Madrileño

This is probably the most outrageous thing about the whole saga. That we are not even capable of a back up option.

It is shrinking as you say. In Europe anyway. Australia is doing well, but it will be a lone outpost of professional rugby League before long.

You break it by getting buy in from the main nations. You effectively cede control to the big nations, as it is them who will always drive the sport. The IRL should be 'run' by the professional nations effectively. With them holding the bulk of the decision making power. They are the ones who are also most likely to benefit from a bigger global game.

Why? -Because it makes a profit? -Because it generates huge amounts of positive media coverage for its host nation? -Because it attracts tens of thousands of tourists from other countries and also within France? -Or... Because it is governed globally by a professional governing body who actually do proper due diligence on the multiple bids to host it every 4 years? Take your pick.

Just caught up with this game last night. Credit has to be given to Leeds for the spirit shown when down to 12 (ie: for most of the game). They took it to Wigan and really knocked the momentum out of the Warriors. Most teams who manage to win with 12 men are literally hanging on at the end. Leeds were on cruise control, keeping Wigan at arms length, and picking them off with that late interception. Remarkable stuff. Well done.

It seems like both parties were talking garbage.

Really? Not according to the Daily Telegraph from 2 days ago: It's in a story about them taking full control of the stadium. Either the Daily Telegraph is telling lies, or you are talking rubbish. One of the two....

One can only imagine the culture shock of seeing people screeching at each other in Arabic in the local market, the smell of hashish everywhere you walk, and the large numbers of illiterate gypsy travelers parked up at the side of the roads. Anyway, that's enough about your Castleford seasons, Mike.... How's things going in Perpignan?

I wouldn't waste your breath mate. Typical deluded England "fan" who refuses to accept responsibility for his own nation's incompetence. They have some kind of grand conspiracy that "the aussies" are trying to kill off international League. It makes them feel better about their own inadequacies. This coming from a country who last season scheduled their own national team to play a home game in Rochdale.

Him yes. There are plenty others who think England are some kind of League super power though. To Kiwis fans it can come across as extremely arrogant.

Brilliant stat. Shows how utterly deluded the average English League type is on here. "Only 2 RL playing countries" FFS.

No you wouldn't. The English went down under Bennett a couple of years ago and played Tonga, PNG and 2 against the Kiwis. That's a far more logical approach. Union is obsessed with making money, but all blacks never play 3 times at Twickenham, despite that being far more lucrative than going to Rome or Edinburgh.

Exactly! Sounds like a boorish Welsh union type who assumes the whole world follows union.

Why do you say "of course"? I have no interest in union. I thought that teams come to Europe and play other countries once. (A bit like Roos v Kiwis, Samoa v Tonga etc). I see another poster saying that teams go to the southern hemisphere and still play 3 times. So fair enough. Seems to be a dead format in Europe though. There are not "only 2 RL playing nations" either. Quite an ignorant stance to take.

OK.... but that is once every 4 years. A bit like the Ashes, no? For me, it's a dying format.

Jeez mate - I was at that game to see the Kiwis. When you said "recent years" I thought I had missed a game at some point. Didn't realise you meant a decade ago! Avignon did a great job with that fixture. Fans were in from all over France .

Really? Have you got anything to back that up at all?

When was this @fcl ?

"A three test series"? Do any sports still do that?? Sounds really old fashioned to me. I cannot imagine it pulling in many younger fans. I thought cricket have even binned those nowadays! Rugby union doesn't really have them any more either? Is this really the way to drag a dying sport into the 21st century? I can't imagine the Aussies, who know how to market the game... would have any interest in this.

This.

Yet the RFL see fit to organise 4 international games across the North. Someone is clearly completely wrong here... You, or the RFL. Surely 1 random punter cannot know more than the sport's national governing body? I guess we will find out!

Ah OK. Yeah I was not aware you were talking about Leigh. Am not sure why Rugby League teams only seem to expect/target support from their own town. Other sports don't appear to think like that. It feels really small-time, as if they are admitting that growth is impossible beyond their own locality.

It actually makes quite a big difference. Some sports teams are "easier" to support once you see their colours. It is why a number of NFL teams choose black for example.

Fair enough. Sounds like total nonsense though.

Why would there be? He is out of contract!