In the week of the Rugby League World Cup final, a friend pointed me in the direction of an interesting document.
It was the strategic plan of the Rugby League International Federation, compiled in 2015, but designed for implementation in the years 2018-2025.
I’ll resist the temptation to come off half-smart by trying to poke holes in what is essentially a well-meaning strategy.
These kinds of plans are always hard to orchestrate. Authors are encouraged to shoot for the stars when putting pen to paper, but best-case scenarios happen so rarely in real life.
Certainly, there’s a lot to get excited by – talk of eight-year representative calendars mapped in advance, the sport being played in more than 70 countries, development officers in every continent, and a global nines program that increasingly looks like coming to fruition.
Sure, I believe the strategy contains some oversights and areas where there has been little progress to date, but there was one section that really struck me as intriguing and worthy of public discussion.
On page 14, under the heading ‘The ten key initiatives for the RLIF through 2025′ there is clear and ambitious target set.
It says: “Target two additional G20 nations for development”.
Within that section the strategy suggests targeting nations with a good fit for rugby league, creating spectator and media interest, being proactive with development, and using special events to encourage expansion.
Where this gets interesting is in interpreting what it means by ‘two additional G20 nations’.
Only five G20 nations – Australia, the United Kingdom, the USA, Italy and France – took part in the current World Cup.
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
So let’s firmly draw a line through them and say they’ve already made the grade (although, gee France and the USA are a worry).
Of the other G20 nations there are several who took part in the 2017 qualification process but were unsuccessful – Canada, Germany, Russia and South Africa.
Of those remaining, we know Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Mexico and Turkey are already playing the sport and will be stronger in the future.
We also know there are players from China, Indonesia and India who play the game, but attempts to form lasting federations in those countries have been in vain.
That leaves Saudi Arabia and South Korea as the leftovers from the G20 group, with the inclusion of the European Union only adding further ambiguity to the statement.
Within the European Union are multiple countries where league is already present, but would no doubt welcome being given ‘special project’ status by the RLIF – countries like Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, the Czech Republic etc.
So where should the RLIF be aiming its crosshairs?
Should they be focusing on G20 countries which just missed out on the World Cup? Should they be aiming at the next level down where a guiding hand is even more needed?
Or should they be targeting nations which are essentially virgin territory?
If I put personal biases to one side and exclude the Latin American nations where I already see great potential, then I say India has to be one of these countries.
From being around emerging nations, I see a sleeping giant waiting to be awoken.
India already has some gifted players in social competitions around Australia and New Zealand, obviously has a huge population at 1.2 billion people, and has open trade and cultural ties to the UK and South Pacific to help it catch on.
What they’ve really lacked is those one or two administrators with the strength, passion and vision to direct the ship.
You’re possibly doubting Indians are physically up to the challenge, but trust me there are guys out there who are over six feet, close to 110kg and run like the wind.
Anybody who has watched the sport of kabaddi, which is hugely popular in India and has its own national league and TV deal, can see skills and physiques which could transfer.
“Like red rover played by overzealous wrestlers” is how one online article described it. Sound familiar?
So yep, I’m putting in one vote for India.
Selecting another G20 focal point worthy of the RLIF’s attention is more open to debate in my eyes, again excluding the Latin American countries I’m involved with.
(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
I’m tending towards South Africa, even though they were only a few steps away from 2017 World Cup qualification.
While Lebanon deserves all praises in its performances at the World Cup and undoubtedly deserved its place among the elite, their wins over South Africa in qualifying raise the eyebrows.
How does a country of six million beat a country of almost 60 million, while still not playing their best players – and do so to the tune of 40-12 and 50-16 when both games were held in South Africa?
As much as those statistics tell the gallant story of an emerging nation, they also tell the story of a dysfunctional behemoth that is performing well below its potential.
Of course the answer lies somewhere in the rift with rugby union, and the degree of opposition thrown in the faces of local pioneers.
Nobody does anything easily in South Africa and they are pushing the proverbial uphill, but you’d have to tend to think there is significant ground to be made with a concerted, funded approach.
Of the other nations in the G20, I see plenty who will still face challenges and need assistance, but where a dedicated RLIF project may not reap the same extent of rewards.
I’m interested in which countries you would nominate if the power was in your hands.
Lozza
Guest
Jamaica qualified for the World Cup my friend
cassowarrior
Guest
Did you not read my comment: "Rugby League on the other hand, has a handful of teams in both countries combined. Those teams (at least in Canada) apparently struggle to field the standard 13 players." Also, "Fastest growing" doesn't mean it's big. It just means that it has the most room for growth.
Terry Tavita
Guest
you do realize rugby is the fastest growing sport in the US right?..nice try trying to weasel that in but i seriously doubt rugby league is played in any college/uni/high school campus in the US..
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
RL has already taken off in Lebanon,well entrenched in schools clubs and unis.Sponsored,even to the extent of the Oz govt being involved. Appearances were made by local players prior to the RLWC on 4 lengthy TV features there with broadcasters OTV.LBC,New TV and Al Manar. LBC and MTVhave had reporters in situ following the campaign.The country's print media's provided extensive coverage of a sport it has become increasingly familiar with over the past 15 years.All the major radio stations have kept their listeners updated of the historic progress. The Lebanese PM Saad Hariri tweeted his congrats to the team after their defeat of the french Jamaica has made strides through clubs, schools & unis. Of all the new countries Serbia continues to grow faster and bigger depth than the other Eurropean countries. If it were up to me I'd be hitting the Ukraine which(rl) is growing year on year, with a decent size population, and none of the anti rl prejudices.Also believe Canada is one of potential. All these countries played qualifiers for entry to the RLWC.
cassowarrior
Guest
Not really. It's the same. The rugby teams on campuses in the US are at least equally obscure if not more so. It's just a few random guys turning up to try a sport that they're barely familiar with. Typically, teams don't even have coaches. It's usually more of a social club with some rugby on the side. It's the same in Canada, but at the high school level instead. Up until the mid 2000s, Rugby didn't seem to exist here. You would've struggled to find people who knew the name & that it's a sport. Even then, they wouldn't know how it's played or what the ball looked like. For example, my high school in Toronto had a rugby team started I think in 2007. They had no coach & literally learned by reading Wikipedia and watching lessons on Youtube. They ended up winning every game, albeit with a single digit number of opponents. Another thing worth noting is that the "club" sport system used in the British Isles/Antipodes isn't a thing in Canada & particularly the US. People don't play team sports at clubs and teams don't adhere to governing bodies. Recreational sports are usually played in independent leagues with teams not having their own headquarters. Rugby is actually played by clubs in accordance with it's governing bodies because it's minor and they stick to the sport's traditional culture. A major point of difference is that these rugby clubs don't consist of much beyond the 1 set of players. They'll have 15-22/23 members and in some cases, maybe a few extras. Rugby League on the other hand, has a handful of teams in both countries combined. Those teams (at least in Canada) apparently struggle to field the standard 13 players.
Gary Harvey
Guest
mikeT: you are correct, dying is way strong a word to use for rugby in South Africa.However it is in a bad way, relatively speaking. Its not just that the springboks are looking pretty ordinary. Crowds in the new PRO14 domestic comp are also very disappointing. I guess the reasons are complicated.
Max
Guest
Hahaha I have never heard of such rubbish AussieIrish!!!
terry tavita
Roar Rookie
i think rugby is a lot more visible in the US than obscure gridiron at college campuses in the UK..
terry tavita
Roar Rookie
i know you didn't say live..even if it was delayed coverage or replays, it could've been scheduled at another time that didn't coincide with live rugby union in the republic rather than bringing up the excuse of colored folk playing footy on the telly..sounds like bs to me..
Ken
Guest
Not sure if you're having a go yourself or just describing what you know of the 'typical' South African view but that idea of it being a watered down version of the 'real thing' is precisely what I'm describing. Of course they usually have the good grace to look a little sheepish when they admit they've never actually seen a game of RL and only the barest idea of how it's played but it doesn't change the fact that they aren't particularly open to the sport. Would be interesting to see someone sign a household name SA RU player to an NRL team as Birdy suggests. Could have a Jarryd Hayne type appeal to getting some eyeballs on the sport that wouldn't normally be there.
cassowarrior
Guest
The teams on college campuses are clubs. I think those teams may account for the majority of clubs. They have no NCAA recognition. TBH, even the biggest of those teams aren't any more serious/experienced/committed than the giridiron teams on UK University campuses.
Big Daddy
Guest
Robert, As much as your passion is for rugby league is in developing countries I find it difficult that there will be more elite nations in rugby league wether it be from G20 or Pacific islands. Take great Britain for example where Scotland,Wales,Ireland and England are traditionally strong in union but only England has a a real presence in league and that there are only 3 Scottish teams. Look at Pacific island teams which have developed strongly due to the presence of their player's nrl and in trust cup comps but still are on borderline. The NRL's no 1 priority should be getting Fiji into in trust cup. QRL have done it with PNG. Future world cups should be getting the 8 top teams to a competitive level and then have the next 8 play an emerging cup. At the moment the gap is far too great. Part of the problem is now super league is being run at same time as NRL which has virtually killed international football between Australia and England. Maybe tours of emerging countries by in trust cup teams to develop the game. Sending the top team would kill the concept.
Birdy
Guest
Terry trevita and comprehension are not a good mix. No mention of the RL games being telecast live from AussieIrish. You have failed your drama queen school yet again
AussieIrish
Guest
it was delayed broadcast
loosehead
Guest
So Fred states in his post that there are no established rugby teams in the countries he mentioned and I pointed out there was and this is a sad post for simply stating facts. Where exactly in anything I have said have I badmouth league. While you state Gary that rugby will never take off in Jamaica, Serbia and Lebanon the same can be said for League in those countries,it will be played a small group of dedicated followers for both codes. What irks me most about supporters of both codes is that while they point out that both sports are played in Turkey or Russia or Norway that some how these and other nations will be soon become part of the elite, this is quite simply bollocks. The hierarchy of both codes has been set in stone for nearly a hundred years and no amount of pie in the sky dreaming is going to change that.
mikeT
Guest
Gary what a complete load of turd... When league can draw a crowd outside of England, Auckland, png and Australia people might take you more seriously. If union is dying in SA then league is on life support in France, the UK and NZ.
Terry Tavita
Guest
there's a 9 hr difference between sydney and j-burg..pretty sure south africans don't play rugby at 4 o'clock in the morning..people here seem to just make up stuff..
Gary Harvey
Roar Rookie
Loosehead: there are not enough range rover driving, bow tie wearing and love to beat the servants from time to time type toffs in Jamaica, Serbia or Lebanon for rugby union to ever take off. Rugby union is dying in South Africa too.A perfect time for league to strike, though it would perhaps be better to target the 90 percent of that country's population who have always hated union with a passion, greater even than Australian rah-rah fans hatred of league, due to its odious relationship with apartheid.
Mike
Roar Rookie
This is from an EU standpoint - As one post already mentioned it comes down to money and also the influence of Union in that country. RLEF and RLIF are week organisations with no money. Its difficult to get grants or any funding in the EU. RLEF and RLIF wil not support bodies with any advice help or administration with grants. The IRB have a massive legal team who have in the past blocked RL funding applications citing Rugby already exists and its already funded in the EU, and League is some illegal impostor. This has happened in Hungary, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic and Greece from my personal knowledge. In many of the emerging European countries, it starts off great then really does not gather momentum due to lack of funding and union being more attractive prospect. The IRB have promoted well and funded a program based around the Olympics and taken many players from league in European competitions in the last 2 years.
Kavvy
Guest
I think you are spot on Also I think Looseheads first post trotting out the serbian and jamaican rah rah figures is one of the sadder posts I've ever read on The Roar