Luxembourger

Grant was questioned on the “commensurate levels of support” comment and posted this in follow-up: James Parrish reference to not commensurate levels of support wasn’t crowd related, lessons are offfield promotion managing significant costs tour specific etc, Reference wasn’t a criticism it’s acknowledged lessons for regular south to north tours in the future. Plenty of lessons and improvements for Pacific Championships as well one not better then the other it’s a start and more maturing and refinement to come. ‘25 will be massive with England tour while Pacific Champs also on NZ V TONGA V SAMOA ERL working on complimentary Euro comp when England host tours as well.

How about bringing Lebanon over for one game - make this part of a England men’s, women’s and wheelchair triple header at Leeds (maybe get the NRL/Aus govt to pay for PNG women to come as well, would make the women’s match more appealing). The men then fly down under to play PNG on their blank weekend in the pacific bowl, and then the following week play the 3rd placed team in the pacific champs as part of a double header with the final (at Eden Park). Could be attractive for the NRL - it fills out the TV schedule a bit and gives England a little exposure down under before the ashes tour

How about a NH 3/4 nations, Eng, France, Lebanon, maybe Wales, with no final - the league leader then flying straight down under to face the pacific league leader? It will likely mean NH winner has games in NH one weekend and SH the next - but that could be mitigated if final was in Perth perhaps? The added context it would give the NH games would be huge

This interesting article does suggest that Qatar are intending to have men’s and women’s rugby league teams https://www.olympic.qa/media-center/qatars-women-rugby-team-hold-training-program Could Qatar field a women’s team in the RLWC that they stage? That would be something