Bring back the Ashes league series
Roar Pro By dlang30, 13 Jul 2011 dlang30 is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Ashes, england rugby league, independent commission, Rugby League, Rugby League International
As a long time fan of this great game, I am going to be so happy when the Independent Commission is finally introduced to help the management and running of rugby league.
There will be many issues that have to be addressed – expansion, player salaries, the television deal and a new schedule.
Within this new schedule, I, for one, would be reviving some of the great traditional events involved with the game, starting of course with a revived Ashes series that embraced the viewers of generations past and present.
Rugby league has neglected many of the great things involved with the international game over the past five years.
Last year’s “Four Nations” was such a laugh to me it made me cry. A team like PNG is simply added in as the competition’s whipping boys, as well as to give England something to write home about.
Australia and New Zealand currently only play one Test a year outside of international competition, and it’s virtually always on Australian soil.
If NZ were given more exposure and chances to compete with Australia at an international level and were given the home field advantage a little more often, we might actually see the development and standard of the international game rise as well.
England, on the other hand, is a more challenging barrier to overcome in trying to get them consistently competitive at an international level. This to me is why restoring the Ashes in some form is crucial.
Many players who represent Great Britain during their tours or when Australia does so will gain automatic representation for England in Tri-Nations and World Cup years. Also, re-introducing something like the Ashes lays a platform for the international game to finally get a little bit of proper competition happening.
The possibilities to market a new Great Britain team and three match series with Australia is something I think many people involved with the game want to see.
It’s just about taking those first few steps to making sure its done right and giving it the best appeal possible to match the game in the 21st century.
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July 13th 2011 @ 5:35am
ziggyniscot said | July 13th 2011 @ 5:35am | Report comment
Agree with the emphasis on Great Britain. I’d go further and re-introduce the 4 yearly Kangaroo Tour. There’s a great tradition to be revivied, it gives the Australian players something extra to aspire to and is great for the game in the ol dart with mid week fixtures against club sides. The Kangaroos are the best thing about international Rugby League, so spread the love!!
July 13th 2011 @ 6:53am
Rugby League Nut said | July 13th 2011 @ 6:53am | Report comment
Once every 4 years is fine. They should be looking to grow the Four Nations concept. Yes PNG were a let down but they had their own issues with selections etc and didn’t pick the strongest team. Wales have qualified this year so it will be interesting to see how they go. Instead of alternating the winner of the Pacific and European Cups into the four nations. Maybe the two winners should play each other for a place in the Four Nations so we have the 4th best RL team in the would play in the Four Nations.
July 14th 2011 @ 11:35am
soapit said | July 14th 2011 @ 11:35am | Report comment
that would actually be pretty good, it would give them at least one chance at having a competitive test match. maybe a three match series. would certainly help grow the game in PNG anyway.
July 13th 2011 @ 7:17am
Ksi said | July 13th 2011 @ 7:17am | Report comment
Just to note that NZ were supposed to have this years ANZAC in Christchurch but was moved because of the quakes. I think they are due to have the next 2.
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July 13th 2011 @ 7:48am
Adrien2166 said | July 13th 2011 @ 7:48am | Report comment
This year there will be a double header at Wembley, with NZ vs Wales as a warm up for England vs Australia. That could be good publicity for rugby league !
July 13th 2011 @ 10:06am
steve said | July 13th 2011 @ 10:06am | Report comment
I think tickets are 10 pounds as well which should encourage people to come
July 13th 2011 @ 7:49am
JCVD said | July 13th 2011 @ 7:49am | Report comment
I agree with continuing to grow the 4 nations concept, too. But instead of an English team maybe a British team instead?? Any thoughts??
July 13th 2011 @ 9:20am
M1tch said | July 13th 2011 @ 9:20am | Report comment
They disbaned Great Britian so Wales, Scotland and Ireland could get better, but its failed in a way when some players switched to England. Ashes in Rugby league has always been Australia v GB so if we brought it back Id like to see it as GB. Every 4 years it would be great to have the Ashes back.
July 13th 2011 @ 10:25am
The Bush said | July 13th 2011 @ 10:25am | Report comment
M1tch,
How would you like to fit it into the calander?
From 2013 the World Cup will be every four (4) years, so that means there are three (3) end of season tour options. I would assume that the Four Nations has been successful enough, and is the best vehicle to continue to grow the game. If it alternates between North and South in between World Cups, that leaves you with one post season to fool around with.
Perhaps that means that Australia would only tour Great Britain once every eight (8) years and Britain would only tour Australia once every eight (8) years. That way, whilst there would be a tour every four (4) years, you would only get one shot in your career (most likely) to do an away tour (or vice-versa).
July 18th 2011 @ 8:35am
M1tch said | July 18th 2011 @ 8:35am | Report comment
Your second point is probably the way it would work, I like the 4 nations but it is starting to just become aus v nz, england struggle away and the 4th team is the whipping boys.
Year off, ashes (NZ play in a pac islands tournament), 4N, WC, year off etc
July 13th 2011 @ 8:23am
Will Sinclair said | July 13th 2011 @ 8:23am | Report comment
International rugby league is tricky, because it’s not really an international game. And playing the same teams over and over, year in and year out, is always going to grow stale (look at rugby union’s Tri-Nations for proof).
I absolutely support the return of a Kangaroo Tour to Britain every four years. Despite the (mainly) one sided results, the Kangaroo Tours were sporting events of some significance, and history.
The laughable Four Nations and World Cup concepts should be cut, as should the ANZAC Test, with a Trans-Tasman series played once every couple of years or so.
It might seem strange, but I reckon LESS international rugby league is the way to build the game’s profile. Not more.
July 14th 2011 @ 3:17pm
Crosscoder said | July 14th 2011 @ 3:17pm | Report comment
Well the RLWC will not be cut.Why? The last one made a profit as did the 95 one.The oney made has helped grow the game in new countries,and provides the code with one of the very few opportunities to give lesser lights a go .
In fact the complete opposite has happened,the profile of the game has arisen ,due to the world cups.That is why teh city of Limerick Ireland wants to host one of the 2013 matches.
July 14th 2011 @ 3:29pm
clipper said | July 14th 2011 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
You’re on the Ball Will. League is not really an international game, it’s a quasi domestic game, as most NZ players are in the Australian competition. And as for Limerick hosting the WC – it’s a town of, at most, 100k – it would be like having a WC in Bega!
England and France used to be competitive about 40 years ago but not any more. NZ has got more competitive because, as mentioned, they play in the Australian Competition.
July 14th 2011 @ 3:44pm
Crosscoder said | July 14th 2011 @ 3:44pm | Report comment
Written like a true ru man would.If anyone actually understands the meaning of the word international.It means a contest between teams representing different countries.It does not stipulate they have to be have to super competitve,win 50% of the games,else the RWC would be really null and void ,hey what.Else the netball could be called a two horse race.
I suggest you argue the point with PNG players who were born and bred there,NZ players who were born in NZ or whose parents came from NZ.Maybe you can have a chat with someone like Craig Gower a Penrith rl player,who can represent Italy in ru.I suggest you have a quiet word to the players in Fiji trying to get a spot in the Fijian team in the 2013RLWC.
And are you suggesting with all the overseas guest players now plying their trade in the S15 ,that they can’t play for their country
If you are trying to belittle poor old Limerick and its population wanting to get a RLWC game,suggest one could counter with the RWC03 having games in Townsville and Gosford.
An A for effort but a C for inconsistency.
July 14th 2011 @ 3:59pm
clipper said | July 14th 2011 @ 3:59pm | Report comment
Crosscoder – by your criteria Aussie Rules would be an international game, as they have teams representing different countries, and had a WC, which that power house sporting nation PNG won. So, if that’s the criteria, then I agree – League and Aussie Rules are international games.
July 15th 2011 @ 8:42am
Crosscoder said | July 15th 2011 @ 8:42am | Report comment
Clipper.
When cities are prepared to bid for a match outside the heartland areas,when there are teams,that have to qualify to actually get there there(which I suggest does not apply to the other code you mentioned),the answer is a simple yes.The British parliament with their backing considers it to be of value,I mean what would they know as the host country.
By using your criteria only soccer would be a truly international game as it has an extremely higher profile in just about every country on this planet,leaving every other code in its wake,which union does not and neither do RL and the AFL.When the two countries with the largest populations on this earth China and India are not represented,it puts world cups other than soccer into perspective.
July 13th 2011 @ 8:47am
turbodewd said | July 13th 2011 @ 8:47am | Report comment
I agree with Will Sinclair.
To keep International RL relevant it needs to be featured a bit less because its not the pinnacle of RL – SOO is. Rule 1 of sports: fans prefer the best. And Australia v Britain is not that competitive, nor is Aus v NZ. Indeed SOO could be improved because it excludes players from outside NSW/Qld. Imagine if they let they officially let kiwis play. its a joke that various Kiwis have played in Origin and yet its not offical. Id like to see Benji in SOO. Its a crime that he isnt there.
July 13th 2011 @ 10:28am
The Bush said | July 13th 2011 @ 10:28am | Report comment
“And Australia v Britain is not that competitive, nor is Aus v NZ”
You’re right, Aus v NZ is not that competative, the Kiwi’s are much better (see World Champions and Four Nation Champions).
July 13th 2011 @ 12:05pm
Ouch tv said | July 13th 2011 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
get a clue spastic
July 14th 2011 @ 12:40am
Queensland's game is rugby league said | July 14th 2011 @ 12:40am | Report comment
“And Australia v Britain is not that competitive, nor is Aus v NZ.”
Great Britain did win a Test match in Australia in 2006.
New Zealand have been more competitive against Australia than NSW has been in the origin!
July 14th 2011 @ 6:14pm
Epiquin said | July 14th 2011 @ 6:14pm | Report comment
If international players were allowed to play origin, the concept and all it’s credibility will go to the dogs and so will it’s appeal.
July 13th 2011 @ 9:24am
League_Coach101 said | July 13th 2011 @ 9:24am | Report comment
It would make more sense if players were allowed to do both – play for New Zealand and play Origin too. A lot of players choose affiliation to their State rather than to NZ because they know Origin has a higher profile. It robs the trans tasman contests of the grandeur they should have. Any Aust – NZ match should be as significant as the Bledesloe Cup in Union. At the moment NZ have performed miracles at both the four-nations and world cup but no one seriously thinks they are the worlds best league team.
Incidentally – what about a Kangaroos tour of NZ or alternative years a Kiwi’s tour of Australia? NZ could play Country NSW, Country QLD and more high profile NRL clubs (ie: Broncos, Storm, Dragons minus their Kiwi players) and maybe even a game against the Indigenous All Stars (or incorporate the NZ Maori vs Indigenous All Stars concept too). There’s a lot of opportunity for International League here.
Just as soon as they cut down they NRL season by about 4 games.
July 13th 2011 @ 6:25pm
Geordie said | July 13th 2011 @ 6:25pm | Report comment
I seem to recall during the last Great Britian tour of Oz they were beaten by the Burleigh Bears which recieved very bad publicity for the credibility of the series. NRl and ESL teams will never want to play touring teams anymore – too much at stake in their regular seasons.
July 13th 2011 @ 9:45am
turbodewd said | July 13th 2011 @ 9:45am | Report comment
League Coach,
I think the concept of a tour is from a bygone era. Do people really want to see a national side, or its B side, wallop some no-name provincial team? It wont rate on TV i tell ya.
I agree with you on cutting down the NRL season by 4 games. I want league to be special, not on all the time like the weather broadcasts. You dont see U2 or Metallica playing a concert every fortnight in Acer Arena…its the same concept.
July 15th 2011 @ 9:07am
Epiquin said | July 15th 2011 @ 9:07am | Report comment
You’ve been flogging that metallica metaphor for ages and its not the same concept at all!
Metallica is a band whose songs are played often on the radio and whose albums you can buy and listen to whenver you want. Rugby Leage is a sport. Its completely different.
Would you be happier if the only league ever played was 1 game of NSW v QLD every year? You can’t get much more “special” than that!
July 18th 2011 @ 8:30am
turbodewd said | July 18th 2011 @ 8:30am | Report comment
3 SOO games is already the perfect amount. Tried and true.
July 13th 2011 @ 9:49am
BH said | July 13th 2011 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Guys I agree with bringing back the kangaroo tours against GB. It was a great tradition and something unique that our game offered.I think there is a place for a four nations,3 test series vs kiwis, GB ashes tour and then world cup in a four year period, not having to be in that direct order.
The reason the rfl went to being England instead of GB was because of funds the government gives to England national teams.This is significant money so they need to play as England on a regular basis and also the rfl wanted the other nations to prosper. Surely though they could play as england for 3 years out of the four year period and still play as GB for the ashes tours.