Keith989

I don't think taking a few games away from Port Morseby is a bad thing at all, nor would it dilute their identity. The Drua does something similar and the team doesn't feel any less Fijian. It's unrealistic to expect PNG to be able to get big crowds Week in week out, year on year too. This eases the pressure on that front a bit.

What channel is this on? I can't find information online.

It could be like what happened with Samoa in the world cup; where the first game is a blowout but the more time the Tonga team has together, the better they'll get.

Funny how we've all thought the PIs could never have pro clubs in fully professional competitions and now we have the Drua and Pasifika in super rugby and possibly PNG in the NRL! It's great to see.

I think league could suit Fijians more. But to say that union doesn't fit their style is obviously wrong given they've just beaten England away, Australia in the world cup and would've beaten Wales were it not for a disgraceful ref performance.

As you allude to, Japan is a terrible example to use. They have massive attendances and TV audiences for their national team and have a pro/semi pro 3 tier domestic league system, along with a thriving university scene. A better example may be the south American sides but they are well backed financially by world rugby, so again not really a fair comparison.

The MLR is nothing like the Saudi league. They have a very strict and very modest salary cap and if anyone breaks it they are booted out (see Adam Gilchrist).

Yes there are problems but if setting up your first pro league and being awarded a world cup is catastrophic, then what hope does anyone have? Everyone has growing pains so to speak.

Fair comment. I agree with your comment regarding France and Wales not getting in ahead of other European heritage sides. I'd be happy for Ireland to not get to the group stages in a reduced world Cup as they don't deserve to be there.

Are you against heritage sides now? Or is it the NRL influence that you are worried about?

Good point.

But we don't have a 4 nations or many mid season games? Therefore we need these games to happen in the world cup at least.

I don't think the blowouts were necessarily the biggest issue, it was more the lack of games that happened between the tier 1 countries. Something needed to change in that regard imo.

I'm just trying to be positive, I know we'll be disappointed again and again over the next few years. Also the scrapping of the 9s is absolutely baffling to me. I honestly thought the last one was relatively successful, guess not.

... And geographical terms change, as they have done all throughout history.

Sporadic games played here and there with no end goal. What I'm hoping for (perhaps foolishly) is that this is perhaps the start of announcing fixtures years in advance and getting some sort of a calendar set in stone. Like it or not but new foundations have to be layed. Unfortunately the international game is still at the very beginning stage of being of a thing, due to incredible mismanagement (and disdain from Aus towards internationals) over the years. This is confirmed by the necessary reduction in the amount of teams in the world cup.

If everything on the list happens then there isn't too much to complain about. It needs to start somewhere and building a calendar around the strongest nations in the short to medium term makes sense. Once that is consolidated, you can start looking to grow emerging nations and creating other competitions. My main issue though is still the lack of available international windows in the season. The international game still just seems like an inconvenience to the clubs

Not anymore, at least here. According to former Irish foreign affairs TD Dermot Ahern: "The British Isles is not an officially recognised term in any legal or inter govermental sense. It is without any official status. The government, including the department of foreign affairs, does not use this term". Its not recognised over here.

I would say the majority (including myself) would think otherwise.

Anyone know how or why the Aussie players were getting 20k a test? That seems so incredibly excessive considering how popular the kangaroos and international rugby in general is. I'm sure that has been a major factor in the Aussies not bothering organising test matches all these years.

You know the West is just as bad with "dirty filthy corrupt money" right? This is literally the last reason Qatar shouldn't host it.

I think a more realistic approach would be more optimal. Like trying to get one or two local born players into every squad.

It's hilarious how typically English this attitude is. Instead of finding a way of bettering yourselfs, you have to find a way of weakening the other nations in order to make things "fair". The exact same thing happens in union. You do realise there are more Tongans living abroad, than on its own tiny impoverished island? You did see the big crowds they pulled outside of Tonga for internationals?

Looking at the stadiums and ticket prices, I can't see them being able to offer a whole lot financially to Tonga. It's great to get this tour to go ahead, but just how little were the Aussies offering, that they felt the need to take this ahead of the 4 nations tournament.

Would love to see him line out for Samoa!