Why does rugby league have trouble expanding internationally compared to other codes

[PARRA_FAN]

If you compare it to Rugby Union, well they've been developing into a lot of countries for so many years. Rugby League has been developing into a lot of countries but not nearly as long as Union has.

We have tried in the past, places like Italy come to hand when in the late 50s Australia played 2 non tests against the Azzuri but sadly the sport was banned by the government for a while.

I think we're getting better as far developing into other countries. Now recently I find that more and more countries are taking up the sport and we've had more qualifying nations for the World Cup.

And more countries have taken an interest in the World Cup. South Africa were bidding for the 2017 World Cup as well as UAE. I hope that day comes when the Rugby League Cup isn't played in Australia, New Zealand or England. The 2025 World Cup appears to have one bid with USA/Canada so fingers crossed that actually happens. I see Canada's recent Internationals have had crowds of around 6,000- 7,000 which isn't too bad when you consider the sport was non-existent for a long time and also they have a team in the English 2nd division.

I know its gonna probably take a long time to close the gap between the top 3 and the rest of the nations but I hope it happens sooner rather than later.

 

[taipan]

How long has their dominance gone on for?
As you said, their crowds are going down through lack of competition. We've been stuck with 1 team winning everything for generations now. How does that make our product look attractive to new audiences?

Too long IMO look at the latter 90s and 21st Century and .Especially when ru has far more competitive countries playing their code.

One team " winning everything " ,when NZ were the last world champions.
You make your product more attractive with more games being played in Europe and the Pacific and the USA,and yes have heritage players to assist.Get as many countries up to speed as possible.

Australia dominated tennis for ages as the USAS did for basketball,as Aust and USA did for swimming.
I agree with Parra Fan

 

[taste2taste]

We've got to get away from the idea that the roos have to be beatable for international league to grow. The Roos will never be beatable as long as league is our no.1 sport ( closely followed by afl). It's the same as union. The all blacks win 99% of the time.

The goal should be to make the other nations competitive with each other. If we can have a pacific islands comp (PNG, Samoa , Fiji , Tonga , nz ) and a European cup annually it will slowly grow the game. Similar to rugby Unions 6 nations which consists of a whole bunch of contries that can compete with each other but can't compete with the top dogs.

We shouldn't forget league has made some aggressive moves in the last year. The first ever game in Samoa, Fiji into the NSWcup, potentially a trail game in China and Hawaii, a 2nd French team and a Toronto team added to the 2nd division in england... and rising of the NRLs salary cap to 10.25 million (making it the highest paying league or union comp in the world)

I remember dad taking me to a world cup rugby union semi final in the late 80's...there was probably 500 hundred people there...look how union has grown since then. League has to be patient.... and sooner or later the better product will win.

 

[Knownothing]

We've got to get away from the idea that the roos have to be beatable for international league to grow. The Roos will never be beatable as long as league is our no.1 sport ( closely followed by afl). It's the same as union. The all blacks win 99% of the time.

The All Blacks are a great team with a lot of tradition. They can draw a crowd in some unlikely places, like Chicago. But out of 8 Rugby union World Cups they have only won 3. They certainly win a lot, but not 99% of the time.

I remember dad taking me to a world cup rugby union semi final in the late 80's...there was probably 500 hundred people there...look how union has grown since then. League has to be patient.... and sooner or later the better product will win.

Being patient will not achieve much of itself. Giving proper authority and financing to the international governing body as well as Australia deciding to treat the international dimension of the game seriously, instead of as a distraction and a burden would eventually bear fruit. Yes, patience would be needed to wait for results, they do not come overnight, as the experience of the RUWC shows. A few hundred at the semi-final you attended, at a small suburban oval. The 2003 event in Australia drew capacity crowds pretty much every game, 16 years later.


Representing your country should be the ultimate prize for any athlete. Not winning a club competition, or an interstate contest.

 

[Teddyboy]

We've got to get away from the idea that the roos have to be beatable for international league to grow. The Roos will never be beatable as long as league is our no.1 sport ( closely followed by afl). It's the same as union. The all blacks win 99% of the time.

The goal should be to make the other nations competitive with each other. If we can have a pacific islands comp (PNG, Samoa , Fiji , Tonga , nz ) and a European cup annually it will slowly grow the game. Similar to rugby Unions 6 nations which consists of a whole bunch of contries that can compete with each other but can't compete with the top dogs.

We shouldn't forget league has made some aggressive moves in the last year. The first ever game in Samoa, Fiji into the NSWcup, potentially a trail game in China and Hawaii, a 2nd French team and a Toronto team added to the 2nd division in england... and rising of the NRLs salary cap to 10.25 million (making it the highest paying league or union comp in the world)

I remember dad taking me to a world cup rugby union semi final in the late 80's...there was probably 500 hundred people there...look how union has grown since then. League has to be patient.... and sooner or later the better product will win.

What Rugby Union semi-final was that.

 

[Whatwhere]

What Rugby Union semi-final was that.

If he's Australian then he has to be talking about Australia v France in 1987. And if he yhinks there were only 500 people at that game then he needs to go back to school and start at the basics of math all over again. Concord Oval has a capacity of 20,000 and that game was sold out.

 

[Teddyboy]

If he's Australian then he has to be talking about Australia v France in 1987. And if he yhinks there were only 500 people at that game then he needs to go back to school and start at the basics of math all over again. Concord Oval has a capacity of 20,000 and that game was sold out.

Says 17768 on wiki.

 

[Whatwhere]

Says 17768 on wiki.

Does it. Still, that's a damn sight more than 500.

 

[Whatwhere]

Sometimes expansiom or even consolidation comes down to something as simple as money. World Rugby has between $50-100m annually to spend on development and as seen with Fiji can comfortably afford to fund a team in the NRC from next year. This often can lead in further private investment as seen with AliSoprts committing $100m over 10 years to develop Rugby in China. Now, apparently this.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-un...ionary-20million-plan-to-stop-talent-drain-f/

 

[Arucard]

Americas Cup grew in stature every event even though the US would win it for 132 years

And yet nobody would know you were talking about yacht racing if you asked them what it is. Japan made the semi finals of that competition the last 3 times they entered before this current one. No one knew what the America's Cup was until our event in f**kuoka got set up.

 

[taipan]

Does it. Still, that's a damn sight more than 500.

17,896 at Concord in 1987,not a sell out.The crowds for games against Japan and USA there,were 8,900 max.

 

[Arucard]

Sometimes expansiom or even consolidation comes down to something as simple as money. World Rugby has between $50-100m annually to spend on development and as seen with Fiji can comfortably afford to fund a team in the NRC from next year. This often can lead in further private investment as seen with AliSoprts committing $100m over 10 years to develop Rugby in China. Now, apparently this.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-un...ionary-20million-plan-to-stop-talent-drain-f/

And we are still stalling on the idea of a NSW Cup team next year..............
Everything we do or want to do takes too long and the other bunch ride up and take it.
You can bet USA will be next before our WC takes place there.

 

[Whatwhere]

17,896 at Concord in 1987,not a sell out.The crowds for games against Japan and USA there,were 8,900 max.

You really missed the point didn't you?

 

[taipan]

Sometimes expansiom or even consolidation comes down to something as simple as money. World Rugby has between $50-100m annually to spend on development and as seen with Fiji can comfortably afford to fund a team in the NRC from next year. This often can lead in further private investment as seen with AliSoprts committing $100m over 10 years to develop Rugby in China. Now, apparently this.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-un...ionary-20million-plan-to-stop-talent-drain-f/

It always comes down to money in the end.
But I suggest if there had been no banning of league in France and seizure of assets in 1941 ,and subsequent non recognition by Govt,we may well have had a French national rl side, who could beat Australia.
If there had been no banning of the code in British Armed services til the 90s,the current situation for rl would be a lot different.

Any case ,rugby league is growing internationally.,since 2000 AD.You don't get European Sports Commission monies in grants or 3rd tier approval to the Commonwealth games (due to development),if you are not growing.

A very strong chance of a Fijian rl side in the NSW state cup .And rl is popping up in countries like Thailand,Phillipines,and the South Americas.

 

[Whatwhere]

And we are still stalling on the idea of a NSW Cup team next year..............
Everything we do or want to do takes too long and the other bunch ride up and take it.
You can bet USA will be next before our WC takes place there.

The owner of PRO Rugby is currently in Sth Africa to begin talks on purchasing the Southern Kings.

 

[taipan]

You really missed the point didn't you?

No if you see my following post ,you might get the message.And it wasn't a sellout(which you stated), that's my point.

 

[Whatwhere]

It always comes down to money in the end.
But I suggest if there had been no banning of league in France and seizure of assets in 1941 ,and subsequent non recognition by Govt,we may well have had a French national rl side, who could beat Australia.
If there had been no banning of the code in British Armed services til the 90s,the current situation for rl would be a lot different.

Any case ,rugby league is growing internationally.,since 2000 AD.You don't get European Sports Commission monies in grants or 3rd tier approval to the Commonwealth games (due to development),if you are not growing.

A very strong chance of a Fijian rl side in the NSW state cup .And rl is popping up in countries like Thailand,Phillipines,and the South Americas.

Never said it wasn't. My point was, the luxury of money allows WR to grow playing numbers across the board at an accelerating rate. They've already had to revise their strategic plan that called for 10 million players by 2025 to 11 million by 2020 and 16 million by 2025.

 

[taipan]

The owner of PRO Rugby is currently in Sth Africa to begin talks on purchasing the Southern Kings.

Purchase whatever you wish.

Yet SANZAR is in deep discussions ,whether to reduce the number of teams in that competition.The all you beaut ,bells and whistles Japan and South American additions did not set the world on fire.Hence why the Force are panicking as being the team to be flicked in Oz.
Many union fans cannot relate to teams form other countries.It is shown in the crowds and TV ratings, both in Oz and NZ.

 

[taipan]

Never said it wasn't. My point was, the luxury of money allows WR to grow playing numbers across the board at an accelerating rate. They've already had to revise their strategic plan that called for 10 million players by 2025 to 11 million by 2020 and 16 million by 2025.

I've already stated in the end money speaks all languages and has the biggest impact.Of course Govt inference can stifle a code, regardless of money on hand.

 

[Whatwhere]

No if you see my following post ,you might get the message.And it wasn't a sellout(which you stated), that's my point.

Whether it was a sellout is actually of little consequence in the overall point being made. Taste2taste stated that he supposedly attended the 1987 RWC semi-final between Australia and France in which only 500 people attended. My point was and has been backed up by people running off to wiki to prove my sellout claim wrong that his statement was bullshit.