gogledd
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Posts posted by gogledd
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I should add to my post above - that support for Wigan only goes for the Wheelchair Super League Grand Final. My team, North Wales Crusaders play Wigan 'A' in the Wheelchair Championship Grand Final so I'll be filly behind North Wales Crusaders!
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Just got back from Old Trafford. I went to support Catalans Dragons as a regular Dragons supporter so I was hopeful we'd pull out a decent enough performance to beat Wigan. Unfortunately that wasn't to be. A very tight first half and there were probably only 10 minutes in the second half that Dragons looked like getting near Wigans line. Wigans defence was spot on to be fair and their exploitation of a gap when we had 12 on the pitch was the difference between the two teams.
Gutted we lost, but congratulations to Wigan, who were the better team today.
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1 hour ago, Leyther_Matt said:
The documentary was a great watch (as I knew it would be) and this thread is similarly interesting.
The French skipper is a proper inspiration, and didn’t necessarily seem to share the thoughts of his coaches with regards to the rule interpretations etc. It did strike me as though the French were just unhappy that they weren’t having it all their own way and almost akin to taking their ball home, although @gogledd’s viewpoint above is infinitely more informed than ours and a lot more measured compared to the rest of us!
I must say that the RLWC Wheelchair final was one of the finest sporting spectacles I’ve ever attended and an experience that I’ll never forget.
I first met Robert Fassolette, the French Team Manager in 2014 or 2015 when we played France in a European tournament and again in 2017 when France hosted the Wheelchair Rugby League World cup. As in the documentary he was always passionate in his advocacy of Wheelchair Rugby League and as one of the founders of the sport saw his role as the guardian of the spirit and ethos of the sport. He's always advocated the sport for disabled athletes and those with able bodies to comply with the rules to ensure a fair game between all athletes. The French are unhappy that the sport has, in their viewpoint, changed to be disadvantageous to disabled athletes whose movement is impacted by their injury or disability. That has been their viewpoint for some considerable time and not just in 2022. There's definitely more to it than just unhappy and not having their own way.
I have to agree with you that the RLWC2021 Wheelchair final in Manchester was a spectacular experience. It was fast furious and got the crowd absolutely enthralled; the atmosphere was electric. I hope many of those who went to the final watched the documentary and discovered more about the people who play the sport. My utmost respect is always for the athletes who play the game.
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Sorry to have lost him from North Wales Crusaders. He was a big favourite with the fans and will be missed. Looks like Hornets have picked up a great signing.
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16 minutes ago, bromleybulldog said:
The response from the RFL to the withdrawals of London Skolars and now Newcastle has been nothing more than a few statements of wishy washy platitudes (review, consultations etc) and it got me thinking about who is actually running the RFL these days. Not long ago there was more or less unanimous agreement that the likes of Nigel Wood and Ralph Rimmer were nothing more than overpaid and over promoted placeholders who contributed very little to the growth and development of the game but now - well I can't even name whoever it is in charge of the game. Whoever it is seems to have achieved an astonishing level of invisibility. Who is it? What is their plan for the game? Are they there to lead? Or just to collect a large salary and then move on to be replaced by someone else from the back office following an exhaustive world wide search and selection process? The game is falling apart and there appears to be no leadership at all coming from the RFL. Time to start earning their salaries, I suggest.
Spot on.
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2 minutes ago, Rovers13 said:
I think you’re missing the point they are ready to step up the rest of league one are not.
I'm responding to the post where you said you didn't want to watch Donny because it would be a blow out score where you'd beat them by 80 points. The remainder of League 1 teams were all competing to get to Championship level last season. While I accept only Dewsbury and Doncaster made the cut, the competition to get there was pretty fierce. I'm more concerned that the remaining 8 clubs don't get cut adrift and theres a sustainable structure for them to play in.
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1 minute ago, Rovers13 said:
No idea wouldn’t surprise me if we did though.
So its OK to have blow out scores that are in the same league but exclude the 8 remaining L1 teams for the same reason?
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16 minutes ago, Rovers13 said:
That’s the difference though their ready obviously to step up as they deserved it.
...but do you think you'll beat them by 80?
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59 minutes ago, Rovers13 said:
If there is only one tier where they’re all in then they can’t, but I’m sorry I wouldn’t want to watch my team play a donny and put 80 on them.
Doncaster got promoted...as it stands you WILL be playing them!
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16 minutes ago, gingerjon said:
Something similar to the points system for team building that (I think) is still in use for Paralympic wheelchair basketball?
I think the French would support that. The other viewpoint is that limits inclusivity, for example Jack Brown started playing Wheelchair Rugby league with his brother,as there was no other sport where disabled players could play with able-bodied players at the same level. I've come across this many times with Wheelchair Rugby League....in fact we now have a situation in Wales where a mum and daughter play for Cardiff Blue Dragons and her husband and son play for Torfaen Tigers! I've always leaned towards inclusivity but I do have some sympathy for the French viewpoint. If Wheelchair rugby could adapt the rules in a way that doesn't give an advantage to one set of players then I think there could be a compromise/.
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10 hours ago, arcticchris said:
Appreciate all your posts on the wheelchair game. It’s such a good thing to have someone with your insights contributing on the forum.
A few questions if I may.
1. Do the French have any players who would be regarded as fully able bodied?
2. Might it address some of the concerns about inclusivity becoming marginalised if it was mandated that all 10 players in the match day squad had to play at some point in the match?
3. What are the main things that need to happen to narrow the gap between England/France and the other countries and how to get to a position where the next World Cup can feature 12+ teams?
1. Not sure. When teams submit team sheets prior to a game they coaches mark players as AB (able-bodied) or LM (limited movement - these players can tap their wheels to restart and score. They wear armbands to signify that they have limited movement). Its not just the able-bodied players that France are concerned about, its any player (who may have some disability, e.g. epilepsy) who has more mobility than a regular wheelchair user.
2. The only mandate at the moment is that there must not be more than 2 able-bodied players on the pitch during any part of the game. That can mean you have 5 non-wheelchair users playing, which the French perceive as an advantage. I'm sure that the French would like to adapt the rules to ensure more consideration was given to players with spinal injuries and regular wheelchair users, or players with amputations or limb disabilities.
3. I can only answer from Wales perspective - funding and professionalism. In the World Cup England had a coaching staff of 11, Wales permanent staff was 4 (including the media manager!); Wales recruited a physio for the tournament and we were allocated a doctor and a chaplain. England and France would include strength and conditioning, video analysis, etc. England would hold weekend training camps in St. Georges Park, whereas Wales would meet at most once a month in a sports hall prior to the World Cup. England are well funded in comparison to the celtic nations and the set up is on a more professional basis. For our World Cup in 2017 all our players and staff self-funded (£1500) to play and had to take leave from work....you can imagine how this effects squad choice! Fortunately for the World Cup 2021 all players were given pro-rata payments for the first, and so far, only time. Wales staff (apart from the media manager) are unpaid.
Wheelchair Rugby League is growing internationally, Brazil have expressed interest and Norway were due to play in 2021 but pulled out due to difficulties emphasised by covid. In my opinion the tournament organisers need to ensure sufficient funding is in place for travel and participation as well as payment for players.
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5 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:
This matter is presumably pertinent to possible Paralympic acceptance and related funding issues?
Its a possibility but not the most important matter to the French. I thinks they'd be happier if the rules were reviewed so that able-bodied players had to adapt their play so that they wouldn't have an advantage over regular wheelchair users or players with disabilities that effect their movement.
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I've been inside the Wales Wheelchair RL Team camp at two World Cups as their team manager. I've also attended the pre-game meetings with other team managers and tournament directors. In fairness France have held the same view in regards to the disability aspect of the sport and would go down the disability classification route if they could get agreement .... and they expressed their view at all the pre-tournament meetings.
I don't think Wheelchair Rugby will go down that route purely because of its inclusivity. In the 2022 World Cup Wales had 12 player - 10 men, 2 women, our youngest player was just 18 and our oldest in his 50s, all players bar 1 had some disability...from cerebral palsy to photosensitive epilepsy....and that for me makes it the game it is.
It was great to see the back story of the players, my only complaint was, it would have been nice to see some of the other teams in the competition, Scotland, USA and Ireland never even got a mention, but I accept the story was about the top two teams and it made great viewing.
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It would be nice to see a Wigan win. I've known a lot of the Wigan Warriors from way back when they were Leyland. I've a lot of good friends in both teams but I'd like Wigan to win for their player coach Phil.
PS - If you've not watch it yet, get on BBC i-Player and watch Storyville: Made of Steel
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I hope he starts playing Masters Rugby League just so I can say I tackled him and buy him a pint!
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On 02/10/2023 at 03:07, Jim from Oz said:
I was planning a road (well, train, really) trip like this for 2025 RLWC … sigh
I had already been looking at campsites and Aires...I was going to drive over in our motorhome for the duration.
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On 01/10/2023 at 21:08, welshmagpie said:
It’s a long way off personally but it’s high up on the bucket list. I’d love to design it around watching rugby league in the south of France.
Could any of our French posters or those more in the know than I be able to recommend the best possible stops?
I’ve already pencilled in:
- Avignon
- Toulouse
- Cahors
- Albi
(not fussed on Perpignan/Catalans as done it 3 times already)
Carcassonne
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I'll look forward to seeing the documentary. Should be great viewing. Thanks for the heads up
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Catalans Dragons are the Super League team I follow so I would definitely go. I was there two years ago at the Grand Final when they lost. I try to their games in the UK when North Wales Crusaders aren't playing or I'm not playing for Chester Gladiators Masters.
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1 minute ago, slowdive said:
Nice little ground and easy to fly to, i'd love them to join.
Lovely Cite and Bastide to visit too.
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Would they be a great addition to League 1/ Championship or an even greater loss to the FFR Elite 1? Selfishly I'd love them to join, but I'm not sure what effect it would have on the French leagues.
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2 hours ago, robt said:
I hope the issue with the steward is dealt with. The majority of those that work on matchdays, have done for a long time, and know the craic with opposing fans.
I'm a little privileged in that I get to see the other side of the matchday experience a lot of the time, and, I have to say, that the only way things will get changed, is if you give feedback.
Appreciate all the responses and amazing comments our fans have received from Doncaster fans. I'd like to emphasise our beef is with Doncaster stadium management and certainly not with Doncaster fans or their Club. All the very best for next season..and hopefully we can join you in the Championship at the end of 2024.
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8 hours ago, Barley Mow said:
Most of the things you mention are disruptive, off-putting and not ideal for fans. You could see them putting people off a return visit in future, but are the type of thing that you get from time to time at the occasional ground. Hopefully they can be addressed.
The thing that sticks out to me is the visiting club's team bus being charged to park at the ground. I know the operational rules require there to be parking set aside for the team bus and X number of the visiting club's officials, but am not sure if it specifies that this is to be free of charge. Do you know if this was the case when NWC visited for the regular season game against Doncaster? I don't know if this is something that happens at many clubs, but it really surprised me.
I can't remember it happening to our supporters bus before but from memory I think previously we got dropped off and our coach driver went elsewhere to park then we phoned him once we were ready to leave.
I've driven a 17-seater minibus there before with North Wales Cru fans, 4 of them with mobility problems, one was well into his 80's. Even though I had a blue badge for the vehicle I was asked for £10 to park in a disability parking space! I refused, dropped off my passengers, parked elsewhere and returned to collect everyone after the game. I did write to Doncaster RLFC regarding this and was told it was the policy of the then Keepmoat Stadium management
We had a similar issue at Oldhams Boundary Park ground at the play-off earlier this month. We were again charged £20 for the Supporter Club bus....It seems like football stadiums like to add on charges for visiting fans.
At Midlands Hurricanes new venue, The Alexandra Stadium, fans were asked to pay an additional £5 to go into the post-match bar. Guess what? we all got on the bus and spent our money in our local on our return....so perhaps its not just football clubs who are greedy.
These policies, in my view lose revenue for the venues. It might not be a lot of money, but it doesn't sit well with the fans, who vote with their feet and go elsewhere rather than putting money behind the bar. I have to say that most clubs run by and on behalf of rugby league clubs are usually welcoming and appreciate supporters spending their cash in the ground.
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8 hours ago, robt said:
I'll pass those on to the relevant people, our fan/club engagement group meets soon, so they'll pass these on, I know the issue with the bar has been going on all season, and is something that needs looking at.
From a personal point of view, I've never had an issue with the North Wales fans, yeah, you can be boisterous, but, thats the nature of your support. I'd much rather deal with you guys, than some other groups of fans I've experienced.
Anyway, I don't want to take away from what was a good game, despite the low score, and hope you guys have a great season next year.
Appreciate you passing my comments on. I've passed them on to the fella that runs your Facebook page (Darryl). I've also completed the feedback form I received from the Stadium and encouraged our fans to do the same. Finally I've written a formal complaint about one particular, confrontational and aggressive steward to the Eco-Power stadium. Whether they do anything about it is another matter. Hopefully they take complaints from customers seriously
Sun 15th Oct: Wheelchair Super League Grand Final: Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors KO 17:30 (Sky)
in The General Rugby League Forum
Posted · Edited by gogledd
A shame that the RFL seem to have a news embargo on the Championship Grand Final. Not a jot on their website anyway! North Wales Crusaders were 22 - 8 down at half-time but an incredible comeback in the second half saw them beat Wigan 'A' 46 -40 and become Championship Champions! Crusader also lifted the League Leaders Shield earlier in the season ans Sundays win completed their 100% record for the season!
However, the RFL in their wisdom have decided Crusaders will NOT be promoted to Super League, despite some very heavy score lines in their favour. Apparently our team have been told SL is 'invitation only'. I'm hoping that decision can be overturned.