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I have to confess that despite loving rugby league, when it comes to what code I prefer it is rugby union.
What made me fall in love with the sport was not England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph in Sydney but Fiji’s Rupeni Caucaunibuca’s brutal incisions into the defences of Scotland and France during the pool stages.
However, despite preferring rugby union I have always kept a keen eye on rugby league, casting curious looks at what is happening in Super League: the northern hemisphere’s top league.
Whether it be the dominance of Leeds Rhinos between 2007-12 (where during that period they failed to win the grand final only once), the creation of Catalan Dragons (whom I share a soft spot for) or the sensation that is Sam Tomkins the Super League has been something I have liked watching.
However, it was the rejuvenation of the Rugby League World Cup back in 2008 that Australia hosted, which increased and rekindled my interest in rugby league.
It was a great tournament with brutal hits, excellent matches and a fitting finale with New Zealand shocking Australia at Laing Park.
It was certainly a commercial success, as it generated a profit of $5 million (AU), along with re-establishing the credibility of the competition that had been sullied after the doomed 2000 edition.
Fast-forward five years later and the World Cup heads to the northern hemisphere: mainly in England, Ireland, Scotland and France.
The interest shown in this year’s competition by the media has highlighted the potential for it to be a success.
No doubt in Australia and New Zealand there is high interest, as both expect their teams to go far in the competition.
Ratings in those countries should be high as well.
In the UK free-to-air broadcaster the BBC have invested in rugby league by showing all of England’s games live (as well as one of the quarter finals, one of the semi-finals and the final) with subscription channel Premier Sports hosting the other games not shown by the BBC.
The BBC’s desire to invest in showing rugby league to a broader audience in a country where differing sports compete for viewers is a good sign.
However, in France the RLWC is being received quite warmly, which might surprise some people but when you delve deeper it is no surprise seeing that rugby league was once a popular sport that even dwarfed rugby union.
Alas, the arrival of the Vichy regime after the German takeover of France by Germany in June 1940, was a crippling blow to the sport.
The Vichy government banned rugby league (with help from those within French rugby union who saw it as a serious threat) seeing it as modern and linked with the pre war left wing government.
But, though it was a Frenchman named Paul Barriere (a former rugby union player) who created the idea of a World Cup, the code would be dwarfed in France by rugby union.
However, the emergence of Catalan Dragons in the Super League, as well as having several French players in the NRL, rugby league in France is starting recoup its former glory.
Its rejuvenation is shown in Avignon, a city in southern France where its region has an appreciation of rugby league, so much so that France’s group game against New Zealand is sold out with 16,000 tickets bought.
The competition’s organisers are hoping that half a million tickets can be sold.
Moreover, from the ticketing prices their targets are reasonable. 55% of the tickets cost £20 or less while six grounds are offering deals where you buy one ticket you can buy another ticket at half price.
For the semi final double header at Wembley on the 23rd November both matches have tickets that start at £20.
Clearly the organisers want to attract new fans and make it as family friendly as possible – ironic in a sport where testicle grabbing was not a rare occurrence.
Already, there have been intriguing stories during the warm up matches.
England embarrassed by Italy (who have NRL stars such as Anthony Minichiello and Josh Mantellato in their team) beating them 15-14, while Papua New Guinea shocked Scotland and the Americans defeated France 22-18.
Though it will be good for the competition if England can go far in the World Cup the fans love an underdog shocking the big teams.
But what is exciting is the 2013 rugby league World Cup can be a potential watershed moment that can surpass the success of the 2008 edition.
If a profit can be made (hopefully more than the 2008 RLWC) then the game’s governing body can build something out of this.
It can increase the number of fans within the sport and spread its net wide to untapped areas.
It is intriguing when looking at those interested in hosting the 2017 edition of the rugby league World Cup.
Though Australia and New Zealand have expressed interest via a co-hosting bid it has been South Africa whose intention to bid to host the tournament in 2017 has come as a surprise.
Though Australia and New Zealand’s co-host bid is likely to be chosen the attempt by South Africa to host the 2017 edition shows rugby league is expanding and not contracting.
That can only be a good thing. So roll on October 26th!
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