Recently, the RLIF have taken a number of measures to ensure the strength of the international game.
This includes the introduction of the women’s World Cup and expansion of the Rugby League World Cup to 16 teams, along with the announcement of the USA and Canada as joint hosts of the 2025 tournament. However, there is one key element that the governing body are missing.
That key element is a pathway that will introduce up-and-coming nations to new opponents and stronger competition. It’s an idea previously implemented alongside the 1995 and 2000 World Cups – the Emerging Nations Tournament.
During its short-lived tenure on the calendar, it has provided a springboard for a number of minnow nations to make their World Cup debuts including the Cook Islands, Russia and the USA.
If the RLIF are to take the international game seriously, the Emerging Nations Tournament must return to the Festival of World Cups.
With the Rugby League World Cup expanding to 16 teams in 2021, a host of rugby league-playing nations will take their chance at securing their spot in a bid to bring home the Paul-Barriere Trophy.
It will open the possibility for the likes of Cook Islands, Canada and Russia to compete at the highest level. However, for those nations that miss out on qualification, they are left to their own devices without any regular, meaningful competition. If an avenue isn’t introduced, the international game will no longer garner any real competitiveness and the RLIF will continue to chase their tails by propping up the same nations, every time the World Cup comes around.
The opportunity for 12 nations from around the world to battle it out for the Emerging Nations Cup in the north of England at the end of 2021 is one in which the RLIF must not pass up.
Smaller countries deserve the reward of meaningful international competition. I propose that the tournament be consisted of four countries from the Asia-Pacific (Niue, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu), one from the Africa-Middle East (South Africa), four from Europe (Russia, Serbia, Spain and Ukraine) and one from the Americas (Jamaica).
It would leave the next best from the four confederations to battle it out for two remaining spots giving Thailand, Morocco, Belgium and Chile the right to compete for their shot at the big guns.
By opening up the international game to smaller, developing rugby league nations, it will only help to strengthen rugby league from both a talent and business perspective.
If the RLIF is to take itself seriously, they must open an avenue for lower-ranked nations to compete with the upper echelon of rugby league-playing nations. It is time to revive the Emerging Nations Cup and give these countries the right to regular, competitive, international rugby league.
Sport lover
Guest
So these figures are just made up and Australia is left out. Has it moved off the planet recently? Seems the same.
Sport lover
Guest
Dont feed the t r o l l
Sport lover
Guest
He also appears as Andoru at The Guardian. Complete nutter. lol
Sport lover
Guest
Go turn the TV off clipper some rugby league is on! Stick to AFL and union. Better get in quick re the latter before it disappears.
Justin kearney
Guest
Probably the most enjoyable thing about this thread is, despite the emotional drivel and obsessed ratings posted by some haters of the game here, the Rugby League World Cup will continue to expand, crowds will continue to flock to it and it will continue to rate its socks off. I find that very amusing :)
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Clip you really are an obsessed bully.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Probably a good idea cc. Clipper quite clearly is an obsessed bully who hates the game of rugby league with outrageous passion. I can only imagine what it must be like obsessing over any good news about a sport you hate but thats what he does.
clipper
Guest
CC, my statement was correct - 'a far cry from having a team where not one player was actually born in the country they're representing'. It is a fact, not a misrepresentation. Whether I named that country or not is irrelevant - are there others that don't have a single person born there?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Listen champ. 1) I have never made the statement the Scottish team are home growns Open your peepers.My comments have been either the code is played in a certain country, and is developing.Ideally all locals only would be eligible.It doesn't even happen in ru, and as for AFL not even worth debating. 2) You made the comment"when NOT ONE player was actually born in the country they represent".You made your usual generalisation that its's applicable to all.Again wrong Keep it up.You didn't specify a country.You left yourself once again open. If James has not the bottle to apologise for the Vichy comment and I'm capable of reading the intent, he doesn't need a fellow rugby league hater to act as his bodyguard.I have a close relative imprisoned for 3 1/2 years and I know the atrocities involving Vichy. So please don't lecture me Clip. I only bang on about Vichy when people carry on as though it never happened re sport ,and to respond to people who treat it as a ,mere blip.That mere blip practically killed off rl ATT. We get it, the guy has not the intestinal fortitude to respond or admit he hit a raw nerve.That's fine I'll keep it in mind. I've decided to remove myself from this thread,I'm sick of encouraging people such as yourself who want click bait for their anti rl egos.The whole exercise has been a waste of space.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Is it Clipper?.One person BD considered my comments a bit harsh. Trump fires out to everyone .I at least do research. I don't consider my responses to you or your tag team harsh, particularly when you come here with malice intent.No interest in rugby league whatsover, just a thread jacker. The fact you are still here offering nothing proves my point. You really have a problem with rugby league, it's embarrassing.
clipper
Guest
That's like saying all those against Trump are bullies - is that what you're trying to say?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Seeing you are into so called bullying Clip,have a chat with your mate, and ask why he suggested I had Vichy descendants.If that" aint' bullying,I don't know what is. The guy won't apologise ,lacking bottle.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Good to see you are contributing to the thread again clip. You can thank me.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Clipper can't stand bullying, LOL, yet he does that all the time with his constant derisive anti rl comments and misrepresentation at times of the facts.Your points are overwhelmingly derogative against the code.Pertinent is a funny description. And for your edification Clipper I have been involved in other rl threads where Big Daddy has posted ,and no conflict resulted.Contributions in other rl threads, something completely foreign to you. He at least offers valid points in rl debates,you don't period. You created your situation not I nor others who have responded to you.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
And I simply replied they don't.They don''t have their National side involved. It's not the criteria ,so once again you are whistling in the wind. I know he is a member of your tag team. Your last line is a lie"where not one player was actually born in the country they are representing" You have just confirmed exactly what we have been arguing about you.That last line is a complete misrepresentation of the facts, for which you are famous.
clipper
Guest
James made the claim that he thinks the AFL does it better, not whether it makes more money or not - if that was the criteria, the AFL would be 'better' than NRL, Rugby would be 'better' than league and Soccer would be 'better' than Rugby. I don't think any expat players are allowed to play in the international teams, James, although I could be wrong - which is a far cry from having a team where not one player was actually born in the country they're representing.
clipper
Guest
That was Big Daddy, Justin, who complained about being ripped into by CC, which I sympathised with, because, as I've stated, I can't stand bullying. I have spent much time responding to you, as you have to me, but if you look over this thread, I have made several pertinent points - of course all of which you will disagree with, as you're entitled to do.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
James Still awaiting your apology for calling my descendants Vichy. Or you prefer hiding behind the pack? I didn't realise they (AFL ) were getting major Tv organisations to broadcast the "Intnl cup.Nor just announced Accor hotel chain to become the official accomodation chain for the RLWC17. Or make a profit $5m plus per event. Or get State Govts to provide substantial monies to stage the events. Or involve teams with countries who have pro and semi pro clubs. Or staging ones in 2021 in England and one in Canada/USA in 2025. I didn't realise the international Cup attracted the crowds, media and Govt support.Well there you go ,I'm in awe.The RLIF must forthwith following that code's procedure.and leave out their own Australian team. Rugby league is more than happy to go with what they know and what is available ATM to them, despite ru tragics knowing better.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The Offsiders ia a national sports show ,supposedly covering all sports.It prides itself thus. The make up of the panel is overwhelmingly Vic AFL inclined people. The female production head Ms Tozer is an AFL fanatic. Any ADFL or rl show will naturally concentrate on teh respective sports. This same program ignored the G/F result between the Sharks and Storm,the following Sunday. This very same program ignored the Indigenous Team v the All stars the next day. Both games of significance. in the Australian sporting scheme. Your analogy is way off.
James
Guest
I think the AFL does it better. The International Cup has majority local players in it ( max 3 Aussies?) so the competition is closer and doesn't bring ridicule eg Scotland not playing in Scotland last 4 nations. There certainly have been one sided games in the RUWC but the RL has avoided this by "flag of convenience " eligibility and in the last World Cup making sure the strong sides didn't play against the weak in a bizarre group formulation. RL is designed to be closer because of its rules esp when Ben C is reffing...