With rugby league showing more commitment to international competition this weekend than at any time in the modern era, it might be time to assess the state of the game in that arena.
The new NRL administration clearly sees international competition – at club and Test level – as a potential area of growth. It has expanded the World Club Challenge, discussed taking NRL games overseas and established academies in the Pacific.
The NRL is helping finance and organise teams from Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Tonga this weekend while South Africa, Niue, Lebanon and Malta will also be playing Tests in Sydney. In the past, League Central has also had to pay the Kiwis’ wages – for all I know, it’s doing the same on Friday night.
These are small steps after 120 years of only patchy interest from rugby league authorities everywhere in expanding a sport which was, conversely, designed specifically to be more attractive than its much more widely played parent code, so the players could be paid.
But most things happening in international rugby league remain outside the NRL’s sphere of information or influence and there is one very worrying trend I would like to identify in this column.
Events in the United Arab Emirates, Italy and South Africa have led me to fear we might soon be left with three – or at least two and a half – codes of rugby in the latest piece of political manoeuvring open to the seemingly endless ranks of disgruntled league officials everywhere.
Let’s start with the most recent imbroglio.
The fledgling UAE rugby league recently announced it would like to host the 2021 World Cup. Not going to happen – but a great publicity stunt that let people know the game is now being played in that country.
The local rugby union authorities were not amused.
They issued a statement saying they were the only body permitted to use the word “rugby”, that these upstarts were abusing their intellectual property and risked being sued.
The league actually changed the names of some teams as it considered its position, but the domestic league is continuing despite the threats.
In way more than half of the countries where rugby union is played, little or nothing is known about rugby league. So when rugby league shows up, the same indignation and victimisation occurs that happened in Australia, New Zealand and England generations ago.
(We can’t compare the current events to what happened in France because the Nazis aren’t around anymore to help rugby union out).
Two years ago, the Rugby League European Federation actually succeeded in getting the International Rugby Board to tell South Africa and Morocco that the 13-man game was a sovereign sport controlled by a separate body and should be left alone.
The IRB told those Federations to stop telling their respective governments rugby league was an unauthorised version of rugby union which was not worthy of any funding.
You’re following this so far, right? So all that needs to happen in the UAE is that the body now known as World Rugby to send a similar letter to its local Federation.
But the problem is this: in Italy, a breakaway rugby league body has just affiliated with the rugby union!
And last I heard, the South Africa Rugby League has been worn down so much by interference from rugby union representatives in the Olympic movement there that they were considering doing likewise.
So at the same time as battling UAE leaguies are trying to prove that the local rahrahs are backwards and barking up the wrong tree, their position is being undermined by their brethren abroad.
How do we get three codes out of this?
Here’s how: This is just an example, right? I have no evidence at all that this is going to happen. But, let’s say the RLIF recognises the Thailand Rugby League and outlaws the rival Thailand Stars, who played Japan on Wednesday.
What is to stop the Thailand Stars, with their sponsors, players and officials, going to the Thai rugby union and saying “we would like to be your 13-a-side and 9-a-side body?”
It gives rugby union a change to legitimately undermine a rival by claiming exactly what the sport has just claimed in the UAE – that rugby is one game, not two.
That is exactly what has now happened in Italy. There are three codes of rugby there, effectively.
Why is that a problem? Well, what does a government official do when he receives an application for funding from two bodies in charge of the same sport, each claiming to be correctly affiliated?
Does he give money to the one aligned with the Rugby League International Federation, of which he knows nothing? Or does he give it to the one aligned with the local rugby union, with which he has dealt before? They run “rugby” here, right? And 13-a-side rugby is still rugby, right?
This is the new, grassroots, Super League War ladies and gentlemen – rugby league bodies so marginalised and angry that they are willing to sleep with the enemy.
And it’s a huge challenge for the incoming RLIF CEO, David Collier. If a renegade league choses to side with its local union, it undermines his organisation enormously by playing on rugby league’s global weaknesses.
A breakaway league can offer players all the perks of being part of a bigger sport – including possible Olympic representation – and save them all the hassles and obstacles of being part of a pioneering movement.
Long term, what if rugby union started running 13-a-side competitions under league rules? Are our rules copyright? Could union reabsorb league, starting in countries where league is unknown and killing off its seeds before working backwards towards the citadels of Parramatta, Headingley and Onehunga in a Hundred Years War?
Three rugby codes, competing for players, sponsors, publicity and government recognition.
It’s a nightmare.
This week Steve is inviting Roarers to follow his Rugby League World Cup news Facebook page and Twitter account @RLWCnews
Geoff Bombell
Guest
Chill Russ, by "nemesis" I mean the simple clash of sporting codes for hearts and minds-I may be a fantasist to suggest that a United Rugby code could challenge the world game but it might be a gallant 2nd pegging NFL or Formula 1. Fully aware of the "history" of the Rugby schisms but it is NOT a factor or prejudice that Asian RL has absorbed-but I'm sure there'll be plenty of us well meaning Euro-centrics who'll nail it in. Supping with Devils??-well I find the administrative class in all sports more or less the same turf-driven morlocks..no, it's the dross of rugby on-field structures that need jettisoning, the "mauls, push-overs, line outs etc" that u correctly mentioned- Hell,even the All Blacks coach has declared a need for serious historic overhaul. How do you save RugbyXV as a spectacle? -get rid of a couple of defenders..say 2:), -they've all become too effective thanks to Rugby league coaching, & then get them back behind the stand off, say 8-10 metres. No more than 6-7 phases of play (rucks maul)..hang on...this sounds like?? As I said, Rugby league has the superior product and the viewing public knows it. Hell, even the Rugby purists know it. 2 points for penalty goals& field goals and an x-tra point for tries would be a start...across the board. Rugby right now looks like the Rugby league our great grand fathers watched. Limitless phases, 3 yards in defence..take it up, take it up till you force an error or penalty.. Only the morlocks (on both sides) stand in the way with their agendas & historical baggage.
Russell Johnson
Guest
".....suddenly the round ball becomes the true nemesis, not other forms of competing Rugby codes…..”You may say…I’m a dreamer…….” No "I will say you're a fantasist " Football has never ever tried to ban,stop, hinder, deny or insult and ignore RL. Nor did it support the Vichy Government or apartheid nor pretend to be amateur for 100 or so years. Neither have its journalist insulted, berated and criticised its game, players and fans. No obviously the real enemy is soccer?????? Yes, lets sup with the Devil and inherit exciting elements to our sport like Mauls, push over tries and Line outs, hand in hand on our way to sporting heaven !!!!!!!! Can't wait ;-)
Geoff Bombell
Guest
Steve, having looked closely at the 13-aside push into the Asian market it replicates the UAE in many ways -Administrative battles looming or in progress between well established old-boy networks and new emerging rather aggressive new networks. Resentful Union overseers see their local established players approached as the natural go-to fodder for the persuasive League pioneers (who simply have the better product). Many of these Union networks are developed from high end tertiary educations, business affiliations & administrative/legal fraternity/governmental links..Enter stage left, upstart newbies (usually with links abroad) & you have some immediate battle lines drawn. I'm constantly struck how Asian players simply don't carry the historical baggage between the Rugby codes that we in Western Nations do.. So rather than 3 codes inferred in your thoughtful piece, perhaps a serious United Rugby Movement is the way forward-an Administrative revolution sure- but suddenly the round ball becomes the true nemesis, not other forms of competing Rugby codes....."You may say...I'm a dreamer......."
Daniele
Guest
...the league war in italy is less boring that the way they play.... with one "federation" pretending to be a national team only to give a chance to australian player to be under the spot and the other pretending to have a championship with only 6 teams...
Russell Johnson
Guest
Harry, Harry, Harry, contradict, argue, debate, deny, proffer alternatives,I don't mind how much we disagree but pathetic insult? Really? Outstanding wit and repost not your forte then? I'm quite willing to engage in discussion with anyone including Madge who I'm not sure likes RL at all but if this novel you wrote is aimed at me at least say so, put my name on it so I no who you mean! And I don't hide behind a pen name or a half name, I am what you see on the tin!
nerval
Guest
Which journalist said that? And how many have said the opposite? More importantly, why do you sound as if you want Hayne to fail? What pleasure could one possibly derive from that, Madge? Haven't you anything better to do with your precious time?
nerval
Guest
No "hard evidence" on what, Madge? You've provided all the evidence anyone needs to damn both your ignorance of rugby league and your approval of the bigotry and prejudice it has suffered for 100 years. It's embarrassing to read posts that revel in their own ignorance, Madge.
nerval
Guest
Emric's nonsense about "pillaging" amounts to no more than the fact that so many schools in NZ choose not to have rugby league on the curriculum... even though loads of kids play the game outside of school and love it. The likes of Emric hate them for loving it, it seems. How can a kid play rugby league at school if it's not on the curriculum, Emric?
nerval
Guest
What do our good friends Harry and Madge - both terribly worried about the non-banning from rugby league of Folau (and SBW and Sam Burgess I presume) - have to say about the French RU card with the swastika on it? Anyone know where they've gone...?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Deflectiopn !!! Firstly Madge I spelt out the fact the PI tests were not in conflict with the Q ????? clash,different fan base involved.And for you to even bring the Q clash up,out of left field is deflection.In fact the AFL press were concerned about the crowd at the Q clash.Don't blame me. As to eligibiiity all bar one were born and bred PNG players.Many of the other players Fijian/Samoan/Tongan were either born in those countries or had parents who were so born. Any code growing its International game,starts off somewhere.I remember well the Wallabies having Argentinians and one or two from Sth Africa who moved to Oz in the past.The All Blacks earlier on were not all born and bred in NZ,I also remember seeing a few non Japanese players appearing for Japan in the 2003 WC in Oz.you start somewhere.I further noted in the 2003 WC,the Italian team had a few Argentinians who had difficulty with the national anthem.Eligibility has tightened since,and so too will rl down the line.Few made a big deal about it then. The fact tests like this are being played has further led to the growth of the cod in places such as fiji,and the NRL and Australian Govt as a result have committed a lot of funding for development in the PIs. I understand you have difficulty knowing the PI tests rated well in this country ,as did the ANZAC test,meaning International rl is growing and creating more interest.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The comment" inconvenient truth" is apt,in regard to France.Else we would be getting people like you admitting such events,not sidetracking. About the only thing worth quoting from Gore.
Birdy
Guest
Oh no Madge is back, reminds me of an Elton John song. By the way Madge I hope conchie is recovering ok or is he still in emergency having all the hooks removed from his fingers? I tried to tell him it was too complicated for him .
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Correct.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Let's not get carried away about either the rugby codes,when it comes to expansion throughout the world.. The facts are in rl PNG national sport and domination in two Oz states,growing in NZ. and PI. RU dominant in NZ,2nd in England.2nd most popular code in Sth Africa,France well below soccer.Wales popular. ditto PI The world's population is closing on 7 billion ,with over 200 countries.I would not be bragging as current positions of the codes barely scratch the surface. That being said I do not bag the ru for growing their game ,and i find people(usually the same heroes) who come on rl threads who bag rl for growing their game,as being pure and simply insecure.And from what I have observed have done little research at times.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
No need my good man,just google for info.It's not hard Madge. BTW it's cue,I don't form queues.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Fitzsimons and ,a former Wallaby coach ,the former decreeing also rugby union would become well down the pecking order after the 2003 RWC. J O'Neill stated in the early 2000s that rugby league would become the no 1 sport in NSW and Qld relegating rl to no 2 spot. C M arlton made a similar claim in the Herald and has since humbly retracted. Evidence print and radio.
Madge
Guest
They went to the same journalist school that suggests that Hayne will be a sensation in the NFL
Madge
Guest
And still by deflection you dont answer the qn of RL international eligibility - why?? But Demetroius chins - wow cutting humour
Madge
Guest
Victim
Madge
Guest
Nervals law - heap non sequitor abuse if you have no hard evidence Sydney Naval started as a services club but ADFA and RMC all played AFL as did Creswell so Col is incorrect..