31 replies to this topic

[Wellsy4HullFC]

Why include French and Welsh etc? How many would get in?
Surely it would be best to just let them play each other and have MORE international rugby?

I honestly don't understand people's needs to make international RL have less teams!

[roughyedspud]

you do understand why a celtic tigers team would benefit wales,scotland & ireland though?

[Black Country Wire]

making celtic players eligible for the exiles won't help cos a) it does'nt fit in with the exile cos they are'nt bloody exiles

Well, neither are the Aussies and Kiwis by the strict definition of the word.

[Wellsy4HullFC]

you do understand why a celtic tigers team would benefit wales,scotland & ireland though?

I think at the present they wouldn't be much better than they currently are individually, but maybe in the future.

[roughyedspud]

Well, neither are the Aussies and Kiwis by the strict definition of the word.

the aussies are "exiled" from playing origin & for australia while playing in super league

stephan kearney said theres no point picking kiwi super league players mid season...hence they are "exiled"

and tongan,samoan,cook islanders & fijians just don't bloody play anyway

so "exiles" seems about right

[roughyedspud]

I think at the present they wouldn't be much better than they currently are individually, but maybe in the future.

but defo a better option than GB?


its better to leave england completely out of it....and if any "combination team" is to be formed it's better served being one just for wales,scotland & ireland?

[Viking Warrior]

glad you can see that....most don't!

i am a fan of promoting the game in wales. ireland and scotland, and if we had a combined celtic tigers team then it would be a great boost for the developmental process in those areas.

[JohnM]

I have a brilliant idea that no one has EVER though of.

why not have separate teams for Ireland, for Scotland and for Wales, one for France, one for England and..wait for it, this is the good bit..., have a series of games between these teams..wait..wait...on a regular and annual basis!!!

[Wellsy4HullFC]

Even better idea...

Why don't we separate Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland as well...

You know, since Ireland isn't a country either...

[Dave T]

I have a brilliant idea that no one has EVER though of.

why not have separate teams for Ireland, for Scotland and for Wales, one for France, one for England and..wait for it, this is the good bit..., have a series of games between these teams..wait..wait...on a regular and annual basis!!!

In principle I'm with you, however we've just had a series with the three best teams from these that completely failed to grab the attention of the Rugby League public.

The fact is that we do have teams for each of these, they do play games (nowhere near as many as I'd like) - it doesn't really affect the Exiles, in the same way that the Barbarians doesn't adversely affect any RU International team.

[JohnM]

I think there is a bigger issue , though about grabbing people's attention.. In the late 1980s and early 1990s there was some antipodean International momentum building up..increased crowds, increased competitiveness , some really decent pre-match entertainment, good summer weather even! Then came SuperLeague wars and the whole international programme seemed to fall apart for may years. It is really only in the last couple of years I think that there has really been any focus on Internationals again as people in the game realise that unless your game does not have a decent International dimension, its going to be dead in the water in this era of global coverage.

The next big thing is the World Cup and I think between now and then we need to see some more games between the existing northern hemisphere teams to prepare them for the big event. Then AFTER the WC we need to carry on where we left off. Stability is all, I think, for player, fans and media.
s

[Wellsy4HullFC]

In principle I'm with you, however we've just had a series with the three best teams from these that completely failed to grab the attention of the Rugby League public.

I thought the France/Wales game attracted the French public's attention. They aren't grabbing the attention much here, but neither are the Exiles to be fair. I don't think adding them to the Exiles will add anything at all, rather the opposite.