Yosser

Outstanding post. So good I have pasted and saved it !

The cold war between the Sun and the sport shows no signs of thawing. The ban even includes publishing any results. https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/publishing-news/2019/06/sun-boycotts-rugby-league-after-being-barred-magic-weekend

I am not surprised by what Burrell claims about rugby union either but I am surprised about the way in which it came out. Interviewer: "You said before that you feel you didn't fit in within rugby union. Why was that ? Burrell: " When you are a young player coming from my background you go through a lot of setbacks .....and sometimes your face doesn't fit or you don't go to certain schools where other players go and they are all mates... Interviewer: "Are these hurdles of class barriers is that what you are suggesting ?" Burrell: "That's what I am suggesting yes." Burrell was being too polite and so the interviewer put the words into his mouth "class barriers" That's the surprise, shock even, on BBC Radio 4 where all the main presenters are all fully paid-up members of the backslappers (rugby ) union!!

Burrell says he had to overcome class barriers in union and if you didn't go to certain (private) schools then you didn't fit in. Luther Burrell tells it how it is on national radio this morning which will have some of the "old chaps" coughing up their corn flakes. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0005t81 1hr 30 mins in

These comments from Danny Ward after the game are very encouraging for the future of London. When they have young kids who can step up to THAT level and strong development pathways they are getting it right this time. "We had a lot of numbers out injured this evening and I thought the lads who stepped in did a fantastic job. "Jake Ogden was making his Super League debut in the centres up against Naiqama, Rob Butler - a young kid - started at prop and was outstanding as well I thought. "Will the others come back in when they're fit? I don't know now because some boys have now earned a crack."

Population of 450,000, so just a touch smaller than Leeds

I've been impressed by Red Stars fitness levels. Considering the amount of tackling they have done, they look the more energetic.

As previously mention National coverage on BBC Breakfast at 9am. Good exposure for 3 1/2 minutes with cameras in Serbia and Millom. 2hours 57mins in ; https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0c01f12/breakfast-26012019 The same 3 1/2 min section repeated on the lunchtime news. This may be the beginning of greater promotion of the challenge Cup by the BBC (to which they have the rights and so should be promoting it ) after pressure from the RL Parlimentry Group/ RFL

Once again Liew is not frightened to tell the truth even if that means embarrassing Rugby Union. Mentioning as he does another disgraceful episode when Rugby League was banned by the Tito regime. Top man. Take a bow, I wish other journalists would follow his lead.

According to this interview published today Argyle is turning down sponsors and yet the RFL can't seem to find sponsors. Just a different level of professionalism. One organisation on the way up, the other on the way down and reduced to desperate measures that are an embarrassment to the sport . https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Global/Issues/2018/12/07/People-and-Pop-Culture/Hangin-With

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p06qvvxl/rugby-league-2018-england-v-new-zealand-forum Rimmer 26 minutes in.

I'm very pleased Graham has been made Captain for the second test. Well deserve, if anyone has put their body on the line for England over the years it is James Graham. And in his home town.

I agree with Dave T and Thirteenthman it must put many people off going. I went with my little lad and bought tickets months in advance to get seats at the end of a row in the "family" section which I thought would offer the best chance of avoiding drunken yobs. In the event I was surprised how few families there were. I was sat next to two blokes who were completely legless falling on top of the people in the row in front every time they stood up. They barely watched the game preferring to f and blind to all around them about the state of the game ( oh the irony ). And would n't you know it a fight broke out in the aisle right next to my lad and in front of the stewards who did nothing. All this grief in the "family" section !!! None of this will stop me going again but sadly I can no longer recommend it to friends or family. There is no point in the game trying to attract a new audience until it has cleaned up it's act or most newcomers will never return.

But there will in all likelihood be clauses. NRL teams are forever losing sponsors through contract clauses.

Argyle now has to persuade Transat to keep the faith and continue to transport teams and officials for free for at least another year until the 15,000 traveling Super League fans that he predicted arrive to provide a return on their investment. Transat are a big part of the jigsaw, hopefully they will hang in there.