2019 was a watershed year for international rugby league, with more coverage than ever before.
The Papua New Guinea Orchids registered their first ever international win, defeating England, the teams for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup were decided, and there was an international nines tournament in Sydney featuring teams from all across the globe.
Then, of course, there was that moment in November when Tonga beat the reigning world champions, Australia.
For many of us who love international rugby league, this victory was a moment to remember.
As a proud Australian, I love to see our teams succeed on the world stage, but the Kangaroos have been too dominant for too long. For the international game to grow, the Aussies need strong opposition and Tonga have shown they are up for the challenge.
Jason Taumalolo for Tonga (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
The most positive part of this wave of success is that the momentum has continued into 2020.
Many claim that the Rugby League World Cup is simply a poor cousin to much larger international sporting events like the FIFA and Rugby World Cups (both male and female). But the 2021 edition, which will be played in the United Kingdom, received a major boost last month with Prince Harry announcing the draw from Buckingham Palace.
I don’t care about your politics or your position on #Megxit – this meant global publicity for our game. Given the media attention that follows Harry wherever he goes, people across the world were watching the announcement and talking about rugby league.
No doubt the organising committee will look to harness that attention as the build-up continues.
Super League also started last week and I have never seen more interest in this competition from Aussies than this year. No doubt this is the result of some high-profile signings over the off-season.
The first was the Toronto Wolfpack landing Sonny Bill Williams on a two-year deal reportedly worth $10 million dollars. This is the club’s first season in the Super League after being promoted and this signing has meant interest in the Canadian franchise is at an all-time high.
While many criticised his performance against Castleford on the weekend, over 19,000 people attended the fixture – significantly more than any other game. I’m guessing that was partly due to Williams.
After the match, he took countless photos with fans; the Leeds Rhinos women’s team even took the opportunity to get a snap with the superstar.
For Toronto, the Williams signing is an investment and it will no doubt ensure plenty of eyes on the club.
The other high-profile signing was Israel Folau, for the Catalans Dragons.
I’m not interested in having a conversation about Folau and his politics, but in this case the saying is true – there is no such thing as bad publicity.
The signing generated plenty of conversation and even a cheeky slap from the Wigan Warriors, who made their politics known when they announced their home game against the Dragons will be themed as a pride game.
Williams and Folau are both international superstars and have had an immediate impact. The Wolfpack are featuring in nightly news segments back in Canada.
This would not have happened a year ago.
Aussie interest in the Super League has also been boosted as a result of the Canberra Raiders’ success, with English players including Elliott Whitehead and John Bateman leading people to be more interested in the teams they have come from.
Additionally, there are several Aussies (as always) making an impact in the Super League, such as Bevan French and Aidan Sezer.
Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
The transfer of players has never been easier either. Just this week it was announced by the Canterbury Bulldogs that St Helens prop Luke Thompson would join the squad from 2021.
This is also happening in the women’s game.
The 2019 Woman of Steel, Courtney Hill from Leeds, will play for the Sydney Roosters in the upcoming Nines tournament, and Charlotte Booth has recently moved to Australia and will be pushing to feature in the 2020 women’s premiership.
The women’s game has been a source of continued growth for rugby league in the last couple of years. Now the opportunity that exists in the international game is also being realised.
jimmystagger
Roar Rookie
I call it "ice hockey" when I'm on forums in another country. I was born here, I went to a hockey school (Northeastern) and I've been going to Bruins games for 30 years.
jimmystagger
Roar Rookie
Hockey wasn't played or followed in the southern and southwestern United States at any level before the NHL expanded to places like Arizona, San Jose, Tampa Bay, Nashville, and Miami in the 1990s. Those teams were overwhelmingly, almost entirely, Canadian players. Now they're entrenched in their communities, people have picked up hockey, and a kid from Arizona (Auston Matthews) is a star on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Raptors came to Toronto in the 90s when basketball was barely on the radar up there, and with 100% American players. Now the Raptors are a staple and basketball is big.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Firstly, I responded about WA. so yes RL is bigger than gaelic football in WA. Secondly I wouldn’t have a clue about gaelic football around the world so I wouldn’t know to compare. I know it has a big presence outside the Ireland in the US but apart from that can you provide some info than just a sweeping statement? Actually I just read from a govt source https://www.dfa.ie/global-irish/sport-and-culture/gaa/ ” there are over 400 GAA clubs outside the island of Ireland” (2017) PNG has nearly 300 alone for RL so I wonder?
Meatpy Sausageraul
Roar Rookie
Never listened, Mary. Thanks for the nudge, I’ll give it a go! :thumbup:
Daz
Guest
This was an article about international rugby league. But its turned into a forum about toronto Wolfpack. Seems like therefore that they must be doing sometging right!
Daz
Guest
@jimmystagget I accept you're from boston, but an expat, right? Otherwise you'd have mentioned hockey, and not referred to it as ice hockey
In brief
Guest
I think you missed the point. I assume the sports you refer to are actually played in the region they represent which is the key issue isn’t it? I mean if you dropped an Aussie Rules team in Boston I doubt it would have the same relevance as the Bruins. By way of example the EPL teams are made up of foreign players but football is entrenched in the local culture.
Big Daddy
Guest
Tim, would really like to see League take off in South Africa. Surely there's a lot of talented guys playing Union that could transfer over. Only trouble is the French and United Kingdom comps snaffle them up quickly. Also because there's a lot of big guys playing NFL that could cross codes but there needs to be some sort of incentive for them. Wolfpack is their only Avenue but they seem to be preferring ex NRL and superleague players.
Big Daddy
Guest
Isn't he just " Harry " now.
Yuri
Guest
No Cathar, Gaelic football has far more presence around the world than Rugby League. :sick:
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
A simple basic search will tell you there are more than 11 rugby league clubs in WA https://nrlwa.com.au/nrl-wa-clubs/ Plus RL is in the WA school system both at primary & secondary level. Both areas are growing for RL. Gaelic hasn't got a school presence going by WA School Sport, so I would say RL is way bigger than Gaelic in WA. https://www.schoolsportwa.com.au/
David
Guest
Carbs (chasing kangaroos) doesn't have an idea what the goings on with inside the "nations". He says what he wants everyone else to hear and believe. The only ones that write in and ask him questions are the 6 people he has interviewed on the podcast that strangely enough have podcasts of their own and he joins them on theirs. The 3 US players (all Aussies) on the "Any Given Monday" podcast says it how it really is even though they are on the coalface and don't sugarcoat international Rugby League. It's a fantastic podcast I recommend to everyone
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Gaelic football is a threat to Australian football as it is played on a rectangular field and could be played world wide whereas Australian football can only spread to India and their neighbours and the West Indies and South Africa. South Africa might work and could one day become World Australian football champs. I thought Rugby wasn't doing that well in Australia although it's a good social game. The Shute Shield doesn't get very good crowds and our Super Rugby teams always lose to the NZ teams.
Greg
Roar Pro
Noted you mentioned other things, such as the rise of Tonga and the women's game, Australian interest in the Super League and Prince Harry having made the announcements for the World Cup. I already commented on a couple of them. But, to me they are actually lesser examples of having turned the corner. Australian rugby league fans may be taking notice of the English competition for the first time in a long time. But these people are already fans of rugby league in the country where the game is at its strongest. In the context of the sport as a whole these are not new fans in new markets. I think claims of media interest in Prince Harry creating discussions around Rugby League is fanciful. I can not fathom that people would be talking rugby league just because Prince Harry was involved. If by some chance they were, would they remember their conversations next year when the World cup is actually on? Would this sudden additional interest in the tournament now be reflected in attendance and viewership next year? I can appreciate that the increasing popularity in women's rugby league leads to growth of the game with increased viewership and participation by females. But I don't believe it is genuinely taking the game to new, traditionally non-league markets. The improvement of the orchids is a prime example of this. Yes the women's game has grown there but Papua New Guinea as an has always played rugby league. I'll believe the game has dispersed into Brazil, Canada and Greece when I see it. Just because these teams are in the World Cup does not mean they have created a foothold in their respective countries. We will likely see some very one sided contests reflecting this. I understand these countries have to start somewhere, and theoretically this could be the launching pad for the rise of Rugby League in their countries. But it wont be. They need someone to fund the growth of the sport. They need that to result in competitions established and junior participation. Then finally development pathways for those juniors to turn professional. If Toronto can be successful and if someone funds junior development there, league could take over union there as a niche sport. Then just maybe grow throughout Canada and rival the Canadian Football League. But there are too many unlikely ifs to believe this could happen. And if it were to, as I said initially, it is still a long way off. I enjoy your optimism and I'd truly love to be wrong about this. I will continue to be entertained by international rugby league as it exists currently. I'll be watching both the women's and men's world cups. I just don't think many Brazilians will ever be doing the same.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Sorry David, how is it propaganda? It's literally a guy interested in promoting the international game in his spare time.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
But it has certainly put the Wolfpack on the map in Toronto. In my view, that's a pretty good start.
Jimmy
Roar Guru
If you look at League compared to Union on an International scale of course it is going to look minuscule, and that doesn’t seem to be what the article is about, it’s about the recent growth of International Rugby League in recent times which is at least noteworthy. Compare the game to where it was 10 years ago there is some tremendous green shoots and talking points.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
A follower on Twitter doesn't necessarily imply a deep commitment to the game.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Yes Rugby is played all around the world and SBW may be a legend all over the world, like he is in South Sydney, but that doesn't guarantee any media interest in Rugby League apart from the traditional League territories.
Tripod
Guest
Gaelic football is booming in Australia with 56 clubs around Australia with 11clubs in WA is the same amount as rugby league clubs in the west Do we hear about it know about it how long before it gets some wide spread media coverage International league has the same battle I can’t see it ever in our children’s life time being be much more then beach heads for expats in a transit international work place Rugby has reportable $400m to spend on international development in the next 4 yrs from the profits from the Japan World Cup and France has promised $620m for being granting the next host in2023 over $1B to spend in the next 8 yrs compared to a Australian mining magnate who may or may not keep funding the Wolfpack