gingerjon

This is where the damage of not even attempting to create a distinct audience and identity for the women's game is going to be problematic. As far as I can see (outside looking in), unlike pretty much every other team sport, there is no pack of sponsors or separate funding for the women's game. So it can only ever get opportunities when the men do. So, within that, the women's international season (and, therefore their entire international development) will follow whatever is decided for the men. In the absence of any decent ideas or plans, your idea of England joining the Pacific Championship is actually the best one out there. Out of the players' comfort zones in every way, and with every game a challenge.

They also do a nice wrap up video with just the goals from the round. One thing I'm noticing is that the crowds are decent. Average still a bit distorted by the game at the Aviva, but the *lowest* so far this year is still over 2,000.

Don't worry. One was guaranteed by the end of the week because some people had a chat last weekend so, in all the rush to debate Headingley's unique contribution to Ashes history and canapes, you just missed it. I was surprised we're having a fourth test in Colwyn Bay but, go with it, I say ...

Sounds excellent. What are the details of the Perth club? We agree that Goole isn’t really expansion. We disagree that the NRL is somehow doing more and better expansion when they actually have a far more instinctive (and successful monetarily) approach of doing the bare minimum of work outside their heartland areas whilst playing hard within them.

Explain why distance is uniquely a barrier to the NRL having teams across Australia but not to every other professional sport in the country.

#AnyoneButLinfield

I know from the waffling Aussies on here that they simply do not get the scale soccer operates at in the UK. It is not equivalent to the NRL in its bit or the AFL in its. The EPL alone, as was said earlier, is several factors more than that and then some. And then, sitting under it, you have *even more football*.

I almost went with no mentioning it all, specifically to get a rise out of you!

Don’t claim anything more than a superficial understanding of Oz. The thing being, Oz is quite small, not connected to many places, and pretty straightforward. The UK is straightforward in one obvious way - football accounts for three quarters of sporting coverage twelve months of the year - but more complex in terms of how it relates around the world and how those smaller sports rise and fall. Neither the NRL or AFL are getting an international deal worth more than other professional sports domestic deals. The EPL does that for breakfast.

It is always: “The NRL, who are perfect, will do the things that I personally want to happen and there will be no downsides because reasons.”

Know what? That enough Aussies consistently misunderstand the UK over and over again? It's not exactly a new observation.

As opposed to two clubs from outside NSW/QLD/(ACT)?

We won't get 90k. A decent target would be "more than the Challenge Cup final and with higher prices".

Almost, but thankfully enough of our Australian posters reveal they don't understand it - for example your post, Father Gascoigne's interminable waffle - to make it accurate enough.

You always tell the mark what they want to hear.

Indeed. Grandad was a regular at Gloucester. It was informal but he, and everyone else, knew who they were comparing against, and which games mattered.

No, we understand it pretty well. What I don’t think the Aussies understand is that multi sport in the UK means a variety of soccer competitions.

Americans’ attachment to their college is quite eye opening. And, should anyone need to see a visualisation, just type “fighting Irish” into Google. Rugby union is a very minor sport even in college terms.

No, but it shows how our ambition has declined in 26 years. For this, though, Wembley is the ground to use. My argument boils down to 'it just is' but then that's sometimes all you need. In the same way, Headingley is so obviously, "it just isn't" that no more needs to be said.

Yes. My suggestion there aged like a fine wine glass of milk in the sun.

Completely agree. You either pay players or you don’t play and they can go elsewhere.

I found it quite compelling and am hoping for a four part ITV series out of it.

A women's international opener between USA v Canada would make sense.

There's a whisper they might announce something by the end of this week. That's it.

Can be up to 72 hours, going on previous replies.