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International rugby league should roar in the off-season

Roar Pro
15th January, 2019
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Roar Pro
15th January, 2019
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Besides a few friendlies and New Zealand’s three-match tour of England, nothing much has happened in the great game of rugby league since NRL grand final day.

Football internationals are played very commonly, but it hardly happens in rugby league – so there needs to be more international action (and something positive to talk about) to enhance worldwide viewership and interest in the game.

These games would be played in the off-season and mid-season, with a different schedule based on duration until the next World Cup.

When there’s three years until the global tournament, each member country would play in two series (two home, two away) with one each in the post-season and pre-season either side of the Christmas break. The others would be played in the mid-season international break.

With one and two years out, all member countries would partake in qualification for the World Cup – regardless of their finish at the last tournament. Games would again be played mid-season, post-season and off-season, as outlined above.

I made the choice to base all international fixtures on the duration until the next World Cup because currently, players would rather win a premiership. This would also allow for more money to be gained worldwide from broadcast deals (and something for the networks to show other than replays).

Presently, the US play hardly any games at all (with the exception of World Cup qualification) and they’re hosting the World Cup in six years. On top of that, they don’t even have a truly professional competition. In fact, only Australia, New Zealand, France, Canada, and England have true professionalism – and three of them have one team only.

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International growth will allow for an increase in domestic strength and growth in countries like the US, who aren’t really into their rugby league just yet.

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