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We're nearly back and it feels just great!

I couldn’t care less what they do, but it’s evident that they don’t have the same mass attachment to Scotland as Tongan heritage people in Australia and NZ have.

I think we'll have to. I fail to see any difference whatsoever. There could be plenty of that Tongan team who would jump at the chance to play for Australia if the opportunity came about - we just don't know, and I'm not going to let it bother me either. Just the same as I won't let it bother me with Scotland - I just want to see more competitive international teams playing each other.

Is it that? Or is it because they live in a country where rugby league is massive, and loads of people with Tongan heritage play it, and therefore it captures the imagination of the Tongan ex-pat population? Is it that? Or is it because they live in a country where rugby league barely registers in the media whatsoever?

I have no idea about the players' motivations, but there is a massive difference with regard to the fans. The Tongan public accept these guys as Tongans and fully get behind them. Why? Because they "are" Tongan, regardless of birthplace really. By that I mean they speak Tongan, are ethnically Polynesian, and often speak their English with a Tongan accent. Tongan people like their Rugby League, and the team sits well within that public outlook. The Scottish public really CGAF about a bunch of guys from Yorkshire pretending to be Scottish. As you say, it COULD lead to some competitive games if the team is strong enough, but the fact they play home games in England while there are plenty of acceptable Stadia in Scotland 200 miles away says it all really. Nobody in Scotland could care less. Furthermore, Scottish people in England don't live in a recognisable "community" of their own, and don't follow Rugby League in any discernable numbers. Trying to equate the 2 is kind of laughable IMO.

There’s a massive difference as far as I can see, but happy to agree to differ.

It's not for you to say that though. You can't possibly know each player's motivation, either those playing for Scotland or Tonga. I fail to see any difference between the two situations personally.

I don’t know where they were all born, or even who they all are, but I think a fair few of the Fijians and possibly Samoan team are born there. However as I said they are choosing to play for Tonga, they feel Tongan. I really doubt many, if any, of the Scottish team feel like that, or would choose Scotland over England.

13 of them. While I’d love to see the game grow in a Scotland I can’t get excited about 13 English blokes with Scottish parents or grandparents making a team for a WC.

There’s plenty of kids who’ve worked really hard during lockdown and very much deserve the chance to get back out there on the field with their buddies. Better times ahead, I hope.

Call me old fashioned but I really liked the way the kids were reading or doing their homework and then going out to play. I think it sends a good message.

C'mon the Scots!

Heartily agree with the first sentence. On the second, what would count as success for me is if the Silktails serve as a magnet for RL interest in Fiji on and off the field. Progress to a place in the NSW Cup, attract good crowds to their home games, increase sponsorships, player numbers, etc. In short, become to the NSW Cup what the Hunters are to the QLD Cup. We shouldn`t see every RL competition as instrumental to the NRL. Other competitions need to have their own independent value if the game`s capacity is to grow.

He's certainly a man not afraid to speak his mind! To be fair, I don't think Eddie is squarely to blame. Circumstances have just not fallen for him. Wilder has pretty much refused to fight him despite being mandatory, and the fact that AJ had already beaten him early in his career meant that fight wasn't on the cards. It was even being touted a couple of years back but fans booed the idea. If he hadn't lost to Povetkin, maybe he'd be fighting Usyk for the interim title. Like I said, timing hasn't been on his side.

Feels like he's definitely made himself part of the 6 forwards rotation - Tapine, Papalii, Lui / Sutton, Soliola, James. Last season at a point he was definitely behind Horsburgh and even Guler. CHN will likely be the one to come into that 6 now he's available if Tapine is injured. Really pleased for Sutton though - went over there with the least fanfare and becoming a regular in one of the strongest packs in the NRL.

Maybe they should get this guy to swap back to RL: When, as anticipated, Lyndon Dykes belts out 'Flower of Scotland' as a Scotland footballer at this summer's rescheduled European Championships it will be a moment of pride for him and his family. The capping of a remarkable rise from playing for fun in Australia, through a spell in Scottish football, on to the Championship with Queens Park Rangers and now featuring at a major international tournament. Yet, it might have all been so different. The sporty kid from Gold Coast was not always on this career trajectory. He might instead have found himself lining up for Scotland in a different blue jersey at this autumn's Rugby League World Cup in England, having been a promising schoolboy player in his youth. "You never know what might have happened had I stuck with rugby league," Dykes told the BBC Radio 5 Live Rugby League podcast. "I would probably have been a bit bigger for starters, and had a broken nose here and there. But I loved it, I still love it, grew up playing it and enjoyed every moment." Lyndon Dykes: QPR's rugby league talent turned Scotland football hero - BBC Sport

I remember John reffing one of the Scotland Students games I played in. Let's just say that instead of calling "Moooove" to the tackler, a barrage of expletives got the message across just as efficiently. Am pretty sure we also slept on the seats of his pub in Cockermouth one night.

I’m absolutely convinced that there’s enough untapped gems in the Liverpool and greater Merseyside region at schoolboy level waiting to be unearthed to justify investment from either saints, wire or even Widnes.

Quite agree - defo both Hull clubs should have spread the word into Lincolnshire

Sherwood Wolf Hunt? They play in the Challenge Cup too.

Immingham is a fair trek . It’s a real bug bear of mine that the Hull clubs haven’t spread their wings into North Lincolnshire.........there really should be a cluster of clubs there. Didn’t know there was a club in Mansfield these days, do you have any more info?

No. Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottingham, Bolsover, Immingham, over in West Midlands too etc. All over the place really. We’ve got great buy in from parents, who travel in good numbers. This link to our fixtures (Covid permitting) gives a flavour of our season. https://bassetlawbulldogs.co.uk/fixtures-and-results

Actor George Segal https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/mar/23/george-segal-dead-87-actor-goldbergs-virginia-woolf