[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

1 hour ago, JM2010 said:

Would like to see China and Japan get something going. Also, as mentioned earlier, Pakistan and India

More countries to add to the “fierce rivalry” list

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

3 minutes ago, jim_57 said:

A few at random:

N America - Mexico (Always had a soft spot for them come Football WC time, no idea why).

S America - Columbia (same as Mexico)

Asia - Phillipines (Close enough to latch on to the Australian professional system if the backing was ever there, could probably put out a decent team already with heritage players.

Europe - Germany, Russia (Just personal picks if I had to choose).

Hate to be pedantic but it’s Colombia

Dont know why but I always liked Colombia since the italia 90.

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

22 minutes ago, JM2010 said:

I think in the NH Italy, Greece, Turkey and Lebanon are the best bets for competitve international sides with NRL heritage players complimenting domestic development. Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Jamaica and Nigeria as well but with more emphasis on UK based players complimenting their domestic scenes.

France are the most developed in the NH on the domestic front without relying on heritage players they just need some help in taking it to the next level

I’d definitely add Serbia to that list of countries.

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

Just now, The Rocket said:

We can only try.

Try and make things worse?

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

9 minutes ago, Bolton Leyther said:

Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

At one time I would have agreed with you but for me there’s bigger fish to fry out there.

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

7 minutes ago, The Rocket said:

Or to make them worse !!! 

Is that even possible?

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

3 minutes ago, moorside roughyed said:

Nice talking to you marra, of to watch Oldham play Bradford. Have a nice day. 

Enjoy

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

Just now, moorside roughyed said:

The question is-would you accept a ticket to this game. I know I would.

Not only would I not accept a ticket but I wouldn’t want to be on the same continent!!!

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

Just now, moorside roughyed said:

Oh go on, it'd be interesting wouldn't it? 

“Interesting” more like terrifying!!

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

3 minutes ago, moorside roughyed said:

Israel v Iran

I wouldn’t go that far.

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

4 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

Greece v Turkey would be a tasty fixture too.

To be played at a neutral venue like Cyprus.

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

4 minutes ago, Hela Wigmen said:

England. 

Southern England?

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

2 minutes ago, moorside roughyed said:

Them two games would be worth watching in any sport. 

Absolutely!!! Like I said an instant rivalry in which RL could be built around

On a serious note though RL and these fixtures could be used to replace war and tension like between rival tribes in PNG.

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

3 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

It was played in Italy for about 10 years back then, but skulduggery from well-connected people in another sport* made sure RL didn't get government recognition, so players couldn't get insurance and the whole thing withered away. That, plus the usual threat of life bans for code-switchers.

*bet you can't guess which sport.

Kabaddi?

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

11 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Eastern Europe definitely, and Scandinavia too. 

But who would pay for it Eddie?

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

4 minutes ago, Smudger06 said:

Andorra, Faroe Islands & Liechtenstein 

All countries that have a smaller population than Leigh

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

10 minutes ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

100% I would like to see Rugby League flourish in all the Eastern European countries.

We should be giving 100% support to Russia/Ukraine/Serbia as the main 3 RL nations followed by ALL OTHER Eastern European nations.

 

Paul

Could you imagine the rivalry between Russia and Ukraine or Serbia and Kosovo?

Would make the “Ashes” rivalry look like a village fete.

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

2 minutes ago, Wanderer said:

Always think Japan was a missed opportunity as it seems Union now has a firm stranglehold on rugby there. I think the style of game they play and physique of the Japanese was always more suited to League

Indeed. Like Argentina RL in Japan would always be behind the 8ball unfortunately.

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

3 minutes ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

Treviso is in Italy owned by the Bennerton family and is part of a fantastic sporting complex.

 

Paul

That’s the kind of backing that RL would need to really breakthrough in countries like Italy, Germany and the Netherlands etc.

[NRL clubs relocating to Queensland hub (Merged Threads)]

When I first saw the story on nrl.com I thought they were talking about a Sydney based team permanently re-locating to Queensland.

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

8 minutes ago, Robin Evans said:

My history be out here. But wasn't rugby league first played in treviso in the 50s but due to lack of support failed and the clubs turned to union? Or have I got that wrong?

Was that not the old Yugoslavia?

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

9 minutes ago, moorside roughyed said:

I'd love to see the Eastern European countries playing it. They live their combative sports, mma, boxing etc. The legendary Polish strongman Mariusz Pudzianovski used to play rugby albeit union in the Poznan region of the country I believe. 

This may not be politically correct to say but I don’t really do political correctness or identity politics but Slavic countries still place a high emphasis on strength and alpha male tendencies in society and there’s no better way to show this off than through sports like boxing, MMA and wrestling etc.

RL and Slavic culture you’d imagine would fit hand in glove.

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

14 minutes ago, Robin Evans said:

I'd love to see it played everywhere.  A truly global sport. But I know that's unrealistic.

However, can you imagine the sort of team Germany might produce if they had properly taken to the sport?

I agree. Makes you wonder why rugby union never really targeted Germany like they did with Italy?

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

15 minutes ago, The Rocket said:

Good question Mac, I`d have to plump for Turkey, 85 million people, 20th biggest economy in the world or 11th on a per capita basis, not ideally situated as far as tapping into existing professional competitions but alternately well-placed between the Balkan Leagues and Lebanon to make for handy rivalries. But I do especially like the 85 million population though.

Emre Guler future captain of turkey

[Countries you’d like to see playing RL]

13 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

https://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/2020/11/12/growing-the-great-game-of-rugby-league-in-latin-america/

"The IRL world rankings have not been updated for some time, but the most recent rankings for men’s teams had Chile at #32, the highest ranked country in South and Central America. Colombia was next best at #40 and Brazil checked in at #41.

Chile and Brazil are affiliate members of the IRL, Colombia has observer status.

Argentina is unranked and its IRL membership is pending, while fellow South American nations Peru and Uruguay have seen varying degrees of fledgling rugby league start-ups in recent years.

And it is a very similar story in Central American countries such as Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Ecuador."

Central and South America has so much potential and is a huge untapped market.