Whippet13

A 3 or 4 year contract from 2025 apparently. Souths board also meeting on Tuesday to decide whether to sack Demetriou.

Changes to the USARL structure for 2024 have been announced: https://www.usarl.org/news/2024/usarl-announces-major-developments-in-domestic-rugby-league-structure-and-management/ The 4 Rugby League United clubs have joined the USARL as a single NE conference. PCRL have split into 2 conferences as it has grown rapidly (PCRL and Utah). The South conference is now called Florida RL, same clubs. This means 4 conferences. At regular season end, the 2 East and 2 West conference champions play off in 2 semis, and the 2 winners then play to be national champions. All sounds very sensible and positive.

A historic final

I'll throw in a representative nine's competition over a nice warm weekend mid-summer instead of Magic. England, France, Wales, Scotland, and Exiles from Aus, NZ, Samoa, Tonga.

Handy little map of current USA & Canada clubs:

Lots of strong criticism of the RFL here, but unless I'm mistaken it is the French who are organising this event. They have likely decided the scheduling of all 3 games based on their views what will do the most for them on a tight budget. It is their 90th birthday party, they are not a wealthy organisation and just getting this event on is probably quite an achievement. Let's consider this before jumping in and bashing the RFL.

PCRL fixtures have been announced, a very good looking schedule: https://www.pacificcoastrl.com/news/2024-pcrl-schedule Interesting bit at the end: More exciting news regarding the Utah season is expected in the coming days, along with the announcement of the overall schedule of a unified nationwide USARL domestic competition for the very first time

No sign of a sale, and looks an expensive liability for the RFL: https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/exclusive-odsal-stadium-latest-with-no-sale-agreed-and-scale-of-rfl-losses-revealed

Mal Meninga is now in the rumour mill to replace JD, that is more believable than Burgess.

SKD

Burgess has very recently and publicly stated he is at Warrington for 2 years, regardless of what happens at Souths. I can see him ending up there eventually though.

If it's the NRL taking the lead with international RL by spending a little cash and trying to create something in new markets, even if they own it, then they are welcome to have a go as far as I'm concerned, because it seems to be either them or no-one.

Indeed, very experienced and no doubt well connected RL People. Hopefully this is with an eye to working more closely with the NRL, whom they must know extremely well, maybe even with their blessing. There seems to be a lot of positives happening with USARL recently, particularly in structure and governance.

I noticed that too today, they do exactly the same thing in the Internationals.

Thankfully most people put supporting British RL above petty rivalries.