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England's Sam Burgess, centre, is tackled by France's Sebastien Raguin, right, during their Four Nations rugby league match at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster, England, Friday Oct. 23, 2009. AP Photo/Jon Super
There is a strange symmetry between environmentalists and rugby league fans at the moment with both groups pinning their hopes and dreams for the future on some meetings being held by their respective world leaders.
Leeds hasn’t seen a makeshift tent city spring up filled with rugby league fans demanding action and binding agreements, but it will be the centre of the rugby league universe when the executive body of the Rugby League International Federation meet there on Monday.
The group have already met once during the Four Nations, in Paris on Monday, and like so many environmental meetings in the past the debate was described as ‘cordial and robust’ but ultimately no item was ratified.
It had been reported in various publications and websites that a new agreement had been reached on international eligibility.
However, this is incorrect.
A new system was agreed upon as an alternative to the status quo, but it was not ratified to replace the current system.
Currently, players who qualify for multiple countries can ‘flip’ their chosen country once every two years.
So, for example, Fui Fui Moi Moi and Taniela Tuiaki were deemed ineligible to play for Tonga at the 2008 World Cup because they already played a World Cup qualifier for Tonga and then flipped to New Zealand. And their efforts to then switch back for knocked on the head by the courts.
The new system is set to clear up a lot of the confusion by restricting players to one switch once a World Cup cycle.
So, for example, Joe Bloggs can play a World Cup qualifier for Tonga, but should he then play for New Zealand in an ANZAC test, he cannot play again for Tonga until after the next World Cup final.
However, because Australia, England and New Zealand don’t play qualifiers, players who miss out on selection for these countries can then represent another country they are eligible for at the World Cup. Jarryd Hayne for Fiji for example.
An attempt to restrict each member state to one seat on the board was also rejected as Australia sort to maintain their two seats.
Currently, Colin Love holds the position of Chairman and David Gallop that of Secretary.
That Australia holds two spots is a hangover from the Super League, and it is believed that once Australia introduces a Independent Commission, they will return to holding one seat.
On Monday, the commercial aspect of the RLIF will be discussed with the two key questions for the debate being the format for the next World Cup and the continuing commercial approach of the Four Nations.
Debate rages as to whether the optimum number for World Cup numbers lies at 12 or 16 teams and then how the tournament should be structured.
The commercial question central to the Four Nations is how best to manage a tournament that moves hemispheres every 12 months.
While tournaments such as the Six Nations have the benefit of being held at the same time and the same place every year, the Four Nations must work out how to sell the fact that every 12 months, the tournament moves to the other side of the world and to the wee hours of the night for sponsors and broadcasters.
The aim will be to package the tournament in a way to lock in sponsors for three to four years.
League’s deal makers will be guided by (and no doubt inspired by) the story of cricket.
In 1995, the revenue for the International Cricket Council (ICC) was in the region of $400,000. In 2007 the ICC sold its 2008-2015 broadcasting and sponsorship rights for around $1.6 billion dollars.
Obviously there were other variables at play, yet the importance of good governance and a structured international calendar cannot be understated.
Environmentalists who face a wash out in Copenhagen are now claiming that ‘slow progress is still progress’ and perhaps this is the right mantra for rugby league.
That said if there was one area that rugby league had looked to join the world’s elite, it would be in the ability for its ruling body to self-reward.
For too long, rugby league was seen as the working man’s game and deals were done over a Chinese meal with half a carton on VB throwdowns placed on the lazy susan.
At least the choice of restaurant these days and the accompanying wine bill show that league has joined the big boys.
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