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Thought I’d dedicate some time to giving a comprehensive overview of the international down in Neath last night. There’s nothing better than being there, which I was lucky enough to do. For some it’s near impossible and we feed off scraps from social media to follow the sport, so here’s my tuppence worth… - Left work in Cardiff at 5PM and got to Neath at around 6PM. One of the great things about Neath’s ground, the Gnoll, is it’s town centre location with a multi-storey car park just over the road - £4 for all day parking isn’t to be sniffed at. Parked up easily and took the short 2 minute walk to the ground. It’s nice to be in way before kick off, it gives a chance to look around - I’ve not been here since 2013, catch up with people and find a decent vantage point for the game. The ground is old, historic, a little worn but still presentable and comfortable. In terms of layout it’s a bit like Salford - main stand, smaller basic sitted stand opposite, popular terrace behind one goal. A quick chat with John Kear, he was impressed by the old-fashioned ground, calling it a proper rugby ground where it only takes a few voices to make an atmosphere - he was critical of a few newer grounds calling them soulless bowls. He was happy with Wales’ preparation and said the boys were in good shape despite missing a dozen regulars. JK was positive about giving youth a shot. Bailey Antrobus came across to say hello, many years back I made initial contact with Bailey to get him registered for Wales, we’ve stayed in contact since - a very good kid who represents our sport well. To say he was buzzing was an understatement, he simply loves turning up for Wales. A shame to see him hobble off only 10 minutes into the game. Ashton Golding was on the sidelines for Jamaica, positive and energetic in everything he did, again you could see he loved being there and representing/giving back despite his injury. On 2 or 3 occasions he interacted with kids in the ground: comparing trainers, passing them a ball, even a TikTok dance at one point. An asset to our sport is Ashton, he really stood at as a good-pro giving something back. Hospitality upstairs in the clubs house had sold out and there were whispers of 800+ tickets being sold on pre-sale for the game - a good sign and one that was matched by a ground filling up fast upto kick off. Two very proud anthems followed some live music from a local singer pitchside. There was a fascination about the Jamaica team from locals, many questions on who they were, how they got here and why the looked so ‘big and strong’ - I think many were expecting local amateurs. The game itself was sloppy and full of errors, the conditions playing a big part in this. Wales overplayed their hand and failed to complete any of their first 5 sets, Jamaica capitalised appropriately. Rush and Jones-Bishop standing out with an element of organisation, shape and class whilst their pack bust a gut to get ahead. Wales must have had a rocket up them second half as they looked a different proposition, more patient and more cunning around the ruck. Sniping out tired markers and A defenders, Jamaica’s first half onslaught was unsustainable. Both teams suffered casualties, Jamaica finishing the game without any fit and healthy interchange options. Wales’ pack was able to rotate regularly and get a consistent roll on. Gil Dudson, despite a pocketful of boos in the crowd for his questionable commitment to Wales over the years, was MOTM and deservedly so - he was everywhere and led a young pack very well. A fitting farewell to his international career it seems. The crowd, though in acknowledgment of the poor conditions contributing to a less than flashy style of rugby league appreciated the physicality, which was definitely there in a abundance. A sizeable Jamaican support was evident, a handful of flags dotted around and a cluster of Jamaican supporters in the main stand brough boyh voice and passion. Fin Yates’ on debut for Wales had around 20 of his family, he’s a Merthyr Tydfil boy originally and a product of the Cavaliers club in the Cynon Valley. His family couldn’t look or sound more proud - the merits of international rugby league! A chap (Adrian) sat behind me, a Neath local and Rugby union supporter saw the game advertised locally, and stopped me at half time to find out more about the players, the occasion and the sport itself. He said he popped along to the recent grand finals day and was impressed by the standard of kids playing at U14s and U16s. Neath is a good base and it seems already there are some, like Adrian, who are coming back to RL events held there - this is a definite pro to having a sole base for Wales Rugby League, routines, consistencies and habits get built. Lots of Wales RU, Scarlets RU and Ospreys RU kit in the crowd. A few Warrington and Leeds Rugby League bits also. A very prominent representation of local RL clubs too, especially among kids: Swansea Rams, Aberavon Fighting Irish and South Wales Saints especially. Crowd given at around 1,500 but I suspected a few more, as did Adrian, who is a regular to the ground and has seen all sorts of crowds in there. I’d hazard 150 or so we’re missed off the gate through early entrance or the laced hospitality admission checks.

Just a quick Hello from a new forum user As stated in the title I have recently converted to the world of Rugby League and I'm absolutely loving it. Growing up as a kid in North Manchester rugby was never something me or group of friends ever entertained, I was once roped in to playing a match for my secondary school team as they were short of players and I was quite a stocky lad. I reluctantly agreed and it was very much a baptism of fire I had no idea of the rules so I had to learn on the job as it were and finished the game full of bruises and mud and that is a far as I ever thought I would go with the sport.. Fast forward 20 plus years I have now moved,settled and have had children in Oldham and the local side The Roughyeds have gained alot of interest locally due to thier take over, ground share with Oldham Athletic and successful season in league 1. My son who is at the same age as I was when I decided that Rugby wasn't for me it's doing quite well at school for their Rugby Team and has a keen interest in the sport and we both now regularly attended the Roughyeds home games and can't wait for the new season start. I even managed to convince the Mrs to come with me to England Samoa last weekend at Headlingley and she loved it aswell. Looking forward to continuing my, my son's and hopefully my mrs and daughters journey in the world of Rugby League

A tribute to Bill; I first met Bill in person when he was out in Perpignan some 15+ years ago. I was with my mate, both of us sporting our Brentwood Eels t-shirts, a club we had built from a standing start. There was a photo opportunity on the pitch with the Sky Sports crew, and Bill invited us, strangers, across for a picture. He was keen to know where we were from, and why we were in France. We explained our passion for expansion, and our mutual love for what the Dragons were doing too. He thanked us for what we were doing in Essex, and wished us well. I thought that would be the end of it. Following a work-move to Nottinghamshire in 2011, I wandered into the local pub for a pint. I was probably one pint too deep, but could have sworn that in the corner, was Bill Arthur. 'It can't be', I thought to myself. 'Why on earth would Bill be in this pub?'. I went home and told my wife. She thought is was probably more than a pint too deep! Time passed, once or twice more, the same happened and I eventually plucked up the courage to introduce myself. It transpires that I needed no courage at all. It was Bill and he was a delight to talk to. From there, our friendship grew, and our mutual love of rugby league was the driver for this. I remember telling him that I was starting up a rugby league team (Bassetlaw Bulldogs) in our locality. He thought I was mad, but was so warm and encouraging of what I wanted to achieve. In the early days of the club, he was pivotal in our development, but such was the man he was, he would never have once taken any credit for it. Let me explain. One bitterly cold night in Wakefield, the Bulldogs were 'born', as a gaggle of young players took to the pitch as mascots and flag wavers at a Super League game which Bill was heading up in the commentary box. A few days before, he had given me the heads-up and we quickly arranged for a shout out on the Sky Sports commentary. Bill duly obliged, emphatically. The weekend after, with his own kids in tow, he was down at the ground ready to help out in any way he could. This would continue, often with Bill getting back late from his commentary gigs the night before, yet still hauling himself out of bed to help around the club. As time went on, Bill joined the club committee and continued to give the Bulldogs fantastic airtime in his commentaries. It became a bit of an in-joke with his commentary team, as the mentions were getting frequent. At one stage, I dropped a bit of a hint to Bill that he was indeed allowed to name drop other clubs from time to time! Bill was always willing to come to our end of season awards ceremonies. Sometimes he would compere for us, other times, he was just happy to come and help us set up, lending us some gear to make the audio/visual element look the business! During the covid years, we couldn't meet as a club to celebrate the season, so we did an online programme and screened it on YouTube. Bill was kind enough to put on his professional voice and do a voice-over of some season footage for the kids. Bill was hugely generous with his time and often invited club members behind the scenes at the Sky Sports Media van. There, they would press buttons and wear the headphones etc. At other times, he would introduce us to his commentary colleagues, often on Super League Grand Final day. I was always struck that for such a busy man, he was never phased by our presence so close to his own big commentaries. Bill worked tirelessly to prepare for his commentaries. His knowledge of rugby league was immense. His love of the game was manifested by his desire to see the game grow beyond the heartlands. He loved Catalans Dragons and was the go-to man for Sky Sports out in Perpignan. In latter years, he would find himself having to commentate from a screen in the London studios, rather than sunning it up in the South of France. His commentaries were thoroughly well researched. For a man who was, by virtue of his job, thrust into the public domain, he was such a humble, private and unassuming man. Our local area owes Bill so much, well beyond rugby league. Bill's struggle with cancer was one he never complained about. He fought it with the same dignity that he did everything else. Many of us here are mourning the loss of a wonderful gentleman and loyal friend. As the microphone falls silent, I take a moment to reflect on a life well-lived, from a man who brought such support and friendship to myself and many others. Rest in peace Bill.

Wakefield have said they're giving all the proceeds from their next game to St. Helens.

I'm very sorry to hear this, poor man. I'm not sure I can remember a single thing Garry said after he retired that I agreed with to be honest, or how he went about expressing those views, but firstly who cares - opinions are like ####holes, we've all got them- and far more importantly nothing that he ever said could ever take away from what an absolutely fantastic, generational talent he was. Just phenomenal. We don't get players like Schofield very often, and then when we do we don't celebrate them anywhere near enough. Hope he gets the care that he needs to mitigate the worst of what's to come, hopefully there'll be lots of life in the old dog yet.

Similar to my Wales vs Jamaica topic, that was well received, I was involved in the Wales/France game yesterday so again… here’s my tuppence worth: - Arrived early at the ground as I like to do, though involved in the Welsh staff I stayed at a seperate hotel due to logistical reasons of seperate flights and other work commitments. My taxi driver wasn’t exactly a treiziste but was aware of the sport and spoke positively about Catalans Dragons and the impact they have on the local economy. He was of Algerian descent and said he follows football but felt rugby (XIII/XV) was more about people and family, things he valued. I expected to have a wander around Saint Esteve pre game but upon arrival at the ground the place was already open and filling with people. The FFRXIII put on a pop up shop outside the ground so I picked a few bits up there. Into the ground, I was instantly approached by two gentlemen in Catalans gear. Between my OK French and their OK English we had a good chat about rugby league, the games being played but also Magic Weekend - Cardiff seemed a popular venue for them both. “Beaucoup des pubs!” I wandered around the ground for a bit, it’s a lovely set up with bars in both corners and two suitably sized stands. The Pyrenees could be seen just about in the distance. I grabbed some food from the side of the main stand - delightful chicken and chips! Highly recommended if you’re ever at a Saint Esteve game or similar. Soon enough the team buses arrived and the ground filled further. Away from my usual role I was asked to run the water for Wales due to the absence of John Kear and Joel Fulford and injury to Max Clarke. The Welsh squad and organisation are ego-free, a fantastic bunch who treat everybody with respect and integrity. This was seen in abundance with younger players serving as mascots and ball boys in and around the changing rooms. One of the Welsh squad is high-functioning autistic and the way the boys engage with him is spot on in every sense. Due to the ‘dugout buzz’ it was hard to take in much of the game as a spectator. It was physical and despite a gallant start, Wales were simply zapped from their midweek exploits. The Super League class of Fages, Tison and Rouge et al soon began to show and the game quickly disappeared as a contest. Wales felt hard done by this week in terms of rules and regulations in the tournament that they felt were bent slightly in parts but it was never used as an excuse. Experienced voices of Elliot Kear, Rhys Williams, Matty Fozard and Ant Walker regularly reminded the squad of this. “Next job. Positive minds” was a buzz phrase throughout the 80 mins. At half time the boys were left to their own devices in the sheds with Mark Moxon’s words of encouragement. Moko is another fantastic bloke in our game - inclusive, welcoming and hardworking. I’ve not a bad word to say about him or any of the other Welsh staff. A few Ukrainian players entered the field during half time to snuff out their surroundings. I had a chat with a few of their Australian contingent who were so visibly proud and honoured for their opportunity. It appears however we’ve still got many walls to break down. As a whole their eyes have been opened in the past few weeks. “I never knew any of this happened, mate!” … “It’s crazy that Wales do rugby league. How good, mate!” - of course they’re not to blame. The powers that be need to do more to put tier-two international RL on a higher and greater pedestal. A special mention to Castleford academy player Sam Grice who debuted in the second half. He never once looked afraid or out of place and two a fair few hit ups with vigour and strength. After the game a special cap presentation was made to him with his parents present in the changing rooms. His mum visibly moved by the occasion - once again international rugby league proving its worth and power. Ant Walker will get a special mention from me. A hugely likeable and humourous character - a firm and physical competitor but never afraid of a joke or two to lighten the mood. I’d hazard a crowd of around 1,500-2,000 which was somewhat disappointing given it was expected the game would be played originally at Catalans ground but hey, this is rugby league after all! It’s never so straightforward is it? Those who did attend were entertained and positive. A healthy mixture of all generations in the crowd. The crowd fast dwindled by the second half of the Serbia/Ukraine game. Nick Cotric many heads and shoulders above all other players on show. Around 50 Ukrainians were in the crowd - very vocal and passionate! A small sea of yellow and blue! It was heartwarming to see their positivity and energy given all they’ve endured - the real winners of this tournament. Upon leaving I spoke with the partner and children of one of Ukraine’s Australian players - they were travelling Europe after the game and commended the European culture as something special and unique. The ability to travel between cultures so quickly was a real draw for them. It turned out the wife/girlfriend had Welsh heritage herself which made for a fascinating conversation. Eloi Pelissier remained in the ground and was popular for photos and conversations even by the time I’d departed as had the remainder of the Wales and France group. France proceed and will do so with confidence. Their seems to be a feeling they’ll host the World Series next year. I hope they learn a few organisational lessons from this year - though the matchday itself ran smoothly without much hiccup. It’s the things away from matchdays that need firming up and greater transparency. Wales will be back again, lessons learned, experiences gained. A poor end to an otherwise positive camp to end the year. Questions must be asked about the length of the season. The boys love turning up for Wales but had nothing left to give at around the 65 minute mark. The staff radio/intercom buzzed with words from the physio: “They’re all pretty f***ed!” around the hour mark. For the sake of player welfare something needs to give and I don’t wish it to be internationals. Matty Fozard told me post game that was he was encroaching 40 games for the 2024 season - madness!

From the moment the cup draw was made I intended to go to this fixture as it’s only 30-40 mins down the road from me in Cardiff. Life’s been hectic of late so was unsure I’d get there today but lo and behold I did and had my RU coaching brother in law in tow. Driving down, he asked me what sort of result I expected to see. That depended on multiple factors A) availability for both teams B) the conditions C) how Blackbrook’s journey down was. I eventually reckoned Blackbrook by 30. I’ve watched enough of the Welsh domestic league to know how good Aberavon and Jets et al can be but also am aware of the wide gap of standard in the sole south Wales league and how this means the better teams always struggle for intensity and coherency through their seasons. Any team journeying from up north are no mugs but Aberavon’s pack stood up tall and an impressive kicking game from their stand off gave them good footing to take a lead into the second half. At least 3 from AFI have played League One and that was crucial. Alan Pope and Archie Whillock strong and physical in a tough middle. Blackbrook had a few rough calls against them and some handling errors contributing to Aberavon’s foothold. Eventually fitness and guile got the St Helens club comfortably over the line with a late flurry of tries. What was most noticeable to me was how their attacking shape looked far more natural having been rehearsed through a ‘full’ season and tested week in week out. Aberavon only threw such shape successfully once or twice and that’s the impact of playing in the RU off season only - not that all of their players are dual code! Aberavon is a town on the up, with a beautiful beach and a seafront with swanky bars and pubs (two of which are run by WRL head honcho Richard Hibbard!) - the hosts today Aberavon Green Stars RU are just off the front and it’s a cracking place to watch any type of rugby: ample car parking, spacious clubhouse, hot food hatch and snacks on offer outside, merchandise for Aberavon RL inside. A healthy crowd paying £5 entry was a welcome sight - maybe numbering 300/400 (Mr Hibbard one of them) - Lots of RU playing teammates in the crowd for AFI players can only be a good thing, the game itself was an enjoyable watch and hopefully one or two will be tempted to give league a try this summer either here or at another club in the Welsh league. Evesdropping some of the conversations of the above, it reiterated to me how so many of the younger RU playing crowd in south Wales are knowledgable and very perceptive to League - thanks in part to them watching NRL on TV each weekend before playing union themselves and the legacy of Regan Grace who’s from these parts can’t be underestimated at all. South Wales towns champion their hometown heroes like no other. There’s a cracking mural just up the road of him at Aberavon Quins RUFC that is testament to that. Blackbrook deservedly march on and conducted themselves brilliantly on* and off the pitch. The real winner today I felt was the new level of respect the south Wales leagues now deserve and hopefully close results like this continue. 5-10 years ago this is a drubbing! Hopefully those days are going as more and more kids play league and transition into the men’s game down here with similar upbringings to their counterparts in Leeds, St Helens and Wigan. It must also be said that there was an element of ‘cup fever’ in town - all generations in the crowd from all corners of this part of the world, lots of jerseys represented. This felt like a big day for Aberavon Fighting Irish RFLC. *Two of their interchanges decided to chat their way through a minutes silence at the start of the game. I know this was noticed by a few on the sideline and I hope a note of gentle guidance was afforded to both of them from somebody in their camp.

All tickets for the match from 7pm tonight are a tenner all proceeds to Whitehaven well done Matt Ellis and Trinity

Hopefully I can help on this one... Way back in 2002, Richard de la Riviere, in his pre-rugby league writer days, and I got together and decided to apply to the Rugby League Conference. We took the name Lancaster Rugby, as there wasn't a Lancaster RUFC and we tried to tap into the heritage of the original Northern Union club. A meeting with Lancaster City FC meant that rugby league would be played at Giant Axe for the first time in almost 60 years and so a team was born and we took part in the NW league of the RLC in 2003 and 2004, as well as the York 9s in both of those years - and also launched a brilliant Lancaster v Morecambe Origin game! A lot of the things people have mentioned on here are correct - there is a substantial following for the game in the city - but to establish a pro club is a different kettle of fish all together. I'm sure Richard would agree with me that just trying to get a bare 13 lads on the bus on a Saturday was all-consuming, never mind recruiting a coach, physio, ordering kit, putting up goal posts etc. etc. Still, I've no regrets and I wouldn't have gone on to have a career in sports development without it. Shortly afterwards there was an influx of non-development teams into the RLC from traditional areas - I seem to remember Wigan and Leigh Cavaliers and a team from Widnes in 2005 (?). The BARLA clubs switched to summer soon afterwards and, for a team like Lancaster that relied on a mix of players from well-established local club, Heysham Atoms, and a handful from the Barrow area (Lancaster's local union club banned its players from joining us) there wouldn't be space for a second club. It was a great experience though! As for pro-clubs, after seeing both sides of the coin from working at two pro clubs in the years after Lancaster, you need a foundation. The days of sticking a pin in a map and saying "that looks a good location" are hopefully over, and new clubs should come with a substantial, almost generational, grassroots background IMO, supported by juniors, school links and plenty of volunteers/potential. Lancaster, starting from scratch, doesn't offer that. Heysham would, if they wanted that - and the will to want it is vital. It's great to see their juniors go from strength to strength over recent years, competing in many age groups with teams from established areas, sometimes with the kids of the Lancaster players from twenty years ago. Running a pro club with one mens team, even at the bottom end of League One, requires a substantial 6-figure annual budget. The financial support from the RFL doesn't seem to be there these days - as late as 2010 League One equivalent clubs were getting £100k central funding - and the gap between Pro and Amateur is as distinct as ever. Back in 2004 I had high hopes that NL3 would fill that gap, offering semi-amateur as a stepping stone to semi-pro, but, like most things rugby league, good ideas barely last the season. It's difficult not to argue that the sport has regressed significantly over the past twenty years. In 2003, when Lancaster joined, we had a high profile media launch at Westminster, with Richard Lewis shaking up the sport. Now we seem as parochial as ever and no closer despite a generation passing.

Has announced his retirement at the end of the season, a modern great, a Huddersfield legend and one of if not THE best winger in the world a few years back, also an absolute lovely gentleman. What a career, enjoy your retirement Jez!!!

It's a very busy day of Magic Weekends in both hemispheres. But on a smaller scale, it's also been a big day for Essex RL. At Colchester Sports Park, there were around 150 Essex boys, girls and men - plus a token Queenslander - taking part in activity throughout the day from u7s to OA. All building up to Eastern Rhinos - Brentwood Eels SCL game, which the home side won 30-12. And we were very proud that two Essex boys were missing - training with the England Community Lions u18s. #A12isthenewM62

If you're going to buddy up with a club on the other side of the world, it might as well be the best one........so congratulations to Penrith Panthers on their choice of partner

In that case every SL club should pay Catalans travel when they come to the UK!

Outstanding effort by Trinity and the fans

Tony Gigot has retired. Last game winning Albi there first premiership in 48 years. Great career, one of the best French players over the past 15 years. Always great fun to watch him play.

Really hope this comes off and think it’s a big step forward in the international calendar. France need to be playing 3 or 4 games a year with as many of their better players as possible.

By playing for Dewsbury v Rochdale yesterday, Paul Sykes became the first player to play 27 seasons of professional rugby league. Over 500 appearances and 2700 points. Still playing age 43..

The thing which drives me nuts is that no outsider, looking at our sport, would identify Catalans as the problem. You might point at Huddersfield, as having risible crowds for decades and not winning a title or challenge cup for 60 years. You might point at Salford, as also having risible crowds, not winning a challenge cup or title for 50 years, AND being a financial basket case. You might point to Wakefield, or Castleford as clubs who bounce in and out of financial chaos, never do anything but make up the numbers without competing, and have historically delivered below-average crowds in antiquated stadiums. But no. Instead, all those clubs, less successful on the field than Catalans, less financially successful than Catalans, and with less support than Catalans, are the ones voting to get rid of Catalans! I mean, ffs. They're seriously planning to go to TV companies and say "Hey, we kicked out the only club which isn't a depressed ex-industrial M62 exit. You know, the one which has reached two grand finals and won the challenge cup in the last 10 years. The one regularly competing with the best in a packed stadium at the top of the league. But we have replaced them with another LESS SUCCESSFUL team in a WORSE stadium a few miles from a bunch of other LESS SUCCESSFUL teams in WORSE stadiums. They'll get lower crowds too. Now, how about a bigger TV deal?" It's insane. If they do this, it's insane. The sport has lost its marbles.

Happy April 1st!

Saw this on the Community board, thought it could do with a wider audience. Some good news. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid037j1ocgKfR7eGqJgSEseDmWj6taJXmc8YnqRCcU4ybMcnD8N6edFnkbhxQhP7wkXwl&id=61568398817776 Hemel have a six figure grant (with them contributing 25% of costs) to upgrade the pitch at Pennine Way to ensure year round usage.

Disclaimer: I apologise if this is in the wrong thread, I could not find a dedicated introductions thread. Hello everyone! I'm Lucy, it's nice to meet you all. I have recently decided to embrace watching Rugby League and am certainly looking forward to my first SL season. A bit of background information about me - Here are Five Facts about me: 1. I'm a native of East Anglia (Norfolk & Suffolk, I won't hear anyone include Essex or Cambridgeshire in with us). 2. I'm a graduate of De Montfort University International Centre of Sports and Culture, having received my Masters in 2021. 3. I first watched a League game when I was still doing my paper round, with the advantage that my early mornings allowed me to catch some NRL coverage. 4. I decided to support Wakefield Trinity for some reason that may appear odd but are rational to myself - I liked their badge and colours, They are an old club, and they hadn't won a major trophy (Top Division/CC since the 1960). I didn't want to be seen as a glory hunter. 5. Rugby League is a novelty in East Anglia, with only Kings Lynn and Wymondham of Norfolk boasting the Knights and Anglian Vipers respectively - with the latter missing out on L1 as Goole Vikings were picked. Had they not missed out I would have probably picked the Vipers due to location. Suffolk no longer has to my knowledge a League team (it's a poor footballing codes county with Ipswich Town being it's only professional side for the Association game, and Bury St Edmunds probably the best amateur Union side). Eastern Rhinos RL used to be based in Ipswich but is now based in Colchester, Essex. While I'm still trying to get my head around all the rules of the game - it's a lot different from the association game - I've indulged in some CC 3rd Round action and love it. Unlike football, where I can watch a neutral game with little passion, watching a neutral RL game has my heart in my throat. It was particularly good seeing Bradford beat Castleford 18-16, as well as Halifax Panthers defending amazing in their first half against Catalans. While I understand that having achieved A Grading Wakefield cannot be relegated, my only hope for us is that we don't come bottom. However, if Castleford doesn't play better they may be more prone to suffering such a fate... But what do I know, I'm new to the game! I'd love to hear from fellow Trin fan and non-fan alike, as I hope to become a semi regular member of this community.

They’ll be charging the Hull clubs a surcharge next because it’s further away and so costs more in petrol. We are a tinpot, embarrassing sport that doesn’t deserve professional organisations like Catalans. The RFL is basically blackmailing the regional government in France to subsidise small town clubs in England. Genuinely makes me ashamed.

Hi all, my name is Lisa. I think Matt calls me Mrs. Goose on here. He is currently running around the garden screaming. I don't think the neighbours are very happy, I have seen a couple of lights come on in bedrooms in the row of houses opposite and I think a window just opened. I better go get him in. Lisa.

https://www.facebook.com/midlandsrugbyleague/posts/1187346519850705 Midlands Junior playing opportunities to expand in a summer of rugby league activity The weekend of 31st May 2025 heralds the return of competitive junior rugby league as the new Midlands Junior Merit Leagues for U15s and U17s begin. This initiative has been some time in planning and is the culmination of volunteers’ work to establish further long-term strategy to the growing Midlands Rugby League scene. In a move to create a league-based round robin of fixtures for those teams able to commit, it is the next step in creating a formal competitive season for a range of age groups across the Midlands region. At U15s level, teams from N.E.W Ravens Rugby League , Sherwood Wolf Hunt ARLFC, Leamington Royals Rugby League and a joint team from Bassetlaw Bulldogs RLFC and North Midlands Knights (formerly Bolsover Bulls) will participate in the 6-round competition. At U17s, Bassetlaw Bulldogs, Coventry Bears Rugby League Club, North Midlands Knights and a West Midlands All-stars team will make up the roster. As part of the emerging Merit League system, teams will play home and away fixtures against their peers, being awarded points for winning, drawing, turning up and playing with full teams. Further to the league structure – and alongside stand-alone fixtures between clubs - there will be further playing opportunities across the region with 6 summer festivals taking place for Primary-aged players, and teams at U12s, U14s and U16s. The festivals have been designed to ensure high-quality experiences for players, with hosts working towards a standardised format to ensure maximum enjoyment and participation. Festivals at Coventry, Nottingham, NEW Ravens, Bassetlaw, Sherwood and North Midlands Knights are spread throughout the summer months. Organisers are delighted also to welcome back title sponsors, Paladin Sports UK for a second year. Speaking of his delight at the prospect, Midlands Steering Group Chair, Phil Abbott enthused, ‘So much hard work has gone into making this happen, by a group of dedicated volunteers at Steering Group level. We are absolutely delighted to get the new Merit Leagues off the ground and are excited to see just how well they can run this season. Feedback from those clubs taking part is already positive, in terms of the intrigue this is creating for players in those teams. I am sure it won’t be all plain sailing, but we know that, for this region, if we don’t run with it now, we probably won’t for a long time’. Abbott goes on to say, ‘We have worked to introduce some minimum standards for affiliate clubs to achieve over the course of the next 12 months. These are designed to help us up our game as administrators and to enhance the experience of all participants within our clubs. We think we have a great product in the game of rugby league, but too often in the past we have let talk come before action. We want to make sure we do our talking on the pitch, that our thinking is strategic and for the good of the region, not just our own clubs. We want to populate teams across the region with eager rugby league players so that everybody benefits from positive gamedays. Speaking of the initiatives, Stephen Guan, RFL’s Southern Regions Development Manager said, ‘The work Phil and the steering group have done to progress this is tremendous. It has been a collaborative approach from the group, working closely with the clubs and ourselves at the RFL to develop the Primary and Youth offers across the Midlands. There is a strong community club presence across the Midlands with more than a dozen of these having Primary and/or Youth RL offers. Having a suitable competition structure and development opportunities in place is invaluable for the growth of not only these clubs, players and volunteers but for the game as a whole across the Midlands. One objective of our Southern Regions Strategic Framework is to utilise the experience and knowledge of our volunteer workforce and support this to progress elements of the sport in the South. The work happening here is a prime example of this’.

No he can’t, apparently he’s instead taking up refereeing full time, after 15 years of work experience

Hi everyone I hv to start this topic off, I hv heard from one of the yeds that our chairman has telephoned the poor gentleman that went on the pitch, he asked how he was and has given them pie and peas tickets and seats as he doesn’t want them to feel they can’t come back and knows he is a life long supporter and wants him looking after wow, can you believe how our great club has changed and how lucky we are with the great people involved, it’s easy to talk but these guys just amaze me.i just want to say what a genuine guy our chairman really is, and does care about the fans.

She refereed our game yesterday and was probably the best referee we have seen for the last year and a half even if we were on the wrong end of the penalty count. Everything was well signaled and she didn't want to be centre of attention

I am so impressed with how much work Hull KR have put in since this match was announced. They have made several trips late last year and now they have personnel there all week. Yesterday they delivered coaching session to over 200 schoolkids. If ever there was an example of an "on the road" match being done right, then this is it.

Or alternatively I see the Salford Reds a beggin' I hear that they can't pay their way Don't go out tonight , save your money , keep it tight There's a handout on the way

I fondly remember my visit to the Cas ground, rammed with fans, the air full of cigarette smoke and grown men ####### on the terracing where they stood, because you couldn't move to get to the toilets. Those that did make it to the "toilets" pee'd on a black painted wall, but there was little chance of getting back to your spot on the terrace. The games were tense, but you couldn't really see what was happening at the other end of the pitch, due to the gloom and pit lamp floodlights. I remember the charity collections going round for sufferers of rickets, and wizened old men, propping up the bars with stories of the "Great War". My god I miss 2023.

There is no truth to anything written here. No 'tussle' and you will see that the focus is on all aspects of the club on Friday. Clubs and boards do not progress when pulling in seperate directions. I'm glad to say that is absolutely not the case with us and your source is misinformed on this occasion. Graeme Workington Town RLFC

The first game I ever saw Hull KR play was back in 1947 when I was taken by my mum and dad to watch them play Wigan at the old Craven Park. My mum was a Rovers fan and dad came because although a Hull FC fan he loved watching Wigan. The only incident I remember from the match was a decision to give a penalty for a voluntary tackle against Hull KR near their line at a critical stage of the match. Wigan kicked the penalty goal and went on to win 17-8.(kept the match programme for over 50 years). In memory of my dear old mum I would love to see a Robins win. To all attending I hope you enjoy the match whatever your team allegiance.

Yeah what can a well financed team with good attendances and spending up to the salary cap offer SL

So IMG proposed, and has voted in a system that would expand the league to 14 when clubs improved themselves to a higher standard and funding had increased to a level to support it. And now the clubs are heading towards overriding that and include clubs deemed not good enough and without money to fund it. But still, IMG are the issue here.

Thanks to London Broncos CEO Jason Loubsers generosity, 30 free tickets to today’s game were provided free for our students. Another 10 were determined to go so our school paid for them. 40 kids who have never been nor would probably ever get to Wembley. We were shouting for Warrington but not to be. Great to see all of them enjoying the game and wanting more.

Toronto Wolfpack, in SL.

Where to begin? For some reason, the pro game here has evolved into something more akin to a wrestling match, with three or four tacklers overpowering an attacking player, throwing him to the floor, then lying on top so the other tacklers can reform a defensive line. Teams are suffering by losing injured players like never before, some having to stock their team with academy youths or local amateurs, and skill levels are down. It's getting too brutal, many players cannot make it through a season now because their bodies cannot take the punishment that the RFL and referees think is acceptable. Teams struggle to get 17 names on the team sheet, FFS. Back in the day, a tackle was called when forward progress was halted, not when someone had the living daylights knocked out of him by five guys throwing him around like a rag doll before the referee eventually called "held". We used to watch a game of rugby, not guys getting beaten up by a mob of opponents.The game was so much faster, play the balls were instant as the marker dropped away and wasn't pushing down on the opponents head which referees turn a blind eye to these days. Video refs seem to forget that RL is a spectator sport, not a forensic investigation. We need more skills and less brutality, too many of our stars are injured and it's the way the game is refereed over here, the emphasis is on battering seven bells out of opponents, and it's no surprise that their bodies cannot cope with the hammering they get week in and week out. So we end up with lower quality players in teams, which isn't attractive to viewers who pay the wages.

Rumours around, not posting a link to Daily Mail, that Billy will be awarded a Knighthood in the Kings honours this month.

My notes from the meeting Gary Hetherington opened by outlining his vision for London to be the biggest club in the game, competitive at the top level in Super League and playing in the World Club challenge. To do this the club needed to engage not just with the people in the room but also the 26 community clubs in London and the Southeast so their pathway was to the London club. He acknowledged that London; s fanbase was drawn from all over London and the Southeast and the aim was to create the best matchday ambience (experience) in the league with a low-cost sport that was inclusive drawing support from all sectors of society. In response to a questioner in Wigan shirt about NRL Europe Gray Hetherington confirmed that there is no proposal from the NRL on the table. He knew Phil Gould quite well who had advocated two London clubs and Australians knew the benefit of a London team but do not know how where or when to do it. Developing the international Game is seen as low hanging fruit for both the RFL and NRL. With regards to Ownership, David Hughes transferred his shares to Gary. He is not a wealthy man and is looking to put an ownership group together and is speaking to people with a genuine interest. But these investors have to be people with something to offer as investors he was not looking for sleeping partners. If you invest in London, You need to be an ongoing contributor bringing in sponsorship and connectivity and the idea is to have a number of these forming a group, He could not update on this now but the hope was to have this in place in the foreseeable future. All ideas to generate interest and income needed to be low or nil cost as the club as the club has more costs and expenses than income. I personally will be sending in a few low / nil cost ideas from other sports he might want to consider. The role of Matt Adamson, who is now back in Australia is to work with Australian brands to create investment and sponsorship of the London club which is more attractive to Australians than the northern towns. There is a lot of work being done behind the scenes at the moment on building connected partnerships. The Australian High Commission is seen as a key supporter of the club as 100,000 Australians are in the London area along with Kiwis and pacific islanders. The Fijian ambassador to London being in attendance at the launch at the High Commission. It is hoped to turn this expat community into supporters of the London club along of course with more fans from London and the Southeast. The name change is not decided on; the mood of the Room was anti any change. There is a project bubbling away looking at if this would be advantageous to change the name and brand in respect of pricing, marketing and commercially. Gary went on to say that when Leeds changed from being the Loiners to the Rhinos, it was a very unpopular move at the time but one that served to galvanise interest and commitment to the club. As for name change suggestions, he confirmed that one suggestion had been made by a media personality who was not from the UK (IMO Steve Mascord who was on the other side of the room) to “London Rugby League”. There is no funding at present to strengthen the squad, and Mike Eccles acknowledged that the club was in a relegation battle at the foot of the Championship. He was confident the club would stay up once there was a bit more continuity in the side. Hegave away one nugget in that Danny ward had won promotion ion 2018 on a playing budget reduced by £ 350,000 which underscores what a good coach Danny was / is. The club expects Conor O’Beirne back for the Toulouse game and Lewis Bienek back the week after that. The biggest problem from Mike Eccles perspective is that other clubs raid London talent and those who were given the opportunity down here. So, it’s all about retaining London’s better players. Mike also went on to say that players tended to come from areas of the Southeast that were similar to the northern heartlands (Hemel and Medway) and there was a lot of Rugby Union players from Hemel playing for St Albans Centurions in the summer months and enjoying it. The Leeds RL Foundation will be offering advice to the London RL Foundation and in response to a question about youngsters playing on the pitch at half-time. Noone seemed to know the position of AFC Wimbledon on this, but Rick Jones of the London RL Foundation said that in respect of the Wembley Ashes Test match, the RFL had advised part of their agreement with Wembley stadium limited was no on-pitch activity outside the main game. On the RFL’s attitude to the London Club, Gary Hetherington replied that the RFL had one Development Officer for the whole of London and the Southeast and they were currently rewriting their funding and Governance. The RFL needed the London club. to succeed because in order to retain UK government funding they need to demonstrate that they are increasing participation in the game away from the RL heartlands. On IMG Gary was of the view that a game had a misconception about IMG, they are advisors not decision makers. Their recommendations need to be agreed by the clubs and there was not the money in the game to fund their recommendations. The grading was good even for a club like Leeds because it enabled clubs to identify areas of weakness but there is an issue about the integrity of promotion and relegation. London is making a big push to market the Bradford Game at the end of the season.

Well ten lads from all over Africa today watched their first rl game live and loved it. Even better they desperately want to go to every home game from now.

14 turned up tonight and loved it so much they asked for another session on Friday after school. Not only some great athletes but some real quick learners about the game strategy and tactics in the modified game we finished with.

Wigan win Sports Personality team of the year. Great recognition for the sport.

I'll be going. It'll be my second game of League, ever. How's that for newby-ism?

Nigel Wood was leading the RFL when it bought the lease for an overvalued £1.2m, money the sport didn’t and still doesn’t have to spare, thereby saving Bradford Bulls from extinction. He later took ownership of Bradford. The club now buys lease for £260k. Presumably everyone is OK with this chain of events? I look forward to @Martyn Sadler and his team covering this scandalous sequence in great detail.

Sorry to disappoint SRD fans who think the transfer fee for Sneyd will change anything in the near future - Warrington are paying for him at £49 a time - it's all they can draw each day.

Rochdale Hornets launch Project 1500 Rochdale Hornets are delighted to announce ‘Project 1500’, a ground-breaking strategic plan to drastically improve crowds in 2025. The Hornets’ radical blueprint to boost crowds in 2025 includes but is not limited to: Rochdale Mayfield ARLFC - 450 season tickets have been manufactured and hand-delivered for every junior member at Rochdale Mayfield ARLFC, providing FREE entry to every Betfred League 1 game in 2025. Rochdale Borough schools (event games) - Our research tells us that 36,000+ pupils are attending around 100 schools in Rochdale in 2024/25. A personalised letter to every school has been delivered via post and email to each school’s head teacher, with a special promotional code to enable all pupils to obtain a free ticket, and discounted tickets for accompanying adults to all four of our 2025 event games. Bury Council schools (event games) - Furthermore, our research also tells us that 29,000+ pupils are attending over 80 schools in Bury in 2024/25. A personalised letter to every school has been delivered via post and email to each school’s head teacher, with a special promotional code to enable all pupils to obtain a free ticket and discounted tickets for accompanying adults to all four of our 2025 event games. Community Counts returns (event games) - We are bringing back a new and improved version of the Community Counts initiative for 2025, following success in 2021 which brought four-figure attendances for League One games. We are in the process of reaching out and writing to as many sporting clubs, community groups and organisations as possible in the Rochdale borough, with a special promotional code for free young person’s tickets and a one-off moment in time special offer for accompanying adults to all four of our 2025 event games. Black and Minority Ethnic groups - According to the 2021 Census, people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) group backgrounds make up 26% of the borough of Rochdale population (Office for National Statistics). With the help of our supportive Rochdale MBC, our mayor Shakil Ahmed and his consort, an agreed number of complimentary tickets for all Betfred League 1 games will be distributed within the wider communities of the borough. One Team, One Dream – Every person who represents a Rochdale Hornets team in 2025 will have a season ticket for the first time ever. Our men, women, wheelchair, walking, learning disability and Lions Development players will all be encouraged whenever possible to be part of the action and to mingle with Hornets supporters on matchdays at the Crown Oil Arena. With the increased numbers, the club are hopeful for the event days and the potential of opening the Smiths Metal Family Stand, which brings great pride with this being sponsored by club director Jason Wilson. The Smiths Metal Family Stand would introduce a modernised family bar & seating area, additional toilets and a food kiosk, as well as a dedicated ‘Hooper’s Hive’ area to enhance our full family experience. Chairman Andy Mazey said: “We are delighted to announce ‘Project 1500’, a series of exciting initiatives wrapped around a strategic plan to considerably increase our average home attendances to greater than 1,500 in 2025. “As a board and management team, we have never been more committed to growing this great club and getting it back to the Championship. “We understand the impact that the cost-of-living crisis is having on the people in our communities, particularly those with young families. We are therefore prepared to take a loss in terms of admission this year, and have also committed to underwrite the significant costs of delivering such a comprehensive and unique growth project. “Put simply, we want to get the stands buzzing with greater numbers of people, particularly families and young people engaged with our club and the fantastic sport of rugby league. “A ground that is packed obviously creates a better atmosphere, and we are keen to attract a whole new audience to our games and events. “Through our core values, we are committed to promoting diversity by supporting all communities and this project will not only grow our fanbase, but it will enable us to break down even more barriers to involvement within sport.”

Just my opinion but I think it is starting to have an effect. I think the grading process forced the clubs to have a good look at themselves and all seem to have responded to varying degrees. This is the first season in an age where I think the game has edged slightly forward after years of decline. My own club Trinity has gone from being an off field embarrassment to something of an example of how to really up your game. Bothe Leigh and HKR have refused to fade away after a good season or two. Wigan are strong and when they are so is the game as a rule. Trinity, Cas and now Hull have picked up some serious investors. Leeds seems to have stabilised, such a massive investment in Headingly was bound to affect them for a bit. Yes I know they only contributed a percentage but all things are relative. It’s yet to be seen if there is an on field improvement but in most other aspects things seem to have improved. Better pricing, better marketing, better matchday experience seems to be the norm. Would any of this happened without IMG and grading? Not IMO it wouldn’t. Early days, still some hurdles ahead, but I do think the game is starting to change for the better.

I would just like to add my congratulations to all 6 teams to make the play offs this season, its been a pleasure to watch. Unfortunately my team hasn't been good enough. No disrespect to Wigan and Saints but I'm hoping like many to see a new name on the trophy, good luck to all.

That was The Game Caller, he is an amateur journalist and was probably trying to find out some "exclusive" gossip.