Wales qualified for the 2011 Four Nations rugby league tournament by beating France 12-11 on Saturday to win the European Cup.
Lloyd White’s 76th-minute penalty gola proved the difference at the Stade Municipal in Albi.
That earned Wales a place alongside Australia, England and New Zealand in next year’s Fou Nation’s tournament, mean two home fixtures.
Executive chairman Mark Rowley believes it is the boost the sport needs.
“This is massive for Wales Rugby League,” he said. “Some people have compared it to winning the Six Nations in rugby union but I think it’s bigger.
“The win shows how far we’ve come in such a short time. It’s our biggest achievement ever.”
Iestyn Harris, whose impressive spell in charge of the side looks set to earn him the head job with the Crusaders in the coming days, was pleased with the result, but was already looking ahead to next year.
“I’m very, very pleased,” he said.
“To beat an extremely good French team full of Super League standard players on their own soil is an achievement in itself.
“Now for Wales Rugby League – which has gone through some dark times over the past four or five years – to be in an elite world competition next year with the three best nations is a testament to everyone involved.
“It’s up to the powers that be now to decide whether we get a mid-season Test against one of the big three and there’s the prospect of the Four Nations after that.”
MattS
Guest
The media aftermath in Wales over their victory against France (quoted from totalrl): Centre pages of the Western Mail - a publication who are said to be "in the pockets" of the WRU and don't normally do that good publicity for the game Back page of the South Wales Echo Slots on BBC and ITV Wales news on Saturday evening, Sunday evening, Monday lunchtime and Monday evening (coming tonight of course). Two features on the weekly Sports Wales programme on BBC 2 Wales, last Friday preview and this Friday report - they travelled to France to do this! Radio coverage from GTFM and BBC, aftermatch on BBC, regular reports from the ground from GTFM and after report in Welsh on Tuesday. BBC Wales Online did a number of reports too. The Wales games were the ONLY three covered by the BBC at all online.
M1tch
Roar Guru
Fantastic news for the game, Ilestyn Harris is a great story too for what he is doing for the game in Wales
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
jus de couchon Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on where you sit,the 4 nations will be a continuous and embedded rugy league intnl programme. One suggests due to lessons of the past from RLWCs etc , a more gorounded and researched approach have been adopted. I Welsh rl is in a far better position than it has been for some time and ditto France.Should it not be the case,I may agree with you.
MattS
Guest
I'd like to see the Welsh given home ground advantage, say v England in Cardiff at the 18,000 seat venue, NZ in Swansea and Australia in Wrexham. That would be realistic with a near capacity against England and about 10,000 plus for the other two depending how well Wales compete.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
Ive been critical of welsh rugby league, but despite what people may think, i would like to see it get back to its glory days of the 1970s. this could be what the code needs to move back into south wales. i thought it was a cop out to leave south wales. where do you think they will play their games next 4 nations? up north in Wrexham? or in cardiff? wales v england at the millenium stadium..............makes the mouth water.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
Or do you mean Thomas?
jus de couchon
Guest
It might mean something if the 4 Nations was still around in 5 years time . Sustainable growth etc. Unfortunately the clowns who run rugby league will have moved on by then to their next "big Idea".
MattS
Guest
Great result for the Welsh and Gareth Thompson leading his country in a different code must be a proud moment. Wales just needs to keep developing Welsh born players and the Four nations in 2011 could be potentially big news for the code in Wales.
oikee
Guest
Happy days, who would have thought Wales could knock off France. I would like to see the northern hemisphere go down the same track as the southern. Introduce more teams. You cant get experience if your not playing the best. Ireland Scotland, Wales and france, with a knockout comp every second year to decide which 3 teams make the 6 nations. Same as Tonga, Cook Islands, Fiji and Samoa, Knockout for the last 2 spots when played down under. I think we are headed this way. The nations that miss out can tour other places, like Atlantica, and Europe for the Northern teams. Not far off this happening. I think we also need to invite the Arab teams down for some games, maybe against the Maori's and a Aboriginal team.