EastLondonMike

I wonder what the NRL will consider a barometer for success. Attendance? Local engagement? Greater US wide visibility? The post match narrative (from Australia) around the England v NZ game in the US, with a 20k attendance, was that of a flop. So will be interesting to see what will be considered a success for this. You’d assume the South’s/Manly involvement isn’t a co-incidence, with The Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman connections.

Taking some games to vegas will/should generate some cash, regularly if they persist. but taking the game to the US market will likely only really have any impact through TV. not sure if Fox US still carry some NRL games or not. Regardless. Still great to see, and hope it does happen. will be interesting to see how much resource they put behind it and their approach to making it a genuine success.

Not sure Sam is ready for this yet. Hope he proves to be a success, for him and for Warrington, but does feel a bit too soon. time will tell.

https://www.bartvsports.com.au/rugby-league/230722-international-rl-test-match-men-s-philippines-tamaraws-v-south-africa/ Video stream of the game from BARTV SPORTS.

Advantage were the original UK license holder for ISC also. I actually know the head of design at Kappa (ex-colleague - kind of), so will be interesting to see what they come up with. Kit designs should be of a decent standard.

It was some years ago, but I got some steeden kits for the amateur team I was involved in. At the time they also had the license for ISC. Kits qualities were identical - literally just a different logo. not sure if it’s the same company involved any more. Anyway, shorts and socks were quality. Shirts were poor. Really poor fit. I’m sure plenty of others may have had a different experience, but mine wasn’t good.

What is the point of an 8 team WC? Seriously.. To generate money for the International game? Which would be used to spend on repairing the damage done by abandoning other nationals excluded from the recent 8 team WC maybe? The Aussie proposal should be an absolute last resort. Though even as a last resort, with so few options, it’s probably still no.2 on the list.

100% has to be the NZ bid - regardless of what financial offer is made by the NRL.

Bit late to the thread. Had a crazy day. So annoying when work keeps you off TRL. Great to see Tonga coming over, really excited to see a team other than NZ/Aus get the three test treatment, which should be a great test for us and them. Kinda feel the same as many around the choice of venues, and would have liked to have seen a marque venue being used for at least one game. With London as a potential host for game i'm very much of the opinion you go for the marquee stadia or you don't bother at all. It's very easy to throw the old 'same old RFL' line about the ambition around stadia selection, and it could very well be true, but heres hoping its just a springboard to bigger things season on season and International RL is now going to become a genuine focus. Here's hoping the Tongans don't pick up any of those mysterious NRL related post season injuries and they come over with a full and fit squad.

The landscape was also very different 30 years ago. Entertainment options were much more limited than today, where you really have to fight for any attention you get. No Netflix, Amazon Prime, SKY was in its infancy, no Internet, and therefore very little access to any sports from overseas unless it was featured on the 4 terrestrial TV channels. Gaming was something kids did, but only after waiting 30minutes for a game to load! Sport also made up a decent percentage of programming for those 4 channels, and ones that weren't sport specific often included sports personalities as guests. TV programming has also changed drastically since those days. Again, IMO, International sport is what generates that additional interest and helps create this greater individual awareness. We severely lack that consistency in Internationals. Get the International games sorted and structured correctly, build stories around those games and its major players (consistently), and win a series or comp for once. And the world is a different place. You then have a good platform to build upon. Theres no short cuts to be had.

Oh well, there you go. They must have. I know Patrick have had new ownership in the last year or so, and are rebuilding.

Sports brand based in the north who sell the majority of their product into a certain sales channel, and a sports retailer based in the north - probably no more than that. I would have thought back then Patrick product would have been stocked in JJB sports.

Think they did the GB jersey worn in Sydney when we got 70 put on us. Which was arguably the nicest use of a chevron on a GB shirt in he modern era.

Anyone who follows sports brands on Instagram or Linkedin, or any other social media, might be aware that Patrick (teamsports) has re-launched in the UK and Ireland. Rugby playing apparel is something they are actively pushing, maybe initially at semi-pro/amateur level. (much like Puma teamwear). but i wonder if they may dip their toe in the professional market. I would have thought they'd certainly be able to compete with the current crop of kit suppliers in RL in the UK. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/patrick-teamwear-uk_winningteam-patricksports-customkits-activity-7047492783552483328-Ti7H?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop A quick google search reminded me that Patrick did supply a number of RL kits in years gone by. GB, Wales, Wigan and Leeds to name a few.

I think it’s worth mentioning that the International game was much more prominent back when the likes of Offiah, Hanley and Edwards were running around. outside of Football, I’d suggest most team sports personalities that enjoyed any level of exposure did so off the back of success while playing/performing for an international team. And we all know where we are at with International Rugby League. pro combat sports being obvious exceptions. I don’t think anyone, no matter how great, is going to cut through simply by playing Rugby for Wigan or Leeds or Hull, unless they are a complete caricature.

Essex..

I am quite cynical about things like this. I’m sure it’s not the case, BUT, if Oxen put out another England shirt without any charitable link, how many do they sell? Very few. If it’s about raising money for a charity, what is really going to generate more of a return? A new, well designed, high quality England shirt? Or a rip off of a design produced by another sports brand in the colours of a charity? I think it’s the former. But that is me being quite cynical.

I’d be surprised if he did. he’d be expected to wear such things for an official engagement, but not this. They should have just asked him to take off the jacket. The presence of the RFU badge isn’t even the main thing. It’s a “sports brand” - I use that term in the loosest sense - launching a product where the guy helping launch it is visibly wearing another sports brand! it’s hilarious.

Its not the worst Oxen have produced. After all it is someone else's kit design. It's just the classic Oxen approach of putting out more tat.

Par for the course for Oxen. Their Instagram post launching the shirt features Kevin Sinfield wearing an Umbro jacket and an RFU logo! which says all you need to know about them.

Errea do make some decent sportswear, but I wonder with this Broncos kit, and quite possibly many of the other Errea kits used by UK clubs, if this is more to do with how the teams have purchased their kits. Not sure if its still the case, but wasn't one of the guys involved at the Broncos the guy who runs Buysportkit? who are/were an Errea distributor. They possibly have very little direct contact with Errea. Whoever did the kit sketch obvs forgot to 'group' the Broncos logo when copying and pasting, as most of the internal elements are missing.

Work experience kid at Errea.

Potentially tough thing for the clubs that are with Hummel is 2023 product will likely just be about to go into production. With Elite going into admin and making many staff redundant that now may be thrown into doubt. if their suppliers in Asia and the Far East won’t be paid they won’t be making that product. they could of course be incredibly lucky (depending on the timelines they work to) and that product could have already been produced. Though it would be highly unlikely those suppliers would have been paid yet, which would likely result in that product staying in the country of origin, and not be shipped without payment. All hyperthetical of course, until more comes to light. Hummel (Denmark) could of course take on the responsibilities of Elite and ensure all clubs are receive the relevant product on time.

I think they are pretty stable, but like many companies that grow so quickly, or maybe over reach a bit, they do have some issues.