I’m a big supporter of the Four Nations concept and the more matches Australia, New Zealand and England play against each other and against minnow nations, the more international rugby league will improve.
That said, there are preexisting opportunities in international rugby league that aren’t being managed to their greatest potential.
I’m proposing every fourth year we should reintroduce the tour concept. For example:
Year 1 – World Cup
Year 2 – Four Nations
Year 3 – Tours
Year 4 – Four Nations
This would mean the Four Nations would remain as a biennial event, however smack bang in the middle of the World Cup cycle there’s opportunity for a money-making tour series.
The Ashes series
Last played in 2003, although the series ended on a one-sided note, it should be remembered that out of the 39 series played Australia have only won 20.
In the past 11 years there have been marquee Scottish and Welsh players that would have fit into key Lions positions and combined with the Irish it would lead to balance.
That said, even as an England series the brand alone is worthy of resurrection.
The Baskerville series
Last played in 2007, New Zealand’s own version of the Ashes resulted in Great Britain’s dominance. History has also given the edge to the Lions but with New Zealand’s startling recent growth a series between the two could come down to the wire.
The Anzac series
There have been multiple claims that the one-off mid-season Test is a poor reflection of the closeness of the quality levels between these two sides. Also the final scoreline of the World Cup final was largely a result of the epic New Zealand-England match played the week prior.
Head-to-head against each other in a series, you’ll start seeing the Kiwis step up.
The Pacific Cup
This tournament should be played in every non-World Cup year and it’s rather damning that the last tournament was in 2009. Combined with one-off match-ups of individual nations against each of the ‘Big Three’, this helps grow the performance of these nations.
The Pacific Islands
After the Pacific Cup, the best players from the participating nations should combine and play one game each against the Big Three. The money generated from these games every fourth year would do wonders for the development of the sport in the islands.
An approximate schedule:
Mid Season
New Zealand versus Australia (Anzac I) in Auckland
Potential Pacific Cup matches
End of Season
Week 1
New Zealand versus Samoa in Rotorua 7:00pm NZ, 5:00pm EDST
Australia versus Great Britain and Ireland (Ashes I) in Melbourne 7:00pm EDST
Pacific Cup Week 1
Week 2
New Zealand versus Great Britain and Ireland (Baskerville I) in Wellington 7:00pm NZ, 5:00pm EDST
Australia versus Fiji in Townsville 8:00pm Queensland, 7:00pm EDST
Pacific Cup Week 2
Week 3
Great Britain and Ireland versus Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby 6:00pm Papua New Guinea, 5:00pm EDST
New Zealand versus Australia (Anzac II) in Dunedin 5:00pm NZ, 7:00pm EDST
Pacific Cup Week 3
Week 4:
Australia versus Great Britain and Ireland (Ashes II) in Sydney in 7:00pm EDST
Pacific Cup Final
Week 5:
New Zealand versus Great Britain and Ireland (Baskerville II) in Christchurch 7:00pm NZ, 5:00pm EDST
Australia versus Pacific Islands in Newcastle 7:00pm EDST
Week 6:
Pacific Islands versus Great Britain and Ireland in Suva 6:00pm Fiji, 5:00pm EDST
Australia versus New Zealand (Anzac III) in Perth 4:00pm WA, 7:00pm EDST
Week 7:
New Zealand versus Pacific Islands in Wellington 7:00pm NZ, 5:00pm EDST
Australia versus Great Britain and Ireland (Ashes III) in Brisbane 8:00pm Queensland, 7:00pm EDST
Week 8:
New Zealand versus Great Britain and Ireland (Baskerville III) in Auckland 7:00pm NZ, 5:00pm EDST
This tour series would only be played in the Southern Hemisphere once every eight years, likewise with the Northern Hemisphere.
Imagine if every Saturday for two months there was a game on at 7pm local time involving the national team in a very rare event. At the same time, around the world we’d see other rugby league tournaments and matches in Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East.
With a little bit of vision we might finally start to unlock the potential of international rugby league.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I agree. Completely.
Jake
Guest
What a load of bullshit that's why international league is a joke because u see players changing countries every year u don't know what they are Australian or a Tongan kiwi or Samoan league has no credibility whatsoever
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I agree. It has to be regular, not whim-like.
code 13
Roar Guru
I think we'll start seeing similar regionalised tournaments like that pop up around the world.
code 13
Roar Guru
If/when England & New Zealand get closer to the Kangaroos with the right capitalization there's no reason why Australia vs England or Australia vs New Zealand can't rival Origin. Heck, those matches can already draw 1.5-2 million audiences.
code 13
Roar Guru
The NRL can put itself in a position to have more teams in more cities across Australia & New Zealand than any other domestic sports league. They're also looking at restructuring the state comps and bringing NZ & PNG up to NSW & QLD level. Meaningful international matches offer the diverse NRL talent pool the opportunity to represent their heritage and State of Origin remains the giant of Australian sport. All 4 tiers.
code 13
Roar Guru
I've spoken before about the Origin issue -- http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/05/26/sunday-night-origin-is-the-way-forward-for-nrl/ In this competitive Australian sporting market I don't believe we'll ever see the NRL stop its presence for 3 weekends during the middle of the season just so it can be replaced with internationals involving countries other than Australia. It's about as likely as the AFL shutting down shop so China & Nauru can go at it in fumbleball. In my opinion the best compromise solution with the least risk is Sunday Night Origin, it reduces Origin's impact on the league to 3 weeks only. The Grand Final thrives on a Sunday Night, there's no realistic argument that Origin can't do the same. Split those 3 weeks with 1 round of football and every team is only affect by 1 or 2 games max out of 24. The NRL ensures its continuity whilst minimizing impact on the quality of the league. I also think we have to be realistic. Even two Origin depleted NRL sides going head to head are going to smash Tonga vs Cook Islands both in the stands and on television. What we'll really see are the AFL & ARU scheduling matches on those vacant weekends. To some degree it's almost disrespectful that international football is crammed in between NRL & State of Origin - it is truly worthy of its own unique season.
code 13
Roar Guru
As I've said there may be scope to reduce the length of the tournament by playing the Anzac series in a different year & maybe taking away the GB&I match against PNG -- that would reduce it by 2 to 3 weeks. However if GB&I/England are touring they should be aiming to play the Baskerville & Ashes in the one year. Say for the opposite trip -- in southern hemisphere: Australia vs New Zealand (Anzac - 2 games at end of year) Australia vs Pacific Islands New Zealand vs Pacific Islands then after leaving for the northern hemisphere: Australia vs Lions (Ashes - 3 games) New Zealand vs Lions (Baskerville - 3 games) Australia vs France Australia vs Ireland New Zealand vs Wales New Zealand vs Scotland Pacific Islands vs Lions Pacific Islands vs France Pacific Islands vs Wales + European Cup with France, Wales, Ireland, Scotland etc involved
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Serbian TV talking about the upcoming Balkans Rugby League championships between Serbia, Bosnia, Greece & Hungry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOQAKp0OCHc
code 13
Roar Guru
It's time we stop treating international rugby league as an afterthought.
code 13
Roar Guru
I've long said that rugby league's goal should be to create a world wide international window in October-November. Only through regular tournaments and scheduling will we ever create something meaningful out of these events. An important reason why I suggest a Pacific Islands combined team as a once-every-4-years event is that qualification for that side would only be for players who have represented those nations (not for players who ditched them for Australia & New Zealand). This would be a massive draw card which will to stop the talent drain and improve all of the individual pacific nations. Combined with regular tournaments like the Pacific Cup, 4 Nations and one-off matches against the Big 3 you'll start to see those nations edge closer.
code 13
Roar Guru
Renegade that's definitely another way of looking at it. I've suggested before than an alternate to this plan is to attach a series to the 4 Nations tournament. So say this year it could've been 4 Nations + Ashes series etc. However I believe we need to keep the 4 Nations model (Big 3 + Best Minnow) hence why I was suggesting a system where it remains as a biennial event (alternating hemispheres). This can then incorporate a 4 year European & Pacific Cup cycle. The current system of scheduling internationals on a whim is terrible. The 3 match England vs New Zealand series is a step in the right direction but it only means something if its played regularly. Rugby League is littered with tournament and events played once and twice and then left to gather dust...
code 13
Roar Guru
By one sided I was referred to the string of Kangaroos series wins but yes the 2003 series was closely fought and with a full squad at peak performance a new series would see GB&I win.
code 13
Roar Guru
Just to be clear I'm not actually suggesting that GB play in the Pacific Cup. The Pacific Cup should be a regular end of season fixture with teams like PNG, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands etc. In this particular what I'm saying is that those teams play the Pacific Cup then their best players combine to play one match each against the big 3 under a combined Pacific Islander team brand. So effectively Great Britain & Ireland's 8 matches are: Great Britain and Ireland versus Papua New Guinea (one off match) Pacific Islands (combined) versus Great Britain and Ireland (one off match) Australia versus Great Britain and Ireland (Ashes I, II & III) New Zealand versus Great Britain and Ireland (Baskerville I, II & III) Those 8 games plus the 3 game Anzac series would likely generate more $$$ than the other non-world cup years combined.
code 13
Roar Guru
As I suggested there's definitely pros and cons with reintroducing Great Britain and even extending it further to better incorporate Ireland. Regardless of whether it's GB&I or just England, the Ashes should be resurrected as a rugby league brand. An interesting fact is that the original trophy actual says England not GB and the early games were promoted as Northern Union. However if we put the brand issue aside for a second and consider it from another perspective. How can we make this series more even to ensure its long term success? By allowing players from Scotland, Ireland & Wales every 4th year to play for GB&I the Lions increased their talent pool but also there's less likelihood of these players abandoning their own countries in the other years. I often talk about whole-of-the-game benefits, that's just one example.
Matteo Portoghese
Roar Rookie
When they confirmed they were playing England in GB next season, I asked the official Kiwis Twitter account if they were going to play France in week 1 of their tour and they said it was possibile, but still had to confirm it. I think it would be a great choice, even if a one-sided game. As they showed in the World Cup, the French can make a sold-out for International games against top opposition and having the Kiwis in the South of France would be great.
Matteo Portoghese
Roar Rookie
But I think in some way having GB and not England on tour would help the other Home Nations. I mean, Danny Brough. Ok, McNamanara would prefer to select me or you instead of him for England (:P), but with GB and not England touring a player like him could play International footy on the big stage and still go on playing for Scotland, the team he captains. Somethink like the B&I Lions in union. I think he would help. By the way I agree - even if I'm not English but I can understand - people prefer to support England and not GB in the sport, but we're talking about RL, a sport where GB and not England have been the historical National Team. The only European team to win a RLWC was Great Britain, not England and maybe people could be more passioned about it. Then obviously having a Pat Richards (qualyfied as Irish) playing for GB would have helped sometimes...
Gregg
Guest
Good article. International RL is the way to grow the game and creates "events" like the ashes and world cups that players want to play in which attracts them to the game and also keeps them in the game. Some fans and Officals only care about the NRL, hopefully with all these players leaving it will make them see that the game needs these international events otherwise it will be a club game which will be great but never grow
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
If anything the movement of Burgess/SBW and Hayne to other codes,should at least have stirred/prodded rugby league admininstrators to at least put more effort and emphasis on International development.Despite the chance all three could head back to the NRL down the line. Granted no code in this country will ever be able to compete with the NFL interms of exposure and wealth,however playing more meaningful internationals at a set point of time,gives more players something to aspire to certainly better than the current ad lib approach as if these Internationals are an evil necessity. And players will occasionally want to test themselves in another sport,where money is not a real consideration.That will continue. My view is the NRL must expand the game here to be a national code,whether that be Perth and Brisbane 2/Ipswich/Central Qld.By increasing the number of teams,the code can bring in a 3 conference system .Clubs within each conference play each other twice= 10 games.Then play each club in the remaining conferences once=12 games.Giving a total of 22 rounds.SOO remains as is. You have a window of an extra two free weekends in which to pursue Internationals.Mid season or post grand final is the question. Pacific cup/England all must be considered. Kangaroo tours must be part of the schedule every 4 years.I attended the 2003 one in England and all games were competitive and all the stadiums in the test were full. and reeked with atmosphere. The days of sport continuing with only in my backyard mentality,they will continue to mark time, in a shrinking world of communications.
Rugby League Development Fund
Roar Rookie
We need more international league. I think I speak for all our members when I say, it would be preferable to have the Pacific Cup regularly, and have NRL stars represented in the series. Personally, I (Rodney McDonell), think having the Pacific Cup during the State of Origin weeks would be the perfect way to engage the Pacific Nations and provide TV stations with games to screen, whilst also reducing the amount of rounds in the NRL. Imagine the Pacific Cup on the Friday, Saturday, or Sunday leading up to the SOO the following Wednesday.