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!
Adam Smith
Guest
I'd like to see South Africa host it. They're huge Rugby fans. I know it's Union over there but the games are very similar and I'm sure people will go to see a different style of Rugby, even just out of curiosity. It will be a perfect opportunity to expand League into that territory, as no doubt it will convert many people. NZ and Australia joint bid should be last resort, they host all the time. I hope France, Italy or USA raise their hand to host it. All 3 countries are expanding fast with Union, so same deal as South Africa, it's a different code of Rugby and many people would go watch even for curiosity. All 4 countries are big markets too, many people and sports mad competitive places.
Adrian
Roar Pro
Fiji will upset Ireland
Jean Smith
Guest
That's not true they may not be the way you would like it but they have their own way of going about it.. They are very serious about it and are very dedicated to it. It might be different to the way you would like it to be done.
Blackcanelion
Guest
Deleted
Blackcanelion
Guest
SBW was only "unavailable" for a matter of days so I can't see how the counter argument hold up. League is a great game but the reality is that it's a small game in Europe and often struggles to sellout relatively small stadiums for internationals. The cup is good in that it's a real attempt to spread the game. I think professional rugby has been good for league in the uk. Iit's forcing league to try and expand to survive. To my mind the problem with a purely professional club game is that it's largely parasitic, it's mostly about the success of the club rather than the game as a whole. I think is is reflected in the gb team. Their greatest success was when they were strengthened by welsh union converts and teams like nz didn't have access to English and Australian based players. Now that Australia is fully professional and the flow of union talent has dried up they are struggling. France is a similar story. They exploded onto the scene when union banned the French.team, and struggled when they were reintroduced and the right wing government made it hard. Nz's strongest times have been when it's top players haven't been stuck in the uk. Australia's gone from strength to strength with the advent of large scale professionalism (as have nz). In many ways modern Australian league is similar to British league of 50years ago. I'm not sure either actually has moved the game on internationally. One good thing is union seems to be going down the same path with the Eric in Europe (ie a dead end for the wider development of the game).
Yousef Teclab
Roar Guru
Sadly not. Damn work commitments. Though will try to watch the games on TV.
Yousef Teclab
Roar Guru
Actually there is a French player who crossed from rugby league to union. Fabrice Estebanez who plays at centre for Top 14 Racing Metro and acquired 26 caps for the French national rugby league. He is a decent player though his tackling can get him into trouble.
Ra
Guest
are you a pro journo reporting the facts Yousef or are you using journalistic licence to share your opinion with a fact or two chucked in. quite frankly, I don't really care whether you prefer league or union or why. is it something about the social media culture, that we're becoming so Americanised and hang all our dirty linen out for all to see, and comment on..... I mean, who really wants to be like that yanks anyway ? Nah, don't bother answering that
2codes
Guest
Great article & a fascinating history of the game in France. As a self confessed Union die hard (with a strong interest in League), I wish the tourny well. Having spent a bit of time in the South of France & South Africa, I'd vouch for the fact that the froggies in those parts love the tough stuff, big hits, heavy contact & bull fighting to boot! No reason why league cant flourish again there given the roots. As for the Saffers, I'd give the game no hope there. Union runs culturally so deep. It's the every(white)man's game. Its provincial competition the Curry Cup produces Origin level fervor in its fans & is the envy of every major Union nation. There will be a few anomalies over the years for sure (Jarrod Saffy) but a League World Cup in S.A would be a curiosity at best. Better to focus these tournaments on traditional strongholds on the Pacific Nations/UK-France
Football United
Guest
New Zealand and the Pacific Islands should host it next time just to shake things up. Australia gets it way to often that they don't even value the tournament.
Matt
Guest
360 thousand tickets sold already is an outstanding result.I agree that France is a sleeping giant of rugby leauge.South Africa must be a top priority for future expansion.
Stephen Murray
Guest
Whoopy-do ---what a prediction . When in any international sporting contest --of any sort ---involving 12 or 14 teams --IS THERE NOT A SHOCK --of some sort
Midfielder
Guest
Crosscoder Constructive criticism ... except if Okieeeeeeeeeeeeee and those Bronco's are involved...
JimC
Guest
They sold most of the tickets when SBW wasn't even supposed to be playing.
Jo
Guest
You fool, Parc de Sports in Avignon has a capacity of 18,000 and had already sold over 15,000 before SBW had been chosen for the Kiwi's. Derp.
Matt_S
Guest
Thanx for article Yousef. Are you attending any RLWC games?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Thanks Midfielder.at least your posts I have read are balanced ,and have involved constructive criticism at times.It's a pity,some other constant cynics could not take a leaf out of your book.
Johnno
Guest
The France VS NZ is an interesting one. The fact it was a sell-out and 16K sold. You wonder could they of even pushed it up to 25K if they chose to go for a bigger stadium. I think the RLWC organisers a beeming about selling 16K for a French test, and in hindsight can't beleive it. Who knows maybe they could of pulled 25K and even 30K you never know. Out of all the up and coming RL nations France has the biggest hope. And the French will start to get alot of cross-over and rugby union off-cuts and rejects and blokes wanting a double challange dual international type challenge eg the Freddy Michaleks, or Alain Rougarie types.
rl4eva
Guest
So many great games to watch, I think I'm going to develop insomnia over the next month!
chuckie
Guest
Did anyone take a video of the game? I'd like to have a look at it.