UAE to bid for 2021 Rugby League World Cup

My argument has been the UAE bidding helps up the ante for the successful countries who finally secure the event.I repeat one more time I believe they have next to no chance.Therefore the RLIF will not be securing any profits from a UAE bid but the final resulting winner>IOW the RLIF does benefit in the long run. Just like auctioning ones home,the more bidders regardless of their real intent or real chance,the better ability to achieve the maximum price. If a country bids for the event,they absorb the costs and make guarantees/promises.They create competitive tension.2000 was loss making venture ion the UK,by simply spreading the event in too many non heartland areas,having anatijnwoide train strike and very ordinary weather. In any case the UAE are hosting a qualifying RLWC match in october between lebanon and Sth Africa,.They are getting some experience with rugby league,.

Burn the villages!

They gain in the sense that they have to host a World Cup somewhere as opposed to not holding it at all. If there's a place that is willing to cover the costs involved in holding the event then they're out Scott free. The real stumbling block comes when (if it even gets this far) the UAE sits down to work out their return on investing in hosting such a tournament and what's to be gained. Your two examples are of the two most recent world cups which were held in markets that are International rugby leagues two 'strongholds'. How can you apply the logic that these world cups made a profit, therefor an Arab state where rugby league is a virtually unknown sport will make a profit?

You're a true Crusader, Slei.

You plainly stated' there is nothing to be gained by the RLIF".I stated this is not so,with an example. Fairly clear and specific.

You know I'm all for it.

I don't think it does. It just puts it into perspective. Let the good times roll.

How does that refute anything I've said?

Nyet.The code is just hanging on in Russia and their economy is hardly flourishing with sanctions and tensions.

Dup post****

No need to keep me happy,I'm more than content with developments. Bidding tension Rob9( ,bidding tension(whether that means bids from unlikely and overly optimistic places),meaning the successful country wherever she may reside ,has to pay full; value not unders. That is what the RLIF gains,and that is what it gained with the 2008 RLWC) in ANZ.To suggest nothing is to be gained is incorrect based on that experience. The RLWC made profits in 08 and 13. And SA wanted to bid on the 2013 RLWC if memory serves me correctly.

Alright CC. To keep you happy, on the scale of crazy expressions of interest for potential bids, let’s put this one somewhere between the Jamaican 2019 RWC eoi and Russian 2019 RWC eoi. The fact there’s nothing to be gained for the RLIF awarding what’s meant to be their showpiece event to such hosts or for the hosts themselves holding an event like the RLWC suggests that this whole idea should be filed under ‘fairy tales’ (that’s where you’ll find the Jamaican 2019 RWC bid). Go right ahead if you want to continue splitting hairs though.

Are Russia still bidding or are they out?

Please please, Rob9. Jamaica bid v UAE.Like comparing News ltd with a regional newspaper in terms of money,power and influence. No one is running mile or anywhere,just read my point ,stating the chances of the UAE getting a WC were slim at best. Yeah this president of a national federation,just got rugby league more publicity on the International aspect than at any other time.I have spent some time reading media reports from various areas. The only similarity with Jamaica is the fact they expressed interest.There is more substance with the UAE so called bid ,just from the point of infrastructure and money/contacts." Low level"(sport influence with Govt starts from sporting heads) .Who knows what influence or contact they have with their Govt.I don't and assume neither do you. IMO it won't happen anyway,but the word is getting out there.If that is a bad thing,then I'm not here.

When it comes to Origin vs Internationals there are 3 simple reasons why Origin is currently the dominant competition. 1) It is played regularly. Like clock work. Three games a year, middle of the season, every year. Internationals are played on such an ad-hoc basis that it is hard to get any momentum going. 2) One can reasonably expect either NSW or QLD to win in any given game. Even during the 8 year streak, most series were close contests and NSW were competitive. On the other hand, the only regular international played is the mid-year 'Anzac' test, which also tends to be a lot less competitive than end of season games. We never reasonably expect NZ to win the mid-year test and consider a narrow loss a 'good result' for NZ. 3) Origins are played on Wednesday night during prime TV Viewing slots, creating a marquee 'event' type of game. Anzac tests are nothing but Friday Night footy. Therefore, if we want to lift the profile of Internationals we must: 1) Create a better international calendar with greater predictability. More tests, more often with no 'years off.' I have given my proposal for an expanded Four Nations which I believe should be played every year (except for World Cups). http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/11/13/rugby-league-should-expand-the-four-nations/ 2) More competitive games. The most difficult thing to fix, but directly related to playing more fixtures. Other ways of ensuring more competitive games include funding to minnow nations and allowing more international players to play NRL. 3) Play midseason tests on a Wednesday night and promote the absolute heck out of it. International growth doesn't have to come at the expense of Origin, but it can equal or surpass it.

Perspective is never a bad thing.

Yup and where did I say it was? Let's just put the publicity into perspective though.

Oh come now Rob9, as if a publicity drive is a bad thing for the code.

Your point about publicity is spot on. There is more to these things then whether they are 'supposed' to succeed or not. Lots of positives to be had from international exposure.

Not really. But hey, you keep running a mile when taking an inch. This is nothing but a President of a national federation going on a bit of a publicity drive. Is it any wonder that this very low level expression of interest has coincided with the return of the domestic competition? There's not a lot of substance behind it (hence the similarities with Jamaica). Good on him, it's at least got a couple of dreamers in Australia flapping their gums.