12 replies to this topic

[Anita Bath]

Even before the schedule has been announced the plans have to change as Whitehaven is announced and then dumped as a host.

Do these clowns know what due diligence means? (Bradford Bulls, Timbucktoo Crusaders, London,Fulham.Harlequins,suggests not)

Rugby League - professional sport run by amateurs.

[ornit4ever]

Its a bit unfair to blame the RFL for 'dumping' Whitehaven as a venue for the world cup. It would have been a great venue playing a world cup game in a new stadium in Cumbria, but Copeland council cannot guarantee that the stadium would be ready in time. At least they have endeavoured to give a fixture to the Cumbrian rugby league public.

[Pugwash]

The RFL should have ensured that all venues were available before granting them the honour of holding a tie. Copeland council must now try to hold their heads up when voting takes place and all Cumbrian fans can vote for other parties, and I know not which is in control, in May.

I do think anita has a valid point about the amateurs though, the fiasco with the sponsorship of Super League is another reason those bozos should hang their heads in shame.

Pugwash.

[ornit4ever]

I still believe that the RFL was correct in naming Whitehaven as a venue, all avenues had to be investigated and a new stadium in the heart of Cumbria would have looked good to the rest of the world, on TV. Perhaps, due to the present economic climate, Copeland council could not fully commit to the project. Either way the RFL have got plenty of time to find an alternative venue and its still a bad loss to the world cup schedule.

[Anita Bath]

Due diligence would have made sure their were no uncertainties about the venue being constructed and available.

Funny how South Africa can organise succesful rugby cricket and football world cups without such cock-ups but the RFL run into third world problems (stadia not ready!)

I am all for RL in Cumbria being supported and if the RFL had paid a little more attention to Cumbria over time (and less to London, Wales, various bits of France, the midlands and God knows where else) there might already have been a stadium there worth hosting a world cup game.

Strange how they can use their funds to buy a stadium in Bradford but not help construct one for a world cup in Whitehaven. But as we know they wanted to offload all risk onto bidding locations - and now they have been left with egg on their face.

[Jeffles]

To be fair to the RFL, they did perform due diligence. Unfortunately, things have changed since with disputes arising between the parties. The ground could still be built on time but there is no guarantee. With that in mind, they announced the change 18 months out - before tickets have gone on sale! I think that's bloody commendable of them. No flights, tickets, buses, trains or hotels to cancel. The RFL get criticised a lot but they've done the best anybody could haein this bad situation. Fiasco? Hardly.

[Anita Bath]

To be fair to the RFL, they did perform due diligence. Unfortunately, things have changed since with disputes arising between the parties. The ground could still be built on time but there is no guarantee. With that in mind, they announced the change 18 months out - before tickets have gone on sale! I think that's bloody commendable of them. No flights, tickets, buses, trains or hotels to cancel. The RFL get criticised a lot but they've done the best anybody could haein this bad situation. Fiasco? Hardly.

Thats a strange interpretation of due diligence!

[Jeffles]

Well, no. Due diligence exists up to a point. You need to balance the requirements to make proper investigations with the benefits of making an early announcement. At the time the RLWC made the announcement, it's reasonable to say they did their due diligence. It's just that things went wrong after that point with the access road etc. RLWC weren't expected to know negotiations would have collapsed. They're not clairvoyants.

If RLWC chose to announce venues at the end of the year, Whitehaven would be off the list because of the due diligence they would have done up to that point. But then, people would whinge and moan about how they were announcing the venues too late etc etc.

[Anita Bath]

Well, no. Due diligence exists up to a point. You need to balance the requirements to make proper investigations with the benefits of making an early announcement. At the time the RLWC made the announcement, it's reasonable to say they did their due diligence. It's just that things went wrong after that point with the access road etc. RLWC weren't expected to know negotiations would have collapsed. They're not clairvoyants.

If RLWC chose to announce venues at the end of the year, Whitehaven would be off the list because of the due diligence they would have done up to that point. But then, people would whinge and moan about how they were announcing the venues too late etc etc.

They announced a confirmed venue that didn't exist at the time of the announcement and that they had no control over whether it would exist or not. So they took on a risk they needn't have done (by not announcing ficticious venues). They coulkd have acknowledged this uncertainty by saying these games were provisionally arranged for Whitehaven on condition that the new ground was confirmed and various contracts signed by a specifi date, and in the event that they were not then these games would be held at an identified alternate venue.

Hovwever you try to defend the RFL world cup organisers they look silly being left at this stage with games without a venue (including semis and finals) and matches without dates.

[popeyeDOYLE]

The RFL should have asked the people of Whitehaven's opinion on this proposed half a stadium in the first place if you ask me. We all know in this part of the world that Copeland Council are probably the most incompetent in the land. This whole fiasco has been going on for 10 years and yet we still have to see a brick being layed.A very sad and embarrasing day when the announcement was made. But it certainly came as no surprise to us in West Cumbria.

[ornit4ever]

So the RFL did, at least, try to stage a world cup fixture in West Cumbria which they should be commended for but it will not happen now.
Sadly, you do not have a stadium fit to stage such a prestigous game so we cant really blame the RFL totally.

[Anita Bath]

Another mind blowing interpretation of due diligence!

Perhaps they are 'trying to stage' the final on Mars! At least they haven't announced it yet - perhap[s they are checking out stadium arrangements there first before allocating the game there.

RFL = Right F***ing Losers

[Anita Bath]

So the final will be at Old trafford but holding both semis at Wembley????

Plenty of large stadia up North that could acommodate whatever they expect to get down south.

How many people down south give a toss about this event? When will this bloody mindeness stop?