Methven Hornet

Capitalist!

Would it be totally outrageous to ask what the point of Gateshead itself is? [Ducks]

Why?

KR is a fine example of a typical RL ground of the twentieth century and an example of the type of stadium we used to see in soccer. It is totally unrealistic but in some ways it is a shame that at least one ground of this type could not be preserved as some sort of historic building. I agree with your post. Yes, stadiums were a collection of buildings erected as and when clubs could afford them - and need them! You could usually tell which rugby and soccer teams had had periods of success, and the consequent crowds, by the size of the structures contained within the grounds. Perhaps that contributed to the 'soul' of the place - that substantial grandstand reminded your grandfather of the massive popularity of the game in the 40s and the club's success then (as he never used to stop telling you!) Also, because the ground was usually developed piecemeal, and they were usually developed in highly built-up areas, the individual structures had to fit in with what space was available. So, when Oldham had just a narrow strip of land behind one end of the pitch, but still had substantial crowds to fit in, what do they do? Build a double decker. When Saints build a grandstand but the railway encroaches on the space - erect a structure that ends two thirds of the way down the pitch. These quirks made the place unique and helped it to feel like 'home'. What matters today, however, is comfort, safety, decent facilities and a good, unobstructed view of the pitch, and is quite often better financially to construct this on a new site where the pitch is plonked in the centre with the stadium built symmetrically around it. No need to adapt the buildings to the differing layouts of the 4 sides and so a standard design can be used. I agree that rebuilt grounds do tend to preserve their character better and, I think, Spotland is a fine example of this. The redevelopment started with the grandstand, a modest structure because the clubs only had a limited amount of money available and needed to incorporate all the offices, changing/training rooms, restaurants, hospitally boxes etc. (Also it had to be built around the existing pub built in the stadium grounds.) Next came the 'home end' for the soccer club, a larger stand where the home fans could congregate behind the goal, drink in the pub down below, and try and create some atmosphere. The last rebuilding was the northern side of the ground - here came the realisation that, given the limitations of the 'main' stand, this would need to be a more substantial structure to get the capacity up to the 10,000 needed should the clubs achieve success or attract representative games. Lastly, the most modest part of the ground, the small covered terracing behind one goal, was re-clad, repaired, but left more-or-less untouched - its early sixties design acting as the architectural inspiration behind. So, a piecemeal development, built as the resources became available, but in an already well-defined site layout, became what is now, IMO, an attractive and interesting 'home'. Add the substantial crowds and it will have 'atmosphere' and 'soul'

On the issue of exchanging the success of those years for financial security... Of course not but it is the big problem of professional team sport in the UK, clubs building teams made up of players that they can't afford for more than a short period. Having said that, the club they were all up against at the time, Wigan, were the biggest culprits. Whether they were the best attacking team to grace these shores or not, that Widnes team was something special. A shame they haven't been able to sustain a place at the top level recently.

Definitely! It would have been very interesting.

Pork?

I think that's right. The more sensible idea would be to co-host but with NZ having the final, their own semi and the opening game. In that way it would be a Kiwi-flavoured competition but revenue would be maximised. The games involving the minor nations could be allocated depending on where they would be likely to attract the crowds - Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands in NZ, for example, and Fiji, PNG in Aus. Scotland might be more popular in NZ given its links with the place (more bagpipe bands than Scotland, I believe) with Ireland in Australia.

I think there was a case for using the two origin sides in tour fixtures before the RFL switched to a summer season. Queensland toured a number of years ago, and it would have been good to have seen NSW do the same. I think there was a reluctance to sanction tours by non-test teams in case they overshadowed international tours. Perhaps an idea at one time - ie, when GB was the rep team - would have been to alternate tours by Qld and NSW to GB. in non-tour years, and have a tournament made up of England, Wales (that is splitting GB into its 'states' of origin) Qld/NSW and France. With England being stand-alone these days then it could be seen as downgrading them as an international team. I don't think Lancashire or Yorkshire could live with a full strength origin team.

That is brilliant news and I hope they have the courage to go through with it. I'm a bit confused about 'new Asia-Pacific and European federations being set-up' - is RLEF being re-formed?

It is an interesting concept but do the figures stack up? Have you tried doing even the most basic feasibility study based upon the likely levels of people willing to watch, how much they would be willing to pay, what the costs would be? The problem is that the RFL is a governing body, not an internet entrepreneur, so it would have to go into partnership with someone that had the necessary skills. Why would that partner want to work with the lower reaches of the RFL - wouldn't soccer or union be much more of an attractive prospect to them? If the concept is workable why aren't those sports out there doing it now?

RLI - could you perhaps update us on the format and progress of the All-Ireland play-offs as the Rugby League website seems a bit confused? By my reckoning the three pronvincial champions are Ballynahinch Rabbitohs - Ulster Dublin City Exiles - Leinster Carlow Crusaders - Munster The website says that the Dublin play Carlow in the 'All-Ireland Final' (should that be semi-final?) - do the winners then play the Rabbitohs in the Grand Final? I've noticed a few people have queried on the website but there hasn't been any response. Any idea?

Nah, it is a pale salmon-type colour; and it's more of a collarette than a sash - although it seems to have slipped a bit down from the collar! One of two options, methinks... It is in honour of the Banbridge Peachmen (they are kind of like the pale brothers/LibDems of the loyal orders) or it is part of the sponsor's logo/corporate image! Ulster v Leinster match report

That Ulster shirt is nice - see they have no worries about it looking like a Saints shirt!

Literally: land of Galles! or, according to Google translate, land of galls (a gall being an abnormal outgrowth, often caused by various parasites).

I can think of the following scenarios:- World war breaks out and all competitive rugby is suspended. A mass brawl breaks out that even the constabulary fail to contain; the match is abandoned and the cup is not awarded this season. Rugby league is abolished by the coalition in an attempt to help with the deficit. In the absence of the above, and seeing as the thread seems to be descending into tribalism, I'll go for the west of Pennine side.

Plus, seeing as we won't let them compete in the WC, and we no longer have traditional tours, the game has a responsibility to the Maoris to provide them with decent fixtures. After all, are there many other communities that show as much commitment to the game?

We get a lot of threads like this, but there is no problem with dreaming of what could be. How about someone comes up with a thread on how we get to the situation outlined in the OP? Where do we get players of sufficient quality from? How do we ensure the popularity of the game in virgin territories before launching a club there (not forgetting that this club has to strong enough and have sufficient resources/support to compete in a pan-western European League)? Who is going to finance it???? Where are the TV contracts going to come from when most broadcasters in Europe aren't interested? Especially when our expansion of the pro/semi-pro game in England, France and Wales hasn't been the greatest of successes in recent years.

Could that be repeated elsewhere in (south) Wales, in your opinion? Creating sustainable C1 sides is a bit like the search for the holy grail, and could lead to widespread expansion throughout Britain.

Isn't it good to see that 23 out of the 48 are from Welsh clubs?

With this being a new venture I just think its essential that we have the strongest European team possible. If the qualifier is weakened because the stars who helped them qualify have retired then the likelihood of thrashings is greater - if the thrashings are embarrassing then the chance is that the tournament may not happen again. In the WC the European teams (especially the Iritch, the Weltch and the Scotch ) tend to have been kept away from the big 3 - this is a new departure for the game, a bit of adventure from the game's authorities, let's hope that it works.

The problem there, in some ways, is that the team that qualifies isn't the one that will play in the 4 Nations. I can see the attraction of the near-retirement players giving it one last go to help their team qualify but, really, you want to ensure as far as possible that the best team in Europe in 2011 makes the 4N.

Is that a put-down directed at those of us who are still using old technology? My deepest apologies that I'm unable to post using a laptop, phone, Blackberry, ESP, etc. The old PC will have to do.

Perhaps Mr Mathers likes arguing with t**ts on the internet. Perhaps it is his way of winding down; after all a lot of us seem to spend a lot of time on here doing it. And, for a player, it is much better than going to a club or a bar, being hassled by your typical know-it-all and then having to resort to sticking one on him.

The park is next to the River Calder - near Tod's cricket ground.