The Rugby League Thread

[Thomas Profile]

Greece beat Norway 56-26 they now join Scotland and Russia in their group.

[Canalina Profile]

Cook v South Africa live on line tomorrow
It's a World Cup qualifier, even if I don't understand how the match is collocated in the scheme above. Maybe the winner will duel with USA for a place at the World Cup? The presentation on RLIF website seems suggesting that it is a direct qualifier, but maybe it's just a penultimate step

[RugbySwizzie Profile]

It isn't a direct qualifier, the Cooks will have to play against the USA and the winner of this game will compete in the world cup.

[Canalina Profile]

Thanks Swizzie

Final score: Cook 66 S.Africa 6

[4N Profile]

I watched a few minutes of it. Complete mismatch. The CI backs were bigger than the SA forwards.

[Thomas Profile]

[4N Profile]

Hull FC player dislocates his knee, slaps it back into place, plays on.

[Canalina Profile]

A quick glance also to the far "redneck" cousin of rugby, the Australian Football.
A little swedish town hosted last weekend the European Championship, played with the reduced formula of nine players per team. Here you are the final standings; no Italy unfortunately

Women
1. Ireland
2. England
3. Germany
4. Sweden
5. France
6. Wales
7. Switzerland
8. Croatia

Men
1. England
2. Ireland
3. Germany
4. France
5. Sweden
6. Croatia
7. Wales
8. Netherlands
9. Scotland
10. Russia
11. Switzerland
12. Czech Republic
13. Israel
14. Finland
15. Austria
16. Poland

[FLIDTA RISXVA Profile Website]

NO Joja either, albeit
OZIRULZ GEORGIA was funded back in 2002
and even admitted into IAFC membership
by now defunct so-called "Darwin Group"

[Thomas Profile]

Spain v Ireland this could be a good affair. a trip maybe in order...

[FLIDTA RISXVA Profile Website]

THIS would be better -- I will be watching tomorrow, by this time

[4N Profile]

Me too. Who do you think will take it? Gotta think NSW at home.

[Thomas Profile]

NSW to clinch the series

[Canalina Profile]

Pacific Games in Apia (league 9s)

Men
Gold: Fiji
Silver: Papua Guinea
Bronze: Samoa

Women
Gold: Fiji
Silver: Papua Guinea
Bronze: Cook

http://www.samoa2019.ws/games/rugby-league-9s/#schedule

[Vova12 Profile]

USA Rugby League verse Russia 1994

[Thomas Profile]

Cool Shirt, National team jersey.

[Vova12 Profile]

An attempt to hold Russian rugby league championship.
Until 8August need 4 teams.

While 2 applications for participation. "Lokomotiv" Moscow and ... " Flying Dutchman" Sevastopol, Crimea ...

https://vk.com/topic-118981619_39938966

[Vova12 Profile]

This is Sevastopol State University.

[Vova12 Profile]

To date participation in championship has been confirmed by Lokomotiv (Moscow), Hurricane (Moscow), Gladiators (Lyubertsy), Flying Dutchman (Sevastopol), RK Vereya.

Russian Championship 2019 will take place!

[sammo Profile]

Spanish consortium approached RFL: http://www.rlnews.co.uk/reports-rfl-ack ... nish-club/

[Armchair Fan Profile]

Extremely surprising news. Valencia has been unable to build a professional union team in spite of almost 4,000 players, an extensive network of clubs and a regional union doing a great work. As good groundings as league has there I find it hard it's enough to compete in RFL system. Sounds like the pipedream of an expat with not so much knowledge of the local scene.

[Canadian_Rugger Profile]

Well, they did get 30k for Wigan vs Catalans at Nou Camp so maybe somebody thinks they can make a go of it.

[Blurandski Profile]

It's classic League.

See one positive sign and then launch a Hail Mary despite having done none of the groundwork (e.g. local teams etc).

[Canadian_Rugger Profile]

It's classic League.

See one positive sign and then launch a Hail Mary despite having done none of the groundwork (e.g. local teams etc).

I have to agree with you there. The funny thing I find about League fans in the UK is that most carry on about expansion and "growing the game" until someone actually does and its time to support it and pick up the tab. Toronto Wolfpack being the latest example of this.

I support the Wolfpack and like watching Rugby League but the amount of crap spewed about the organization from Rugby League fans in the UK is ridiculous. I actually question whether they even want expansion or not? I was shocked that people would be complaining about a foreign club, paying English players a good salary to play the game they all love and bringing the sport to new markets. All at no cost whatsoever to themselves, the RFL or their clubs. In fact, David Argyle, the owner has gone above and beyond to accommodate their requests/demands which change constantly.

The latest being "are we really going to let Toronto in to Super League if they win?" the yardstick has basically been moved every few months on what Toronto has to do to satisfy the RFL/Super League/Fans/Clubs etc.

It isn't even exclusive to Toronto either, they do the same to Catalans, Toulouse and London Broncos. Which funnily enough, Catalans have the highest attendance of any regular season game ever played in Super League. It will be the same if/when New York and Ottawa join the league. They have rich backers willing to throw money at the sport and they scoff at it.

[Blurandski Profile]

It's classic League.

See one positive sign and then launch a Hail Mary despite having done none of the groundwork (e.g. local teams etc).

I have to agree with you there. The funny thing I find about League fans in the UK is that most carry on about expansion and "growing the game" until someone actually does and its time to support it and pick up the tab. Toronto Wolfpack being the latest example of this.

I support the Wolfpack and like watching Rugby League but the amount of crap spewed about the organization from Rugby League fans in the UK is ridiculous. I actually question whether they even want expansion or not? I was shocked that people would be complaining about a foreign club, paying English players a good salary to play the game they all love and bringing the sport to new markets. All at no cost whatsoever to themselves, the RFL or their clubs. In fact, David Argyle, the owner has gone above and beyond to accommodate their requests/demands which change constantly.

The latest being "are we really going to let Toronto in to Super League if they win?" the yardstick has basically been moved every few months on what Toronto has to do to satisfy the RFL/Super League/Fans/Clubs etc.

It isn't even exclusive to Toronto either, they do the same to Catalans, Toulouse and London Broncos. Which funnily enough, Catalans have the highest attendance of any regular season game ever played in Super League. It will be the same if/when New York and Ottawa join the league. They have rich backers willing to throw money at the sport and they scoff at it.

I've been following it from a distance and it's mental. So much opposition to a free extra team, while the English-based revenue continues to dwindle. Seeing (as you note) the opposition to London it makes me want to scream. So many northerners bag them for their crowds, and want them to move to a bigger stadium, despite getting small but decent crowds at the stadium they're already at.

It'll be interesting to see how the posts continue to move and whether a tv deal reduction in 2021 will cause the tough decisions that need to be made get made.

On a more personal level, I'll continue to watch some League on TV, but the attitude of the fans puts me off live events, I've been to a few CCFs and both times a northerner was unbearably patronising about Rugby, or the history.