Pulga

Who calls them home games? So you vote on just not staging games at all? I think you underestimate the extreme difficulty of playing tests in many nations. Egos! Haha! Unbelievable. Most RL fans wouldn't even know this game happened.

I'm sure every administrator in the world would love your ideas on how to pay to fly 20 players plus staff out to wherever you seem to believe is the most authentic location for it.

I think this is probably the root of the problem. I hate to assume too much about you but it seems the English (especially the white ones) don't really understand that these people don't really identify as Australian. Like I've said earlier people should not tell people how they feel. I don't look at the players in Nicaragua playing the game any differently than I do the Nicaraguans playing here in Australia. If you satisfy the IRL's criteria you are the same to me. I don't really look at my experience with either nation as better or worse than the other. Nicaragua has certainly been much easier. But to me they are weighted the same.

Sorry to have to spell it out but Yes, it was.

To put your mind at ease I can say that if given the option of making a World Cup on the back of "heritage" players or having a 6 team domestic comp at what we would consider a "Pub League" level, no developing nations administrator would chose the World Cup. Everyone's goal is domestic activity. I can't think of an exception. The problem is it doesn't work to plan. I can tell you I founded the El Salvador RL in 2013 from an idea. The goal has always been domestic activity. It will always be domestic activity. But I've devoted 10 years of my life and not seen a single game played in El Salvador. It's unbelievably frustrating. Sometimes you get close but it's out of reach. We've had trouble with the RU over there. We've had setback after setback. COVID put a complete stop to things since early 2020. Hell, it's practically impossible to get balls there. But we continue to push on. Does this mean the Salvadorans in Australia should go into hibernation? Absolutely not. The opposite really. You want to keep the brand going, you need something to show for your commitment. Contrast this with Nicaragua. I thought it would be a good idea to get the nations around El Salvador going for some competition so I put my feelers out to Nicaragua. I instantly found a group of young guys who were super keen to get things started. We've put on a full 4-team season in 2019 and a month-long 9s tournament in 2021 with 3 teams from just one city. The sport has government recognition in the capital state. It's nearly by accident it has happened really. There are a much smaller amount of Nicaraguans in Australia than Salvadorans so we've only been able to scrape together a single 9s team here. Just. There are many reasons why nations play in Australia or don't. None of them are neglecting the game domestically over "heritage" players.

You might need to brush up on your terms. There are three "levels" to IRL membership. Observer, Affiliate and Full. All three are able to play fully sanctioned test matches for world ranking points. I'm unsure how long the rankings have been around but South Africa has been ranked for at least a decade. Brazil has been able to play for rankings for a few years.

Does anyone really think this was some rebel test match completely unknown to the governing bodies of each nation? Do people honestly think you can get 13 mates together and say you're the Kazakhstan national team and then the IRL will actively promote you across all of their social media and website along with the two confederations? I'm honestly baffled. The weird thing is it happens so often on here. As for why in Oz? Rugby League is a massive sport in Australia. To find enough people of heritage from either nation with rugby league experience could only happen in Australia.

What do you mean? Nations can't put on officially sanctioned test matches without the involvement of their respective governing bodies.... I'm not sure what kind of disinformation you've been fed. I'm a little dumbfounded.

God there is some absolute ignorant drivel that pops up every time a developing nation plays a game. I'd LOVE to see anyone point out any "shortcuts" being taken by playing games in Australia. It's an absolute slap in the face to the hard working volunteers that almost entirely fund these things. The IRL rule is you need at least one grandparent born in the nation to be able to represent said nation. It's very simple. If you have a problem with that you should email the IRL. All nations have the same rule. It's also not as black and white as these idiots think. Take for example my ex Mother-in-law. She was born in El Salvador. She had two kids in El Salvador then war broke out. She fled on foot to Honduras where she had two more kids in a refugee camp. She flew to Australia pregnant and had her 5th child there. All kids grew up together in Australia speaking 80% Spanish at home. They could all represent El Salvador and Australia if they wanted. Only the third and 4th could represent Honduras additionally. These immigrants and refugees often find little communities of their own where they are living a completely different lifestyle to the rest of the country. Imagine telling my youngest brother-in-law that he's not Salvadoran enough to represent El Salvador. Stop telling anyone to feel a certain way about their heritage. It's not up to you. As long as you meet the IRL rules it's all good. I'd be very surprised if anyone making these comments isn't a white boomer from a politically stable nation.

I see where you're coming from but the USARL wasn't doing a women's programme, someone else stepped up and did it, the USARL (seemed to) sanction it and is now possibly doing their own. It's very strange.

https://usarl.org/news/2022/usarl-hawks-form-womens-operations-and-administration-committee/ The USARL has pulled rank after sanctioning the Redtails game against Canada Ravens only a few weeks ago. Apparently now the Women's team will also be called the Hawks. It seems the Redtails will continue though...

This is basically it from my experience. Those with a voice don't want to rock the boat in fear of losing access to people like Troy Grant. That's one of the reasons I ask him direct on Twitter.

Good info mate but sad it couldn't have just come directly from Grant. We've had words previously so he's probably not taking my questions in good faith.

Yeah, I don't know one way or another really. It could well be standard practice. I've been smelling something fishy for a while though.

His eventual reaction shocked me tbh.

I've posted this in a new seperate thread (my mistake). "The RLIF has since advanced A$2.9m of its A$3.4m assets as financial support to the UK company. The Australian company has charged £108,000 in interest on this support in 2020." Originally I thought it was very strange the RLIF still exists at all but when I tweeted at Troy Grant he said that the RLIF is in existence so they can hold money in Australia for ease of use there. I then asked why the IRL would owe interest on a loan to itself. He didn't answer. I mentioned the question again today and he attempted some weak character assassination, didn't answer the question and blocked me. I guess I am being antagonistic but I find it strange. I thought it was a fair question

I'm not sure it is what people are assuming it is. This year has streaming numbers included whereas streaming numbers in previous years are MUCH more vague.

Well, I don't think anyone is surprised by your stupidity. If anyone represents a nation and puts their body on the line for it then they're just as worthy as anyone (as long as they meet the IRL criteria). These guys aren't being paid millions to play for these nations. And if you qualify by residency then all the more power to you. Taking 5 years out of your career so you can represent your adopted nation? Pretty big commitment when the average career is probably less than 5 years. But hey, let's keep the bloodlines pure and all that.

Not sure if this has been posted: https://twitter.com/rbutt60/status/1514345595460366347?t=8cxHYJYGjS4NpiaJ37HCDg&s=19

Not NRL quite yet.

https://www.facebook.com/255032504650012/posts/2170229186463658/?sfnsn=mo There is currently a 3 day clinic happening in El Salvador. A coach from Colombia is holding it in Santa Ana.

I play and coach for the Stanthorpe Gremlins.

Beautiful stuff this.

Good to see a few L1 clubs and Hull KR welcome them on Twitter. Sad to see the same insular fans trot out their usual ######.

Interesting. I've often thought similar. The mark-up from factory to retail is phenomenal. There's definitely money to be made.