JM2010

Does anyone know the sales figures for Australia vs Lebanon or NZ vs Fiji?

Not sure if they've improved as players as Bateman and Williams don't seem to be playing as well as before they went to the NRL. I do think there's an argument that they are better when it comes to playing high intensity games such as Internationals against NRL filled teams. However, Knowles and Welsby have never played NRL and they play at high intensity throughout and are as good as, if not better, than a lot of the NRL players on show. Also, I think Chris Hill steps up every time he plays for England and he's only ever played SL. Short answer is I don't know!

There is a big NRL influence but that's not why they're playing well. They're not good players because they are in NRL they are in the NRL because they're good players

A women's WC including teams from Brazil and Canada, live on BBC 2, a crowd in the 1000s, lots of school kids in attendance who might be inspired to take up playing RL a documentary on BBC last night. Lots of positives

I was going to post something similar about French Polynesia. If they could develop the game there and get a few playing in the NRL plus get more French playing SL then they could become competitive

As has been mentioned on here and other threads, a combination of regular games and domestic development can help develop the NH nations. Unfortunately England either need to rely on SH teams inviting them over or committing to come here if they want competitive fixtures. The rest can play in their own Nations League competition without the Pacific Nations with a couple of national groups with regional ones underneath. France, Lebanon, Wales, Ireland Scotland, Jamaica, Italy, Greece There could then be regional underneath this with a qualifying play off to relace bottom of League 2.

Got to be the pick of the QFs. Can't wait for this one. Should be easy to sell tickets for this

Stick with the WC as it is and give the lesser nations their chance to play against the best. The format proposed by the OP could be used in between WCs as a Nation's League style format

I think they should be given a couple of mid season games down under vs Pacific Islands teams then, as you say, play in a full strength Northern Hemisphere competition. Once every WC cycle they could play in a tier 4/6 Nations.

McMeeken and Pearce Paul. Think they're the only 2

I don't think the crowd looks too bad. Have they announced it yet?

There needs to be a way of making the Euro's more prestigious so that players commit. Qualification for a tournament involving other tier 2 nations might give he Euros more importance and encourage top players to commit

I'm sat in South Stand. Looks pretty full

Where are Serbia, Malta and Italy?

Maybe a pre cursor to a League 1 South???

I agree that all will need juniors but think it would be better if they ran academies with several junior clubs feeding into this

That wasn't a try!

Do you have any idea how they're thinking of running these clubs? Will they be stand alone professional clubs with an academy like in SL or like they are now where they run juniors at several age groups like community clubs in the UK?

Some big games coming up. Cook Islands vs PNG and Samoa vs France. Winner through to QFs

That happened with Manchester Rangers but they were rejected from the RFL

I'm enjoying this game. We need a tournament between WCs outside of the bigger nations for France, Wales, Ireland, Jamaica, Lebanon, Cook Islands etc to compete against each other

The professional clubs should be out there selling season tickets and merchandise on the back of this tournament. The RFL should be actively promoting the local community clubs in the towns and cities that are hosting games. This is the biggest spotlight RL has had in a long time. They should be exploiting it as much as they can

I don't think heritage players should be removed. If they're eligible let them play. Just want to see the game developed in these countries on the back of having a competitive national team. Mid season tests would be a good opportunity for domestic players to play, especially for teams like Italy and Greece who rely on NRL players. As long as they play teams of a similar standard then it would be good experience for domestic players. Could even be used as trials for them to make the squad for the end of season tournaments

Hopefully it's causing a stir in the Jamaican communities in the UK and back in Jamaica. How do they build on this? Getting more players of Jamaican heritage playing over here and increasing playing numbers in Jamaica has to be the aim. Hopefully Jamaica get some games against Wales, Ireland, Scotland etc each year as well as playing in the Americas championship

This is a big game. The winner should make the QFs