Why it's time to bring back Kangaroos tours

Here's how I see it 2013 World Cup 2014 4 Nations 2015 Great Britain tour Australia (3 tests) and one test against New Zealand 2016 4 Nations 2017 World Cup 2018 4 Nations 2019 Great Britain tour New Zealand (3 tests) and one test against Australia 2020 4 Nations 2021 World Cup

IF League wants to develop the international game it must start where it is strong - A 6 Nations styled league competition involving the national league teams of ireland, england, scotland, and wales (4 nations) under the same format as the rugby union 6 nations. Help Ireland, Scotland, and Wales develop independent local competitions - stop the English game and the AUstralian game from stealing all the good players from the other nations.

Well the idea being that Scotland, Ireland, Wales & England unify after the World Cup to play an Ashes/Baskerville series, then have 3 years apart to build for their respective world cup campaigns. The best home nations players from the WC push for a GB spot. In those years Australia would play 2 games against GB, 2 games against NZ, 1 or 2 against a minnow in the local area (i.e. European or Pacific team) and then if a required an Ashes or ANZAC Cup decider match. Then perhaps a game against the Super League champions when in UK.

The local Oz Tv stations paid lip service to the challenge cup this year.I have been fortunate enough to attend one such event moons ago,and that was one of my sporting highlights.The game fast and open,the atmosphere spine tingling. In 2003 the last Kangarro tour ,I also attended and enjoyed that immensely and saw the pride in the faces of the players rom the two countries. Bring them back on a continual basis I say.the 4 nations is a step in the right direction.The RLWC in 2013 will provide further impetus,in getting more interest in the international aspect of the code.

I was surprised that no-one on The Roar - unless I have stupidly overlooked it - appears to have commented on the recent Challenge Cup final. It's still a major Rugby League day in Britain and drew an attendance of 78,482. That's not capacity for Wembley but still a handy total. I watched it, and thought about posting something. However, I'm mainly a follower of union, so I'm not really familiar with all the players, and don't have any real insights to contribute. Of course, there's no reason why Roarers should feel any obligation to post just to satisfy my selfish interests. It did make me wonder, though, about the appetite for the international game. If you look at union coverage on The Roar, there's interest among Australian fans in the outcome of overseas club competitions. Part of that is surely because supporters of the national team are interested in the kinds of players and tactics the Wallabies might encounter. That's especially true in a World Cup year. Likewise, I enjoy The Roar because I learn a great deal about Australian union, cricket and league teams. When international matches were less frequent than today, you didn't really need to know much about the composition of the team to feel excited about the prospect of a Test. You discovered players by watching them in these big matches. Today, though, it adds spice. The web now lets me watch any number of overseas games when I might have struggled to find even a cursory report in previous years. There's more international competition in my favourite sports and it's enjoyable finding out about the players my teams will face. I suppose I'm wondering whether Australian league fans keep track of the club competitions overseas. Many of you might, so the lack of a mention for the Challenge Cup would mean nothing. If not, I wonder whether that's because the standard of the game in Britain doesn't inspire much interest. It could also be because Australian competitions are so compelling and the Test matches these days are seen as just a bonus rather than the main event. A comparison might be with baseball ,where the World Series is the pinnacle and US baseball fans have little interest in Japanese baseball competitions or even the World Baseball Classic. I don't know the answer. I have some great memories of rugby league Test Matches against Australia but it's clear the gap has widened. The game in Britain needs international competition to draw in casual fans of the code but I'm wondering if the same is still true for Australians.

Paranoia mate?

Maybe too complicated for you Johnno, but I think Code 13 is on a winner. Basically: 2013 World Cup 2014 Ashes Tour - GB in Aus and NZ 2015 4 Nations 2016 4 Nations 2017 World Cup 2018 Ashes Tour - Aus and NZ play GB in GB Easy.

Seeing as the Kiwis are current World Champs, maybe the Kangaroos should back it up some Actually I can see why you'd want the Kangaroos to tour more often, because then the Kiwis would have to play France and Wales and no real opposition before the next World Cup What a way to undermine your competition.

Sluggers, I am totally with you. How iconic were those tours? How about Stanton's 'Invincible' of '82, Furner's 'Unbeatables' of 1986 and of course as you have previously mentioned Meninga's try in 1990 at Old Trafford. It is a shame that we cannot even have limited Great Britain tours these days.

Way to complicated code 13. Here is my schedule 2013: World cup 2014: 4 nations 2015:4 nations 2016: rest so players can have full pre season as world cup next year 2017: World cup scrap ANZAC test it is meaningless like city V country and th eNRL is scrapping th eANZAC test after 2012 to which is great move. half of NZ best are in English suer league to come out for 1 match on like 3-4 days if jet lag preparation is a waste of time. 1 test is meaning less to. 3 test series vs Great Britan, and 3 VS NZ are meaninlges to and boring and overkill. We have the warriors in the NRL and state of origin is physical killer to, do not need to dump on a meaningless 3 test series as well. loved the tri nations rugby format this year of only 2 matches vs each team less is more and more excting

I'd scheduled it as follows - 2013 - World Cup - UK 2014 - Great Britain Tour Southern Hemisphere - Ashes - 2 games Baskerville - 2 game + deciders - if required + games against Pacific Islands Nations Anzac Cup - Australia vs New Zealand - 2 games + decider if required Pacific Nations Cup - to decide qualifier for next 4 nations 2015 - 4 Nations - Australia & New Zealand European Cup - to decide qualifer for next 4 nations 2016 - 4 Nations - UK 2017 - World Cup - Australia & New Zealand 2018 - Ashes Tour - Australia & New Zealand tour England Ashes - 2 games Baskerville - 2 game + deciders - if required + games against Pacific Islands Nations Anzac Cup - Australia vs New Zealand - 2 games + decider if required European Nations Cup - to decide qualifier for next 4 nations 2019 - 4 Nations - UK Pacific Nations Cup - 2020 - 4 Nations - Aus & NZ 2021 - World Cup - Europe?

In reality the 4 nations should be a 5 nations, at least the two lower ranked teams could have a good ding dong battle when they play each other until their national teams get back to where they once were which isn't too far down the track where France are concerned. I miss the tours as well, but they are gone now, maybe once every 4 years where the Southern Hemisphere powers (Aus/NZ) head North and the Northern Hemisphere powers (GBI/FRA) head south 4 years later.

Cue, the trolls come out. http://www.rlef.eu.com highlights the great progress international league has made including information on Wales, Ireland & Scotland.

suggesting a game in cardiff may be a bit optimistic.

Great britan rugby leauge, has improved sine tours ended, . Wales,scotland, and Irleand have all got better on there own.

Maybe the Kangaroos should start winning again and then this article might have some value. I hope your alarm clock goes off at 3am tonight.

The Kangaroos can do this. In reality unlike Rugby where there are a lot of one off tests caused by the greater options in terms of test opponents and a shorter off season due to Super Rugby starting in the following February. A 3 test series against GB + plus 1 against France with midweek games. It is the off season in the UK so there is no fixture congestion with the Super League plus they are great publicity, money spinning games for the clubs. There doesn't need to be a Four Nations. A 3 test series against NZ can also be played when there is no tour to the UK.

There are fans in both rugby league & rugby union who would love to see non-test tour matches return to the itinerary. Of course, we can't return to the old days of 18, or 25, or 30, or 35 match tours stretching over many months. It's simply no longer practical since the seasons are now already congested. But if the Kangaroos are going to play a 4 nations tournament in England, they could have 3 tour games on top of 3-4 tests, which I'm sure the fans would love. Besides, the Ashes tours were always something very special. It would be great to see them return. The same applies to the Wallabies. Most end of season trips to the northern hemisphere now occupy 4 tests. Throw in 3-4 non-test tour matches as well, & the fans would surely be happy with that. What you will often find is that what was old will become new again. Once the marketeers have exhausted trying all sorts of gimmicks to squeeze extra money out of a sport, they eventually realise the traditional ways actually worked well for everyone. It's a shame all marketeers can't be strangled. Or have it hammered into them, "it's not always about the money"! I note the ARU is returning to one afternoon test at the SFS for the next 10 years. Finally, they have realised the social beneift of doing this. Something old will once again be new..........

In the sixties (when I was a young buck), the English game was played in the Pommie winter. Australia and New Zealand rep teams toured on alternate years during their 'off season' (not sure on that statement). The touring teams played three tests and quite a few games against the Top clubs. being in reasonably close proximity, we fans were able to see lot of these games and really looked forward to them. now that the seasons run at the same time, these tours are no longer viable... sad but true...

Agree, I've been wanting to see the Ashes back and tours back, I like the 4 nations but we need the ashes back.