Rugby League World Cup draw announced, with NSW served a serious snubbing

Should have been their RLWC2013 time Greg. Scotland's run in the world cup got quite good press in Scottish papers & televised on BBC throughout Scotland. Recognised by the govt and have a good pathways set up with U/16, U/18's, universities & senior level etc playing representative footy on a regular basis. Didn't read any of this on the Danish sites for AFL, is it even recognised by the govt there?

Been to Denmark a couple of times and it's surprising the number of people playing they can't have 18 as the grounds are too small quite often in Scotland but never hear about rugby league lucky if you hear about rugby

Yeah I struggle with it... I do not like Australia Rules football, so you know what I do? I don't go on to the AFL tab spruking nonsence and death riding oppurtunities they are creating for themselves. If other RL fans see a need to do so, I appoligise on their behalf. Good luck to Aussie Rules, Rugby, Soccer (Assoc Football), etc. I respect you, but I don't enjoy your brand of football. I get RL is not everyones cup of tea, so be it. But a bit of mutual respect would be nice.

That's our friend Clipper,desperately trying to put down rugby league in whatever form,and comes up drawing a comparison with AFL teams in countries ,who apparently can't even commit to a full side of 18. None of these countries are receiving grants form the European sports Commission,for his code,and no city in this country or Tv station is prepared to cough up dollars to stage any kind of International event. His unease with the staging of the RLWC in this hemisphere,is blatant,thus he is hell bent on continually looking for negatives to underline his clear and ever present anti rl agenda.Trouble is most of us are not fooled.

Perhaps you should re-read what CT wrote then re-read the article in the link you provided. CT stated that "They aren’t even played 18 a side in most cases" The link you provided confirmed this by saying that in 2012 the players on each team where reduced from 16 to 12. So in essance, what CT said is correct, Australian Rules is usually played by less then 18 players perside (The amount of players per side in the AFL) when played outside of Australia . Where the Scottish Rugby League competition is played with 13 players on the field for each team plus for reserves. Same as the NRL and Super League. I don't understand what any of this has to do with the RLIF accepting that Scotland does have a legitimate domestic competition, and therefore are able to play in the RLWC if they qualify.

Suggest you read this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_Australian_Football_League Hundreds of participants competing each weekend in Denmark - hardly played in one place over 1 or 2 days a year - it actually sounds more successful than the Scottish league comp.

Yeah, I can understand why Corey Payne is soo disapointed... I mean surely the RLWC committee should have paid for the privelige of playing a couple of games at Pepper Stadium, you know instead of taking the money offered to them by the Northern Territory Gov't.

NT govt paid $2 million for the priviledge, so ahead of Newcastle there it seems. May be a smaller crowd but with the govt cash, gate, etc they would probably double what Newcastle would have got had their local council/NSW govt not paid anything to RLWC organisers and the game was played there.

The All Blacks play 1 sometimes 2 decent teams in a sport whose international competitiveness and appeal can be measured by the number blowouts at the international level. As Phil said, the AB’S are a global brand, who as far as the US are concerned come from? Australia? Any way, the RLWC is on next year, being held across three countries and will be played in front of enthusiastic crowds. I can not wait to watch the Kangaroos again in Canberra, as well as the other two games that will be held in the nations capital. It has recieved a higher broadcasting rights deal then it previously has, not only this it has achieved something that Super Rugby has not achieved in thier current deal... Free to Air coverage across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. If you don't want to watch the tournament, or you think it is unworthy, than ignore it (just like I do when RUWC is on). There are plenty of us pasionate Rugby League fans who will enjoy every moment of the competition.

The second time I have read/heard the NT government paid $2 million for the Qtr final match of the RLWC. The organisers for such a 'small' world cup are certainly garnering some good cash for developent of the international game. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/central-coast-misses-out-on-hosting-a-rugby-league-world-cup-game/news-story/751408f9a45c3098683d03df8a4d8c79

By the looks of the current squad there will be a fair chance he will, given that 15 of the 17 players are either playing in Super League or the Scotish Domestic Comp. The two current players who aren't in the UK play in Australia for Ipswich and Central Qld capras. Of course, come RLWC time you'd expect some heritage players to come in but the bull of the squad should be England/Scotland based.

Well McTavish,by doing so with that residency status, they perhaps deny local born players from getting an opportunity. A guy born in Australia playing the majority of his sport in that country,then hops over to another one ,plays for 3 years and suddenly becomes a ridgy didgy " local" player ,could be called ludicrous ,by some..Meaning it can be argued, apparently not enough locals worthy of representing . They are the rules so everyone lives with them. If its good enough for ru buffs such as the FitzSimons of this world to draw comparisons between the huge RWC and RLWC,then by golly by gosh,it is good enough for the reverse comparison to be made.IOW the RWC has set the standard or bar ,in how things are to be done. Fitz will be in full "voice" when the RLWC starts,bagging it from day 1.You can set your clock or anniversary by it.

The NSW govt pay rugby league for origin, GF, money for centres of excellence etc so I wouldn't say 'supposedly' strong ties. I bet a heap of sports would kill for this 'supposedly' strong ties. Lets remember the govt also go after other events like the US baseball & US College gridiron etc and diversification of sporting events is a good thing. How much money for example would the Victorian govt pay for AFL matches to remain in Melbourne? Rugby league is lucky to have a myriad of events for governments to throw money at in this country. Perhaps the RLWC organisers just need to put on an event which will make the NSW govt stand up & notice starting with the 2 games at the SFS. RLWC2008 was a great event in my opinion poorly promoted by Colin Love and his cohorts. Hoping this new lot in charge know what they are doing.

AFL does not have domestic comps in the same sense. They aren't even played 18 a side in most cases and when they are, they are played in one place over 1 or 2 days once a year. Hardly home & away stuff which rugby league domestic comps recognised by the RLEF/RLIF certainly are. So Clipper there is no substance to that claim.

Barry was saying that the overall majority of players from RWC have learnt their rugby in their home country or have lived there for 3 years to get residency in the case of Italy and Japan. But they are playing in that country. Who can forget when Samoa played Tonga in WS, they were all RL players who played in the first or second tier competitions In Australia and none of them had learnt their RL in their home country. Who of course can forget Jarryd Hayne playing for Australia then Fiji without residential qualification or was it the other way round - its hard to keep track. Comparing it to the RWC is ludicrous.

I hope you are able to spot some Scots on the field..

the kangaroos play 1 sometimes 2 decent teams in a sport whose international competitiveness and appeal can be measured by the number of games played and the size of the stadiums and crowds they pull. So trying to compare the feats of the kangaroos and all blacks is fruitless. As Phil said, the AB'S are a global brand, the kangaroos are not.

Still its a bit sad that between the NRL and the state government, they didnt think it was worth spending some money and try to lobby to get some decent extra games for NSW. Pretty poor form for a state with supposedly strong rugby league ties. The cup organisers were right in skipping NSW and putting it in the "too hard basket". QLD will do well out of this.

There is a darkness in the hearts of these naysayers Crosscoder... A darkness I tells ya, a darkness!

Farmduck - there are domestic comps for many sports in many countries - Aussie Rules have domestic comps in Denmark, England, Canada etc - the difference is a viable domestic comp, so therefore your claim has substance.