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.
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.
NotToday
Roar Rookie
The leading countries and clubs should send their secondary teams to tour the Balkans, Turkey, Lebanon, Morocco and where ever the sport is slowly growing. When domestic teams play foreigners it always get attention in developing countries, but when the established countries are way too strong and destroying the local comp it doesn't benefit either side, it has to be competitive. Have one or two stars per team, then the rest should be junior or reserve players.
Harold
Guest
NRL is much tougher than RU and the RU stars have a few games off for international so they don't play them all
steve
Guest
This could be possible if NRL squads were bigger. If we look at the European Rugby season it looks like this; French Top 14 August to early June 26 rounds 3 finals rounds 6 European Cup rds 3 European Cup final rds 6 Nations November Tests June Tests So essentially the top clubs could play 29 club games, 9 Euro club games (38 games) and 11 tests, 49 games in 52 weeks so it is possible to fit it in.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Will never happen. NRL season finishes early October, pre season starts a month later, so unless we squeeze internationals into that month and give players no time off it's a pipe dream. I'd love to see more international games, but you would have to shorten the NRL season by at least a month, which wouldn't be such a bad thing, placing more importance on each game
dayer
Guest
only if the NRL season is cut down to 20 rounds but that wont happen because of loss revenue for the four rounds to be cut... i love the idea though
SR1
Roar Pro
Yeah might have to scale it down then.
Paul
Roar Guru
Isaac, if I'm a player the quality of a James Tedesco or Sam Burgess, my reaction to your article would have to be "you're kidding me". These are the guys that will play well over 20 games per season and now your asking them to stay fit and ready for how ever many Tests on top of that over the winter months in the northern hemisphere - every year. Player fitness is one factor but player mental health needs to be considered as well. An off season isn't only to get fit and ready to play again, its time to recharge the mental batteries. By all means, hold what ever tournaments with second tier Test nations and emerging Kangaroos, Kiwi's, etc as well, but having full on Test tournaments each year? Even soccer doesn't do that.
SR1
Roar Pro
Now you mention it, I would like to see this idea come to life. They just need one comp running in the off season.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
So I am probably in the minority of rugby league fans, but International rugby league has no interest to me and the games I watch, I invariably find uninspiring. But I understand the need to grow the game etc, but as you state it is hard to get competitive teams in the less established nations. So why not run shortened club style competitions - they way T20 leagues have sprouted up all over the world and allow players to go play in these tournaments for the opportunity to make more money. In somewhere like Canada it could mean you could have 8 teams with a quota on the number of foreign players from UK, Aus and NZ you can have, and it might give locals something to follow and get into on an annual basis with a local team that has a chance (unlike if they played another national team with players with limited talent and no names). I would much prefer to watch a league with an ultimate winner than one off internationals that mean nothing. The obvious obstacle is players being released to play, but maybe it becomes a bargaining chip for the NRL i.e Salary Cap is staying the same but clubs will be required to release players between Oct and Jan if they want to play o/s.