Rugby League has been in the doldrums on the international stage, and still is. But in 2013, we will see the current, and first time, World Champions play in the opposite hemisphere.
We will see more teams than ever play for the World Cup (which I like to call Lorelei). And Rugby League will be in it’s heritage home.
This will be the greatest World Cup ever.
The World Cup will have it’s knockers, but, truth be told, this one will have the intensity that deserves a four-year build up.
New Zealand are looking forward to it to justify their win at Suncorp; England want to win at home in front of their fans; and Australia want to win back the cup (Lorelei) they have held since 1975.
And, probably the greatest part about the World Cup, Papua New Guinea have the opportunity to show the Rugby League World how League should be played.
The minnows are looking stronger and stronger every year.
Wales showed the UK that missing the World Cup doesn’t mean they are any worse than the others when they took out the European Cup.
Lebanon continue to spread the word of Rugby League to the Middle East North Africa region and they seem to be building a great grassroots base which will mature in the next four years.
The Americas seem to be going forward in long strides very quickly. USA. are getting closer to a professional era, with their international team looking stronger with every AMNRL game.
They even have college footballers changing to League to represent their country. Apple Pope (of Jacksonville Axemen) came over to Australia to gain greater learning of the game.
And Jamaica are showing how flair in League is how it is meant to be.
There are some disappointments.
With Russian Rugby League falling into the Abyss, it seems that Eastern Europe will miss out once again. Although, Serbia are showing some initiative with pushing ahead in their own competition.
France seem to be struggling and no one east of Hull seemss to be able to make any in grounds into the strongholds of the European Super League.
With the negatives noted, the 2013 World Cup should be a great contest. And Australia do not seem to be a given to take Lorelei home this time.
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June 25th 2010 @ 7:12am
Marcel Proust said | June 25th 2010 @ 7:12am | Report comment
It’s dificult in England because the media are based in the south and the only audience for RL is to be found in the north.
That said, BBC Radio 5 Live ( the main sports radio station ) is moving to Manchester soon.
A Rugby League WC in Australia is bound to get more headlines because you can play matches in Sydney and Brisbane. In England, matches cannot really be played in London. There simply isn’t any interest in Rugby League in our great capital city.
In our country, if it doesn’t happen in London, you might as well forget it.
June 25th 2010 @ 7:53am
Cheezel said | June 25th 2010 @ 7:53am | Report comment
Nice article!
I think for rugby league the next World Cup has no choice but to be the best. It needs to really drive more revenue into the international game and hopefully help fund a full time Rugby League International Federation board who in turn can focus on developing rugby league throughout the world.
If it fails, it will hurt the international game just like the 2000 RLWC version did which also happened to be in the UK.
So far it has everything in it’s favour but it really needs to be marketed well by the Rugby Football League and RLIF
June 25th 2010 @ 8:05am
oikee said | June 25th 2010 @ 8:05am | Report comment
Just got my Kangaroo jersey last week. Will be a wonderful event and i might even stay in england after the cup.
Bring on the cup. Bring on England,,
North England is truely amazing, its full of wonderful places. The people are great, and rugby league supporters are like having a family away from home.
June 25th 2010 @ 8:17am
Crosscoder said | June 25th 2010 @ 8:17am | Report comment
Lessons were well learned after the 2000 debacle.Poor planning with venues and areas,ticketing smozzles,rail strikes and appalling weather conditions.
Can’t do much about the latter 2.
At least the 2008WC made more than $5m clear profit.With a larger number of participants and provided the right venues chosen in the popluated areas,marketed correctly,and the fact the event has the support of the Government,then it should be a resounding success.Still 3 years away for many of the lesser countries to try to get up to speed(eg sth Africa,Lebanon,PNG,Serbia and Wales)
This time there is a lot more support for the game in Wales,with Crusaders moving to the Nrth ,the Scorpions getting support in the south,and many new clubs being started.Together with a fast growing schools and youth competition.
Russia is a sad situation ,however the game is still being played there albeit on a lesser level.
All the event needs is a highly competitive English team,that is beating the likes of Aust and NZ on occasions,and the evnt will more than pay its way.
just no red or yellow cards please LOL>
June 25th 2010 @ 8:22am
James D said | June 25th 2010 @ 8:22am | Report comment
Mate when you know who will contest the final now you are not going to have a competitive world cup.
NZ vs Aus again put your money on it zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
June 25th 2010 @ 11:38am
King of the Gorganites said | June 25th 2010 @ 11:38am | Report comment
your forgetting England. they have a really good chance and will improve in time for 2013
June 25th 2010 @ 2:07pm
Cheezel said | June 25th 2010 @ 2:07pm | Report comment
If it’s as good as the 2008 WC Final bring it on!
England will be specials to make the final at home.
June 25th 2010 @ 9:06am
Crosscoder said | June 25th 2010 @ 9:06am | Report comment
Amazing i saw plenty of competitive matches in the 2008WC.And I noticed a lot of running rugby and tries being scored.Oh and I actually attended one of the games,and gone on a Kangaroo tour.
Good to see the knockers out and about at this early stage,with an event 3 years down the track.Nostrodamus ?
There was one journo of a ru bent ,dresses like a pirate,who stated the Roos were a lay down in the final of the 2008.He disappeared into the ether of humility when NZ won.
I have a fair idea who will contest tennis finals,doesn’t detract from the spectacle.
Should Nz v Aus,or England v Aus contest the final,I know I will be seeing the best footballers the game can offer,and some great entertainment.
That is why people are called sport fans .Sport being the operative word.
June 25th 2010 @ 9:24am
MattS said | June 25th 2010 @ 9:24am | Report comment
James D for all the priviledge other sports have with their world cups, they are not that far in front of league in terms of who contests the finals i.e union seems to have All Blacks, Australia, Sth Africa, France or England in the semis.
So with baby steps building on the 2008 WC, Rugby league can encourage countries like PNG, Wales, and France to make the next step up and atleast make the semis. The rest of the nations can be encouraged via their participation like Lebanon.
But union fans will always brand the Lebanese a ‘bunch of Aussies’ instead of recognising the great strides the game has made in Lebanon with an established comp, good sponsors and regular interaction with neighbouring countries. Meanwhile, islanders playing for the Japanese, or Kiwis in the Scottish team, or an all white expat UAE team, for example, is perfectly acceptable in another sport. Go figure!
No one says RL is perfect on the international front but if the news papers can sprout on about AFL targeting US basketballers, or a video on AFL in South Africa (on the recent ninemsn weblink-thank you Ch. 9, you are a league station after all??) or in today’s courier mail on African kids in local AFL, then rugby league deserves some coverage/recegonition on this front.
But alas, papers like the Courier mail where your chief sports editor is a Victorian, this is unlikely. and ridicule reigns supreme until recognition of rugby league is nought! Then who will an elitist Australian media move onto next?
I enjoyed the last rugby league world cup tourno especially the final and had the pleasure to meet a group from Sth Africans (of the 3 Sth African immigrants I am friends with in Brissie, all three are into league!) and a group of students from Mexico who loved the game and the experience. So rugby league has as much right to international footy despite a media hellbent on regionalising the sport or union supporters continuing their century old tirade.
June 26th 2010 @ 6:40pm
Corey said | June 26th 2010 @ 6:40pm | Report comment
Too true MattS, I met some Irish guys today who are going to the match at Suncorp tonight in Union, but one of them had a QLD SoO jersey on, he told me he went to the match and said it was worth every cent, where he believes League has the cake when it comes entertainment. But Union does have the international appeal. So League probably has a while to go, but they will eventually get there.
June 25th 2010 @ 9:24am
Springs said | June 25th 2010 @ 9:24am | Report comment
The World Cup in 2013 has all the reasons to be great. Big anticipation, new stadiums, no other major events on, the game in Wales and France picking up, Australia no longer champions etc. I fear if it fails we will have no excuses.
What will make the competition even more exciting will be if England win the Four Nations this year or next year. They really seem to be building nicely.
Crowds should also be up with the majority of games played in the heartlands, with no games, hopefully, in places like Reading or Gloucester, and maybe games in Wales and France.
Looking forward to it!
June 25th 2010 @ 10:16am
bazza667 said | June 25th 2010 @ 10:16am | Report comment
My main concern with the 2013 world cup is having 16 teams.
I would much rather have less teams (10 like the last one or 12 max) and have more qualifiers.
Qualifiers are especially important for the long term planning of emerging nations
June 25th 2010 @ 2:37pm
hutch said | June 25th 2010 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
there are 14 teams in 2013. 12 automatics and 2 qualifiers which is a bit ridiculous, but i suppose the rlif want to make sure countries like wales dont miss out again.
June 25th 2010 @ 10:45am
King of the Gorganites said | June 25th 2010 @ 10:45am | Report comment
Thihngs are looking promosinig for 2013 ,but lessons have to be learnt from the 2000 debacle.
firstly, games HAVE to be played in the heartland. lets not take takes to Belfast, or Glasgow, or the mid lands. the majority of the claims to be played in the northern heartlands. a game or two in wrexham, cardiff and london. but thats as far as we venture.
16 teams is to many. should be the same as the 2008 WC. RL is still only played professionally in 2 countries. 3 other countries have professional RL teams, but not professional comps. therefore, the good teams would be spread to thin in a 16 team comp.
lets really work on getting some travelling support over there like the 2010 soccer WC or 2007 Rugby WC.
We really need some better sides by the time of the WC and hopefully better crwods then last years disappointing 4 nations.
KoGs