Will rugby league ever become a global sport?

Matt why do you block everyone who questions you dont want to hear about International Rugby League ?

Its still rugby just seven aside. Rugby union is the dominate force around the world in terms of a contact field sport. Rugby league has got nothing on Rugby union its just facts plain & simple. Rugby union is also the fastest growing team sport in America also a historic event this November 1st Soldier Field home of the NFL team the Chicago Bears will host the All Blacks vs USA Eagles in front a record crowd over 50,000 tickets sold & selling fast. No Rugby league international will even touch that ever!! Especially in the American market not even the Kangaroos can sell out there. Remember couple years back they play in front of almost no one in America. Considering there the benchmark in Rugby league remember State of Origin in the States epic fail!! Its a testament to Rugby unions global growth as a sport. Rugby league just can't compete & its got way more sports than Rugby union to compete with before it even makes its make on the world stage sadly I think league has been left behind. Its been around more than 100 years I mean what more excuses can Rugby league supporters have the game just can't grow beyond the NRL & Super league other wise there will be no such discussion.

John you are so right but just wished fans from both codes shared the same thoughts as at the moment the crowds for both codes of Rugby in NZ/SA and OZ are very poor and can only see in Australia Aussie Rules but more so Soccer getting bigger.

Funny thought I was typing not talking.Must remove the speaker phone.

To Malcolm Dreaneen The crowd at the Commomwealth games 7s final was 2000, to 3000 at most. The stadium's capacity was 7,000. I say was because it was demolished to made into a soccer ground after the games http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqNwq-KzNZk Wasn't much better in Moscow. http://www.demotix.com/news/2202985/opening-day-rugby-world-cup-7s-tournament-moscow#media-2202947

That's not my recollection. In fact I remember seeing both days on TV and being played in front of capacity crowds in India - this article would tend to back up what I'm saying: http://www.ndtv.com/article/commonwealth-games/indian-ruggers-out-of-medal-contention-59047

Just to be clear, I follow both Rugby union AND league, as well as various other sports like most Australians do these days. I'm also a member of both the ACT Brumbies AND Canberra Raiders so my interests are entirely based on the best outcome for both sports. TBH, the best outcome for both rugby football codes would be to reunite. The schism that occurred in the 1800s between the RFU and RFL has undermined rugby football's spread across the world. Imagine if the popularity of rugby union across the world was reunified with the popularity of rugby league in the Tasman. Rugby football would almost certainly grow into one of the biggest sports in the world, even challenging soccer and basketball as number 1 sport. The IRB and RLIF need to investigate the possibility of reunifying the two rugby football codes, for the benefit of both sports.

So you don't know what your talking about. Glad you realise that

Yeah . But to a young individual thats boring watching a scrum . I know what the young kid is going to prefer once he gets more taste of it . League . Just wait till he sees better matches instead of being shown union . Scrums are boring dan . Get used to it man

While your right your also wrong . While its not going to happen in every country Or soon I am certain Rugby league can become a national recognised sport in many countries . Its like the Australian soccer team . soccer is not an Australian recognised sport yet the sport is massive in many countries. While Rugby League will never hold that status I believe that its very possible that a number of teams . Say even 10 more from around the world will be enough to establish a competitive international competition for Rugby League . It wont be as big as soccer . But thats not the competition here is it ? Its just about creating some global acknowledgment . So many national teams can have the smallest number of local teams and field a weak national team its fine so long as you have around 10 competitive national teams around the front runners for a good competitive competition . This foothold would be enough to start something global . I for one believe it can certainly happen .

Listen here brown Colin you have no concept of respecting a growing code . While your statement about union over league is true . You must acknowledge league is indeed growing in Canada . The NRL qualifier there certainly drew a crowd of some standards . http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=et6VWIzxaAo Now its not a world standard type crowd/event but this surely demonstrates the sport can and indeed has the potential of successful growth . I think your statements dictate a squash on Rubgy league verbally without acknowledging the obvious growing of the sport . You simply have to wikipedia nrl in Canada and USA (especially the USA) and you will certainly see the sport is growing . They are expanding every year and tv deals are being made . This does not mean tomorrow the sport will be huge . But will Canada and USA have a half way descent NRL team one day ? Is this possible ? Im here to tell you I bet damn sure it is . This youtube video suggest that possibility can certainly be a reality . Thats a good crowd to start with . Its not 20 or 30 thousand . But they are there. While it seems certain the other codes such as NFL and basketball will always most likely be dominant there will be room for other sports and growth .

In Lebanon rl is in a far stronger position. The national side has the Bank of Beiruit as a major sponsor,and has spread through schools,unis and clubs.There is also a very strong expat financial influence that further assists. Both sports are minority sports in many countries. Rather strange as rl gets decent print coverage in that country. It is very nice and amicable for codes to train together.Pity such options are not available in places such as Morrocco or dare I say it Russia.

IRB has the money agreed.So you now admit small steps are being made by rl,that;s a first. And the RLIF will have a decent amount of money available ,after this RLWC> Correct league spent their money on players as it was a pro game,where union admin and the IRB were able to linetheir pockets ,as they paid little if anything to the players. And along the way league also battled with govts and indeed in few countries union influence with Govts.The fact the cod ei sgrowing is meritorious. The very reason the ARU is in deep you know whats now,excessive spending on players and admin.

The G/F was hardly a small news story,in fact one of the big sports stories,6 days had little to do with it.The soccer coach issue is one thing,but to devote a couple of minutes at the end of the program after horse racing is laughable. Masters was basically twiddling his thumbs. It follows the Offsiders style,Melbourne based Melbourne biased.I am hardly the first one to rant about their sporting balance.When you have Cassidy convening and Whately prancing around you have a fair idea.

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Here we go comparison of moon dust and feathers to prove our moon dust is better than your feathers. Does this not strike anyone as the least bit useless? I must admit though that saying there are parts of the world where scrums and rucks are celebrated must mean places where there's not much on television or the south of England where there's almost no excitement!

When the commonwealth games were held in Manchester the idea was put forward for RL being included and it was denied. I will ask you a simple question who do you think those people were who decided that? Right in the middle of League country they said NO. Just another example of influence and power. As for a gold medal for yawnion sevens that has got to be one that we all wish we had for Christmas? And it's right 15's rules with seven players ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

It must be true because your sport gives you an insight into, and awareness of how to expand into a world sport in what way? I am not attacking AFL here just your point of view which uses nothing in the way of evidence to support it. It is a statement at best but hardly an argument of any worth or time. I also think that if ru has not managed it despite all it's discriminatory practices on the one hand and it's obvious advantages (little things like the number of public school wallies in charge throughout the empire) maybe that's evidence ( I know you're not strong on this on this idea) that it's just not very good?

Goodness me , what flawed logic "I know I'll look for a criteria that few sports could match up to apply it to RL and then decide it's found wanting" ???????? I think it was Einstein who said the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result- me and Albo happen to agree on this one! And as for your comparison with football what does that prove. Football has never had another a rival use all it's resources and connections to discredit and discriminate against it in fact it has had almost no opposition to it's expansion at all ! But this does not imply that a Brazilian who can't play or doesn't like football or indeed can and does both can't also like and want to play RL. One question Leaguie or yawnionisto? If the former why such a downer or lack of confidence in your sport and if the latter no one here cares what you think! The reason for this is above you're just a part of that constant attack that has been happening for 118 years- don't you kick and clappers ever give it a rest? In case this is a bit confusing for you it's a case of heads I win tails you lose!