USA Omission

[deluded pom?]

Just had a look at the RLEF website and although the USA are listed as an affiliate member for some reason they don't appear in the RLEF's official rankings list.

[sjrugby]

 I'm a bit upset, aside from the WCQ matches and leeds there really hasn't been much from USARL. I was hoping we would see at lest a few matches set for this year for the HAWKS to play in. why not travel to the islands and play Samoa or Tonga even if its developmental sides. and whats with the lack of Pioneer news. weren't they assembled to be a develpemntal side for the NT. USARL needs to get some better PR people. League will never take off with them lacking so much, fans and converts like me want to see more league games in America and want to hear more news but theres hardly any news coming out. why not set up a match on the west coast to attract new fans to the code.

[Wilber]

I'm currently in talks with the USA to get a game or two over there in August for the NWML. Ill keep you posted but they have mentioned down south, as yet i don't know where that is but we are prepared to go anywhere

[deluded pom?]

Down south will be Florida but RL teams are from the north of Florida (Jax) to the south (Tampa).

[Bob8]

 I'm a bit upset, aside from the WCQ matches and leeds there really hasn't been much from USARL. I was hoping we would see at lest a few matches set for this year for the HAWKS to play in. why not travel to the islands and play Samoa or Tonga even if its developmental sides. and whats with the lack of Pioneer news. weren't they assembled to be a develpemntal side for the NT. USARL needs to get some better PR people. League will never take off with them lacking so much, fans and converts like me want to see more league games in America and want to hear more news but theres hardly any news coming out. why not set up a match on the west coast to attract new fans to the code.

Internationals are not that important to international rugby league.  They take up a lot of time and effort, for what will affect only a handful of players anyway.  Creating big teams in specific cities with specific communities is more important.  There are still some places in the world where throwing an international will cause a stir (my Bavarian friend called it the Phil Collins effect, that everyone in Franconia would sneer at Phil Collins, but by tickets when he toured there as there was so rarely a major event).  The US is not generally like that and nor is most of Western Europe.

 

At the moment, the USARL is run by a fairly small number of people.  If they organise and go to a tour of the Tonga, it will be a great experience for a couple of dozen Americans, but not grow the game there.

[Lounge Room Lizard]

Internationals are fine, but it does little to grow the game and as somebody mentioned, cost a lot of time, money and hassle to organize-home or away! I would rather see domestic comps being built and run first. Internationals maybe create interest briefly in an area, but you then need to work off that. For the USA its difficult and expensive for most League playing Nations to get there and play. Its sadly not worth it in most cases for the touring Nation to spend tens of thousands on a Tour of the USA/Canada. The same goes for the USA/Canada doing a Tour. The game growing domestically, on a stable foundation is the way and maybe look to get a couple of players to Australia/Europe to improve. 

[brooza]

I believe the Colonial Cup will be played with Canada this year over 2 matches