Heritage XIII

It's interesting cos it kind of mirrors what has happened in Australia. Apart from Labor in QLD, nationally Labor has courted AFL with leaders coming out espousing their team colors, poured lots of govt money into AFL & virtually ignored RL. In contrast the last 4 or 5 LNP (Conservatives) leaders (Howard, Abbott, Turnbull, Morrison) have come out & let the public know who they follow in the NRL, were seen at games, given the NRL massive funding for stadiums & even gave $50 million plus in grants for centres of excellence. Apart from Rudd, we had Gillard & Shorten (Labor has gone thru less leaders than the LNP last decade or so) but they were AFL lackies to the hilt

https://amp.nine.com.au/article/06d8d804-fd8e-492d-aff0-2117b5d3a671

Also lack of sponsorship is a big issue

New HQ for the RFL, Super League, RLEF?

Sale union announce attendances of 8k plus. Even if they were fudging numbers its still way higher than Salford. Sad indictment on the Red Devils.

I will say with a lot of conservative right wing govts in power atm, there is a lot of underlying support for Folau from the big end of town, so in a sordid way, SL could benefit from his signing more than be disadvantaged. I'd imagine there are a fair whack of conservative media companies in France esp Arab owned beIN Sports who would probably get behind his 'religious' cause or atleast his right to express it (if it is one thing conservative Christians & Muslims agree on is anti homosexuality) as a strike for conservative values. Anyways, just a possible observation/scenario!

They have to start somewhere & who is to say it won't become big with a bit of financial support. Plus they need to help create a pathway for African nations to be able to compete for quals for the RLWC plus it creates new possible venues for future world cups?

South Africa have twice tried to host a world cup saying they can get financial backing, surely they could prove they can host a tournament like this & assist these countries to participate? Perhaps its hubris. The IRL should see this, along with the Balkans Super League as a priority event outside the RLWC like they do with the Pacific challenges?

where are Ghana & Cameroon? Sad if they can't compete because of lack of money!? Surely this is a tournament the RLIF should get behind.

https://www.nrl.com/membership/ or go to club websites for updated figures usually

Should start off 2 less for Australasia Pacific and 1 less for the home nations & add 1 for Africa & 1 for Asia & 1 for Latin America.

I'll go with the group 4

At this stage we should take anything. It appears the draw is making its way into social pages of news outlets, perhaps a new audience for the sport!? This one is particularly good as it says "he watched children play rugby league at Bucks Palace", plus mentions he took over from the Queen as patron of RFL after 64 years! etc https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/prince-harry-first-public-engagement-sussex-step-back-senior-royals-announcement/ba5eac3f-486c-47ec-b315-f3225cf1991c?ocid=Social-9News&fbclid=IwAR07Fg1mMbGWb_X2jB-jqBRXGLAB89JhhTGGW0PXlgvwdQqVnwAPE2ox7bA

Wonder if being linked with Ch. 9 & them not covering it (Ch. 7 are I think) has something to do with it not appearing/a priority yet?

made it in World News in the Sydney Morning Herald plus video https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/prince-harry-appears-in-public-for-first-time-since-royal-split-20200116-p53s7s.html