10 replies to this topic

[audois]

Just thinking that with the expected arrival of the NCL league in 2012 how that will affect for example the Home Nations comp. Won't that be lifted appreciably. May be lots of lads in northern clubs putting their hands up for the Celtic nations too as well as the Lionhearts.

[Northern Sol]

I'm not sure that the BARLA brigade were ever that bothered about playing for the Lionhearts as there are other representative opportunities such as BARLA tours to exotic locales. There are currently loads of BARLA players eligible for the Lionhearts via playing for teams such as Bramley or Warrington but I don't think very many have ever done so.

[jonnyg28]

I'm not sure that the BARLA brigade were ever that bothered about playing for the Lionhearts as there are other representative opportunities such as BARLA tours to exotic locales. There are currently loads of BARLA players eligible for the Lionhearts via playing for teams such as Bramley or Warrington but I don't think very many have ever done so.

Lionhearts have never really picked lads from the Conference National for some reason

[fatboystu]

As of 2012 surely the NCL will be under the RFL and as such will eligible for the lionhearts etc, the players that stay playing in winter under BARLA will be eligible for erm BARLA :0S and the county teams?

[Marauder]

As of 2012 surely the NCL will be under the RFL and as such will eligible for the lionhearts etc, the players that stay playing in winter under BARLA will be eligible for erm BARLA :0S and the county teams?

I'm sure there has been at lease one Lionhearts player who was not even registarded with any RLC Team.

[Pottsy]

I'm sure there has been at lease one Lionhearts player who was not even registarded with any RLC Team.

They need a good think about this. Lion hearts has been a bit of fuzzy mix for ages and I don't think anyone really knows who or what they're supposed to represent. Moreover, the NCL lads would dominate an amateur England side.

I'd probably go for a two-tier approach. Basically:

1) England Lionhearts would be firmly designated as an 'Emerging Counties' side and would only compete in the amateur home nations (a full amateur England would run riot)
2) England Community Knights would be the full England squad and open to all community players. Trials could perhaps take place between Lancs, Yorks, Cumbria and Emerging Counties.

Above that, you could even throw in the Welsh, Scottish, andUlster lads for GB Community Lions tours.

[Marauder]

They need a good think about this. Lion hearts has been a bit of fuzzy mix for ages and I don't think anyone really knows who or what they're supposed to represent. Moreover, the NCL lads would dominate an amateur England side.

I'd probably go for a two-tier approach. Basically:

1) England Lionhearts would be firmly designated as an 'Emerging Counties' side and would only compete in the amateur home nations (a full amateur England would run riot)
2) England Community Knights would be the full England squad and open to all community players. Trials could perhaps take place between Lancs, Yorks, Cumbria and Emerging Counties.

Above that, you could even throw in the Welsh, Scottish, BARLA andUlster lads for GB Community Lions tours.

Just added BARLA (Politics)

[tim2]

Just added BARLA (Politics)

I think BARLA were covered in item 2 - "all community players".

[RobL]

and be at teh end of the season or in gap weekends please.

[Pottsy]

and be at teh end of the season or in gap weekends please.

If the selection procedures are fair, robust and transparent, there'll be no need for gap weeks as no one club is likely to lose more than the odd player or two.

[RobL]

If the selection procedures are fair, robust and transparent, there'll be no need for gap weeks as no one club is likely to lose more than the odd player or two.

Yes, my mistake, to be honest though we only had one out last year but 4 or 5 for teh regional stuff and the regional stuff takes a large number out from a lot of clubs for a few weeks as you are asking them to train and play during the season too and anyway I just think it should be the end, it puts more value on it, lengthens our season with something more to build up to and if the players would rather be off doing something else then they arent ours anyway, it should be representative of where we are at. I dont know why i say this all the time as I do seem to be the only one thinking like this but when i cant get a team out at some point because they are saving themselves for rep games or are injured because of them we can come back to it. I dont give my opinnion very often nowadays unless its something i feel fairly strongly about it, dont expect anyone to do anything about it, a bit like the nontent of our leagues up here this year too, different story though.