adamkungl
Immortal
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- 42,955
With the pandemic shutting down 2020, it's a good time to review and revise plans.
Start fresh from 2021, with a clear roadmap and a renewed commitment from Australia and England to growing International Rugby League.
I've been proposing and tweaking a calendar idea for some time on here, with 4 major pillars supporting the World Cup
1) RLWC Qualifiers in years 1, 2, and 3
-Regional Cups in year 1 double as first round qualifiers
2) 4 Nations tournaments in years 1, 2 and 3:
-Regional Cups in years 1 and 3, moved to a consistent 4N format, and developing worldwide pyramid.
-Cross-hemisphere Championships in year 2, for nations already qualified for the WC.
3) Kangaroo, Kiwi, and Lions tours in years 1 and 3. Tours take priority over Regional Cups, with the overlapping nation entering an A-team into tournament once every 4 or 8 years.
4) Annual major best of 3 test series'
Australia v NZ (1 mid-year, 1 October, 1 in-tournament)
NZ v Tonga (or highest ranked pacific nation. Played concurrently with Origin)
England Knights v Celtic (Super League players only, GBL pathway series)
+ others
A typical year with this format would have every nation playing 5-7 games.
Slightly shorter NRL and SL seasons, larger test squads to manage player workload, and this could happen. I've mapped out calendars and it all can fit to finish by the end of November.
Most of the above already does happen, so the investment isn't far off.
With patience it could become as profitable and prestigious in the mainstream as State of Origin.
We need Australia and the NRL, England and the RFL to come to the table to support International RL.
To illustrate, a shitty MS Paint graphical presentation:
Start fresh from 2021, with a clear roadmap and a renewed commitment from Australia and England to growing International Rugby League.
I've been proposing and tweaking a calendar idea for some time on here, with 4 major pillars supporting the World Cup
1) RLWC Qualifiers in years 1, 2, and 3
-Regional Cups in year 1 double as first round qualifiers
2) 4 Nations tournaments in years 1, 2 and 3:
-Regional Cups in years 1 and 3, moved to a consistent 4N format, and developing worldwide pyramid.
-Cross-hemisphere Championships in year 2, for nations already qualified for the WC.
3) Kangaroo, Kiwi, and Lions tours in years 1 and 3. Tours take priority over Regional Cups, with the overlapping nation entering an A-team into tournament once every 4 or 8 years.
4) Annual major best of 3 test series'
Australia v NZ (1 mid-year, 1 October, 1 in-tournament)
NZ v Tonga (or highest ranked pacific nation. Played concurrently with Origin)
England Knights v Celtic (Super League players only, GBL pathway series)
+ others
A typical year with this format would have every nation playing 5-7 games.
Slightly shorter NRL and SL seasons, larger test squads to manage player workload, and this could happen. I've mapped out calendars and it all can fit to finish by the end of November.
Most of the above already does happen, so the investment isn't far off.
With patience it could become as profitable and prestigious in the mainstream as State of Origin.
We need Australia and the NRL, England and the RFL to come to the table to support International RL.
To illustrate, a shitty MS Paint graphical presentation:
