fighting irish

Alex Murphy Avenue?

Great. Come to Wales.

if any of the clubs are looking for a representative to raise their profile, without risking letting their own players speak to the press, I heard Rachel Zegler is freeing up some time.

I really enjoyed that. I wonder why none of the Pacific West USA clubs were represented. If they have players which could break into this team then we need to get them over here to play Wales.

It's not clear yet where the game will be played. There are (normally) two options :- The Velindre Football Club which was the venue for the recent England Community under 23's v Wales RL Dragonhearts or The Aberavon Harlequins RU club. There is a possibility it will be at the Aberavon RU ground (old RU first class club) but nothings decided yet. If you are definitely coming to visit, please let me know?

Oh God. It's heartbreaking.

but what?

Forgive me Whippet but I think your missing the original posters point. I believe he was advocating making an effort to draw these terrific athletes (who just missed the draft pick) into the American RL game, not bringing them here to Super League. In my opinion, there's no sensible argument against this concept. Practically speaking, it's difficult to see (if they consider themselves to be professional athletes/football players) how the USARL could tempt them in. No doubt, with little alternative opportunities presenting themselves, some of these young men will be tempted to get involved, if they are approached and the USARL should be mounting a big effort to identify those athletes and entice them to play. I think the best hope though, is if the USARL can become (perhaps with NRL guidance/advice/support) a professional or semi professional competition in the not too distant future. If I could be granted a wish then it would be that the NRL would set up a permanent office/base in the USA, capitalising on the interest generated by the Las Vegas games, with these goals uppermost on their list. Like the original poster I think the potential is enormous and also, is the shortest/quickest route (I believe) to providing credible competitive opposition to England, in the Northern Hemisphere.

I'm sorry Craig, but I've no idea what you are referring to with this comment? Can you please elaborate? I'm always eager for news from the USA.

I'm enjoying this match. I'm even more chuffed that it's actually going on, as I've said before, all on their own dime. They are demonstrating that they don't need us, to make it happen. Us who can't make it happen on our own doorstep! One early comment on the players - I can see that they have had some exposure to RaRa by the time it takes to form a scrum. It's as though they see it as an opportunity to stop, take a breather, maybe discuss politics, swap family photo's and/or complain about their wives. Otherwise, like you said Magpie, its very entertaining.

I'm sure members of this group would start an argument over nothing, just to have a rant and vent. It tickles me that we all want broadly the same thing but can't agree how to achieve it. The only thing we get consensus on is that ''it'll cost a lot of money''. When I assess our own recent performance in developing the game over here, it seems to me we might be better off, leaving it all to the people on the ground in these far flung places. Canada have played USA and Jamaica, USA touring South Africa, I'm sure I just saw a clip of Brazil v Chile (was it?) and then all those of the European nations managing to organise fledgling leagues and International matches to-boot! All on their own dime. Are the European R.L. really helping them? I hope so, but there doesn't seem to be a lot to shout about. I think, until we can demonstrate a proven track record here in this country (why haven't we even written the definitive ''how to'' guide?) of how to stimulate sustainable growth then we should stop telling these entrepreneurial enthusiasts from elsewhere, how to do it.

What does this mean? It just seems to have appeared out of the blue, so can you explain the story?

''Mork calling Orston, Mork calling Orston''. This has nothing at all to do with this thread, or your post but it just popped into my head, so I had to get it out.

Hmmmm I wonder?

So are you saying there is no substance to the story or to his bid to buy-in to the Bronco's? Or are you just saying he ought to be avoided if the bid is real?

Hear hear!

Who are the ''these guys'' you refer to and why are you so ill - disposed towards them?

I wonder why not?

Any more news?

i'm just pulling your leg mate. Don't take it to heart?

you poor thing.

Thank you for making me aware of this. I was hoping my tongue in cheek post would flush out some coverage. I'm grateful to you.

When we formed our club, in South Wales, my brother noticed a car (in Bradford) with an Underbank Rangers sticker (of some sort) and placed a note under the windscreen wiper saying we were starting up and wondering if they would consider a friendly match against us. It turned out to be Neil Fox's car and I'm pleased to say they got in contact and travelled to South Wales to play us! Great bloke, great player, great fortunate co-incidence, great club, great memories.

Why on earth wasn't this game covered/filmed? Is this yet another example, of our homespun marketing genius? It's an uncanny decision but more than that, don't you think there's something suspicious about it? Didn't a single one, of the 10,000 plus spectators make any video film of the game (or snippets of it)? Has nothing appeared on You Tube (or here)? The FBI/CIA/MSS/KGB/MI5 would be proud of this level of suppression.

I like this kind of idea. I have proposed a kind of ''squash ladder'' structure here, between the N.H. with similar goals in mind. Of course it makes sense to organise fixtures amongst the lower reaches of the ladder with nations geographically close by. I've no doubt that these matches provide a stimulus to develop participation and over time, cultural links and historical rivalries amongst the competing nations. All good stuff. My preference for the one versus the team above, one versus the team below, two game season is a recognition of the fledgling status of some of the newer nations in the competition and a desire not to overburden them. I say, let them grow before imposing too much travel, expense and complexity. One of the (hardly mentioned) benefits of creating this kind of global competition is that there aren't enough NRL players to go around, which would ensure the selection of more and more home grown players instead of the current anti-development preference for ''heritage'' players.