Tour is OFF

[Dog]

In a telephone hook-up, the Kangaroo Tour has been postponed a year for obvious reasons.
At this stage Union is still going ahead...

 

[ali]

Once again the ARL will make Rugby League look like a second rate sport when the Wallabies go ahead with their tour.
I can't beleive how stupid they are. The danger to a group of Rugby League players in the north of England is next to nothing. I don't see England being evacuated, international air travel being cancelled.
Why couldn't the players be given the choice. If half of them didn't want to go, replace them with players who did want to go.
How about we give PNG a couple more Tests instead.

 

[Willow]

Apparently it was cancelled because most of the players expressed concern.
It's been postponed until 2002.

 

[TheSaint]

I'll play.

 

[Girdler's_GIRL]

Britain is more of a risk of a terrorist attack than Austrailia due to there heavier involvment in the conflict, I can understand if the playerswere a bit nervous, it really isnt about rugby league players being targets, its about them being stuck in a potential conflict, being away from there family and I realise that this sort of thing goes on everyday around the world, but the heightened media coverage of this conflict and the world wide involvement means that everyoneis being a bit cautious than usual, especially when travelling to America's closest allie.

 

[Dog]

Thanks GG

Saved me from a long and tedious post
BTW, no hard feelings...

Cheers

Tim

 

[Dog]

Thanks GG

Saved me from a long and tedious post
BTW, no hard feelings...

Cheers

Tim

 

[Topaz]

I wouldn't call it stupidity ali, I'd call it common sense, In the endRugby League is just a game, just likeevery other professionalsportand with the way things are in this crazy world right now, I wouldn't be so sure anywhere is safe, I wouldn't be stepping on any plane or going anywhere near those places if I had the choice.

 

[imported_footy2k]

so unpredictable. The ARL board does have sanity

 

[Willow]

Just a game?

 

[imported_kier]

This is a terrible, terrible decision......and speaking as someone who doesn't swear much.....I'm f**king livid!

With the exception of some fixtures close to the attack on the 11th (and these were as a mark of respect) no sporting fixtures in Europe have been cancelled.

Obviously no-one can offer 100% security (whatever the conditions) but GB, France and Spain have all suffered terrorist attacks for the majority of the post-war years. The was and will always be a minute possibility of danger.

The ARU intend to visit all three of these countries during the next few months.

In one fell swoop the ARL have made our sport a laughing stock here in the UK. The RFL has also been pushed into serious debt and one of the genuine bargaining tools that aws used to retain players such as Cunningham, Radlinski....etc has been dissolved.

It is a pathetic, blinkered, foolish decision.

 

[G@v]

I'm with you on this one Kier.

I can't believe the stupidity of this decision. What are the Australian populace being fed in terms of propaganda?

I mean, as if the terrorists are going to target Huddersfield, Wigan and Bolton.

Now the whole of Rugby League looks stupid, and only the Wallabies can save the Australian nation from ridicule.

 

[G@v]

BTW, I guess it's 3-0 to Britain by default.

This is possibly the end of the Aussie domination of our game.

 

[Twohalves]

I'd say the Aussies really have gone soft.

This day will go down in history as the day the Aussies showed the real side to there nature.

 

[A man amongst boys]

Australia's day of shame!

Is this what your fathers and grandfathers fought and died for in the 1st and 2nd world wars?

I have a box of white feathers on the way to you now.

And Britain gets the trophy.

We are going to fill it with a jelly like substance called "Australian backbone"

 

[Topaz]

YES Willow its just a GAME, just like AFL, Soccer, Cricket etc,they are all just games, played at a higher level.

You so called RL supporters should hang your heads in shame, as you seem to be the only ones letting RL down by your inconsiderate comments, I'd like to see if you were in the position of the Kangaroo's, just how you would really feel, yeah fine to mouth off like big tough boyswhile sitting in front of your computer.

As for the Wallabies they have still not decided if they are going ahead with their tour, So stop wagging your tongues until the decision has been made.

A man amongst boys, more like a big prick amongst little pricks.

Cheers

 

[G@v]

Topaz,

AMAB, is probably like the vast majority of British RL fans. That is, absolutely pissed off at the antics of the Kangaroos over this weeks fiasco. He probably has tickets for all three test. I'm pissed off about this situation, and I would guess I'm one of the more moderate Poms.

There is no excuse for the ARL's decision, it's a total disgrace!

 

[Willow]

Topaz. Easy does it. I'm well aware that it's just a game... it was a joke.

IMO the decision to cancel the tour is an over reaction.Initially, I respected the decision of the players and /or management but the jury is still out as to who actually made this decision. Firstly, it was an 'overwhelming' vote from the players (wanting to be with their families in these 'uncertain times'), then it was about half and half.
And now I'm hearing that the decision was largely made by the NRL... for some reason. There were concerns about the players being stranded for months on end and therefore delaying the start of the 2002 season.
As I said, a complete over reaction.

One thing's for sure, it's stuffed up the British RL. Initially, ARL management said that the poms respected the decision to cancel the tour. Not so. The British RL is financially crippled by this. They really went into hock for this tour and, according to oneEnglish official, arenow 'on the floor'.
I also heard that David Waite is bitterly dissapointed.

 

[imported_kier]

As I'm writing this I'm listening to a Radio 4 interview with an ARL spokesman........the iterviewer is absolutely incredulous.......in between taking the piss (in a subtle, middle class GB way) he just cannot believe what is being said!

I'm still as pissed of now as I was 24 hours ago - I still think this is a terrible , terrible decision........based entirely on ingnorance and poor advice.

What is galling is that the ARL put absolutely no creedence in the views of expat Aussies (Greg McCallum, David Waite....etc)...........ie, those people who actually LIVE here and know what the situation is

Also, while I may be "behind my computer" and not in the armed forces ( or doing whatever type of job that would "allow" me to have an opinion)...........the fact is I have not changed my living routine one iota.........despite living next to one of the UK's largest Asian/Muslim populations.

My best friend (a US national who lives 7 miles from Manhatten) was planning to fly over for the Test on the 3rd Nov..........my wife (a Kiwi for those who don't already know) still travels around Europe for business and has recently stayed at a hotel next to the European Parliment.

At no point have I worried about the plans of these people..........because there is no risk large enough to warrent worrying ABOUT.

The tour should NOT have been cancelled.

 

[legend]

Kier, I agree with you 100% on this issue. You can't live in fear and the senior members of the Australian team have shown how weak they really are, especially the captain Brad Fittler. An absolute disgrace if you ask me. Malaysian Airlines who were take the Kangaroos to Europe had arranged for the plane to make a detour to avoid any hotspots. They were not even going to London. They were landing in Manchester. Not quite as high profile as London. A complete farce.