lower levels with the long term aim of sustainably expanding SL into the south and across the UK and Ireland (quite long term obviously).
How: ??? help me out people, fill in the gaps. Persistent focus on grassroots growth is important.

TIER B - (ALMOST) CERTAIN WC QUALIFIERS

Papua New Guinea
Could jump to TIER A
Goal: Compete with the big 3. Secure long term development pathways into the NRL.
How: QLD Cup was a massive step. National team admin and coaching talent and stability will see them make the jump.
Limited by political and socio-economic factors within and outside of the sport, but advantaged by a population of mad Rugby League fans.

France, Wales, Scotland
Could jump to TIER A
Goal: Increased professional pathways with strong national comps feeding into SL clubs.
How: More well-promoted test matches, Leadership and investment. Progress seems to have stagnated in these countries where potential is highest. Need a push to take them up to the next level, not sure where it comes from.

Samoa, Fiji, Tonga
Goal: Increased pathways into the NRL via domestic competitions feeding into NSW Cup/2nd level clubs, similar to PNG. Population limits will probably never see them rise to consistently competing on the highest level but right now doing a better job than far larger countries.
How: Commitment and support for expansion from the ARLC, continued improvement in domestic competitions.

TIER C - FRINGE/POSSIBLE WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Cook Isl
Ireland
Italy
USA
Canada
Jamaica
Russia
Spain
Serbia
Lebanon
South Africa

All of these nations are capable of making the jump up to solid WC quality. Focusing on steady domestic growth and as many test matches as possible will see results. Aim to win WC games without relying on Australia and English heritage players.

TIER D - THE REST

Countries with the goal of competing in final round WC qualifiers. Same strategy as above, it all starts with playing more footy at grassroots and getting people interested.

 

[The Partisan]

My take on this is based on my own belief that RL is the worlds finest sport - and how I came to believe that.

I honestly believe that if you took a completely impartial person, with no preconceptions or knowledge of RL - anywhere in the world - and showed them RL they would be impressed.

I also believe that if you showed RU to that same person they would have a very different take on it.

Our sport suffers due to the fact that there is a very strong establishment in place designed to impede the exposure of our sport to people.

The why - is that I want the world to know about this game. I hate seeing people settling for something inferior when they simply havent been exposed to the best!

Whilst attending the RLWC13 event at Huddersfield Professor Tony Collins gave a great spiel about the difficulties RL has had to endure - like no other sport - in having a very similiar sport that we have to contend with. I have contacted him to see if he has a copy of the speech but alas no luck.

 

[LJC]

My take on this is based on my own belief that RL is the worlds finest sport - and how I came to believe that.

I honestly believe that if you took a completely impartial person, with no preconceptions or knowledge of RL - anywhere in the world - and showed them RL they would be impressed.

I also believe that if you showed RU to that same person they would have a very different take on it.

Our sport suffers due to the fact that there is a very strong establishment in place designed to impede the exposure of our sport to people.

The why - is that I want the world to know about this game. I hate seeing people settling for something inferior when they simply havent been exposed to the best!

Perfect summation.

Their is a solution but it involves the gaining access of rugby league to all scholastic systems.

This is where fundamentally RU has the advantage over rugby league almost everywhere.

RU uses this advantage to activate and perpetuate a natural bias against the game of RL at the big end of town(most of them-private school educated- know no better!) This also disenfranchises RL in many government circles and subsequently the game universally struggles for funding and acceptance.

The key is access to scholastic systems everywhere. That's the main anchor for our game , the scholastic system. it all starts from there!

 

[siv]

Expansion is coming along nicely

Except for the Pacific

The basic structures running in Europe have shown how to grow the game

Simple formula is regular internationals against local and similar strength apponents

 

[langpark]

Expansion is coming along nicely

Except for the Pacific

The basic structures running in Europe have shown how to grow the game

Simple formula is regular internationals against local and similar strength opponents

Agreed! All too often we forget how far we've come in such a short time! To those who disagree, just think back to how it was 10 years ago! Very little was happening in continental Europe outside of France. But of course, we should still be aiming higher, no doubt.

France, Wales, Scotland
Could jump to TIER A
Goal: Increased professional pathways with strong national comps feeding into SL clubs.
How: More well-promoted test matches, Leadership and investment. Progress seems to have stagnated in these countries where potential is highest. Need a push to take them up to the next level, not sure where it comes from.

TIER C - FRINGE/POSSIBLE WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Cook Isl ?
Ireland
Italy
USA
Canada
Jamaica
Russia
Spain
Serbia
Lebanon
South Africa

I think comparing putting Scotland up there is an insult to Wales and France. Wales have two semi-pro teams and thriving amateur scene. France have two semi-pro Leagues plus a full-time pro team. Scotland meanwhile are down to 2-3 domestic teams!! Sure, they have a nice team of heritage players right now, but they are not built on rock solid foundations like Wales and France, they're built on nothing but air! They will struggle once Brough retires.

Every country you've listed there in that bottom tier has a bigger domestic scene that Scotland, just FYI (Cook Islands with a question mark)

 

[adamkungl]

I think comparing putting Scotland up there is an insult to Wales and France. Wales have two semi-pro teams and thriving amateur scene. France have two semi-pro Leagues plus a full-time pro team. Scotland meanwhile are down to 2-3 domestic teams!! Sure, they have a nice team of heritage players right now, but they are not built on rock solid foundations like Wales and France, they're built on nothing but air! They will struggle once Brough retires.

Every country you've listed there in that bottom tier has a bigger domestic scene that Scotland, just FYI (Cook Islands with a question mark)

Fair. I guess Scotland currently being in the 4N bumped them up.

Wales and France look to have stagnated from here - is that a fair call or is positive movement still happening?

 

[langpark]

Fair. I guess Scotland currently being in the 4N bumped them up.

Wales and France look to have stagnated from here - is that a fair call or is positive movement still happening?

In terms of their national teams, perhaps. But I think domestic development is moving along at a steady pace in both countries, from what I can tell.

The French League essentially expanded by two teams this year (Albi and Toulouse B) as Toulouse move into League One.

 

[adamkungl]

In terms of their national teams, perhaps. But I think domestic development is moving along at a steady pace in both countries, from what I can tell.

The French League essentially expanded by two teams this year (Albi and Toulouse B) as Toulouse move into League One.

Good to hear.

How many Frenchmen are playing in Super League? I'd say the answer lies here for improving national team performance. What would low ranked SL teams have to lose by targetting young French talent before Union gets them all?

 

[langpark]

Good to hear.

How many Frenchmen are playing in Super League? I'd say the answer lies here for improving national team performance. What would low ranked SL teams have to lose by targetting young French talent before Union gets them all?

In the current 23-man squad, the non-Catalans players include:

- Larroyer (Hull KR)
- Boudebza (Hull KR)
- Springer (Castleford)
- Simon (Wakefield)
- Fages (Salford)
- Julien (Warrington)

...and in the Championship:

- Baile (Bradford)
- Barthau (London)


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_national_rugby_league_team#Current_squad

 

[Storm13]

The Catalans U19 academy I think will be the start of more French talent crossing over to England. They played part time this year but some talent has already been uncovered in the likes of Albert and Yaha.

 

[adamkungl]

In the current 23-man squad, the non-Catalans players include:

- Larroyer (Hull KR)
- Boudebza (Hull KR)
- Springer (Castleford)
- Simon (Wakefield)
- Fages (Salford)
- Julien (Warrington)

...and in the Championship:

- Baile (Bradford)
- Barthau (London)


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_national_rugby_league_team#Current_squad

Is it fair to use NZ as an example that the French should aim to follow?

Parallels -
* 1 team in an international pro comp.
* Similar registered playing numbers according to Wikipedia (reliability?).
* 2nd string to Union (lets ignore Soccer for the sake of this :sarcasm

The main difference is the Kiwis have well over 100 top level players in NRL and SL to choose from.

How many do they French have at top level? 20-30? This is where the change needs to happen. Same for Wales