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Earlier I came across an interview with Shane Richardson, CEO of 2014 NRL premiers Souths Sydney.
In this interview, I noted four very important points related to rugby league’s international potential.
First was that Richardson was concerned that rugby league was damaging its potential through an over-focus on the NRL and State of Origin, a situation he said that lead to “a Sydney-centric view which denigrates international rugby league.”
Second was a comment on the ridiculousness of fans in North America being forced to rely upon illegal sites to download and stream live matches. He lamented the state of the media and league organising bodies in light of the possibilities afforded by the internet and social media.
Third was the real absence of providing opportunities for the game’s players to shine and be celebrated on a much wider scale. Richardson raised the point that players like Sam Burgess and Sonny-Bill Williams would not need to feel the need to move on if rugby league had somewhere to move on to. He also noted that there was no way league should feel as if it didn’t have something to offer the world.
Finally, he noted the passion and dedication of the lower-tiered nations like the Czech Republic who were absolutely committed to their involvement in the game.
The thoughts raised by Richardson are the same thoughts held by many people, including yours truly. I am a firm believer in the value and potential of international rugby league. And as I have mentioned on numerous occasions and against numerous detractors, there is not a single valid argument against it.
One thing needs to be very clear from the start: rugby league is played across the world by teams representing nations from around the globe. If some still persist with the notion that league is not an international game, then they have their facts wrong.
Here are some facts for detractors to understand.
In May, Samoa defeated Fiji in the Pacific Cup to qualify for its first Four Nations tournament to be played in late October and November.
Between May and October, Greece, Malta and the Czech Republic competed in the European Championship C which featured the first ever rugby league Test match to be played on Greek soil. At the same time, Serbia, Italy, Russia and Ukraine all competed in the European Championship B competition.
In August, the Colonial Cup was held. Canada defeated the USA in front of a crowd of over 7,000 in Toronto. This was the Wolverines first victory over the Tomahawks in a finals match.
This event has now been staged for five consecutive years with crowds in Toronto regularly topping 7,000. Not bad for a ‘nothing’ nation playing a ‘nothing’ sport.
If you can, watch them play online. The commentary is amateurishly superb – players are ‘unleashed’ onto their opposition and instead of the try-line, players are tackled a few metres short of ‘glory’.
The fact of the international calendar continues with the upcoming Four Nations tournament featuring the Big Three. There is also the European Championship where either France, Wales, Scotland or Ireland will qualify for the 2016 Four Nations tournament.
Let’s not forget about Lebanon, who are about to face Fiji in the second Hayne-Mannah Cup as part of their own qualification campaign for the 2017 World Cup.
It is clear that it is becoming harder and harder to deny the existence of a vibrant international league presence. This presence confirms Richardson’s point about the passion and the commitment that is shown by these lower-tiered nations. If league really didn’t have anything to offer as a spectacle, the year would have been a quiet one.
When considering Richardson’s views on the potential for players and their abilities to be celebrated on a grander stage, understand that for all of the hype over State of Origin Australian rugby league players still receive more money playing a single Test match than they do playing a State of Origin game. It is certainly true that Origin is a massive money maker – just not for the players.
Richardson’s comments about the media are spot on. The Rugby League International Federation ought to waste no time in setting up its capacity to promote the game via the internet and social media.
A small but dedicated media team, tasked with exploring and taking full advantage of the internet, could do wonders. This is part of the media revolution that can and will likely occur once the Australian media lose their monopolistic control over the game.
The domestic scene is one of league’s strengths. But you don’t increase that strength by denying the potential of the international scene. And while a club’s focus is necessarily a narrow one, the game’s focus should not be.
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