flyingking Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 https://www.rlwc2021.com/article/109/european-play-off-draw-made Group 1 Scotland, Italy and Spain Group 2 Ireland, Russia and the winner of the Greece/Norway game Rugby League European Federation general manager Chris Thair announced Greece would play off with Norway in London on May 18. The game will be a double header to either a London Broncos or London Skolars match. The Broncos are at home to Wakefield on May 18 while Skolars take on Doncaster. Can anyone make a case for a surprise qualification for Spain, Norway or Greece? www.twitter.com/flyingking2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wackojacko Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 Greece will surely struggle given their issues with the two federations although if they could sort that out they'd have a good case, certainly given the fairly considerable diaspora down under. I think Norway will struggle with a lack of heritage players but if they could build up that network they could be in for it as Russia are fairly reliant on domestic players. The kind of squad Italy are able to put out could vary greatly but Spain would probably have to find a number of strong heritage players to compete with them. It looks like it could be an interesting battle for those last two places and we'll definitely get a face we haven't seen for a couple of decades (or never). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 3 minutes ago, wackojacko said: Greece will surely struggle given their issues with the two federations although if they could sort that out they'd have a good case, certainly given the fairly considerable diaspora down under. I think Norway will struggle with a lack of heritage players but if they could build up that network they could be in for it as Russia are fairly reliant on domestic players. The kind of squad Italy are able to put out could vary greatly but Spain would probably have to find a number of strong heritage players to compete with them. It looks like it could be an interesting battle for those last two places and we'll definitely get a face we haven't seen for a couple of decades (or never). The fixtures seem to favour Italy and Russia as they play their main challengers for 2nd, a week after they (Greece,or Norway, Spain) have played the top teams. Russia also get a week off between games along with Ireland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowdesert Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 27 minutes ago, flyingking said: https://www.rlwc2021.com/article/109/european-play-off-draw-made Group 1 Scotland, Italy and Spain Group 2 Ireland, Russia and the winner of the Greece/Norway game Rugby League European Federation general manager Chris Thair announced Greece would play off with Norway in London on May 18. The game will be a double header to either a London Broncos or London Skolars match. The Broncos are at home to Wakefield on May 18 while Skolars take on Doncaster. Can anyone make a case for a surprise qualification for Spain, Norway or Greece? Will the Greece game be a night match? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingking Posted December 13, 2018 Author Share Posted December 13, 2018 6 minutes ago, Niels said: The fixtures seem to favour Italy and Russia as they play their main challengers for 2nd, a week after they (Greece,or Norway, Spain) have played the top teams. Russia also get a week off between games along with Ireland. On the other hand, Spain will have played together and will not be caught cold going into the Italy game. They will also know how many points they need to win by to ensure a positive points difference. The harder task might be travelling to an icy Moscow in the final week of the tournament, needing an away win to qualify. www.twitter.com/flyingking2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingking Posted December 13, 2018 Author Share Posted December 13, 2018 The Greece V Norway game has to played at Ealing Trailfinders; Imagine the scene, the Greek team run out onto the field to the accompaniment of 'Tragedy', Broncos mascots Dusty and Buck suddenly take off their heads from the costumes and reveal the two individuals to be the Greek wingers Daedalus and Icarus. www.twitter.com/flyingking2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onieda FC Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 8 minutes ago, flyingking said: The Greece V Norway game has to played at Ealing Trailfinders; Imagine the scene, the Greek team run out onto the field to the accompaniment of 'Tragedy', Broncos mascots Dusty and Buck suddenly take off their heads from the costumes and reveal the two individuals to be the Greek wingers Daedalus and Icarus. Some great marketing angles for Greece vs Norway. Hercules vs Thor! Ouzo vs Brennevin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B rad Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 There isn't 16 strong teams just yet is there. More fair then ever is the 16 team format but maybe should have been put off a tournament or 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southerner80 Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 51 minutes ago, B rad said: There isn't 16 strong teams just yet is there. More fair then ever is the 16 team format but maybe should have been put off a tournament or 2. Agree. I feel the current 14 team structure should have been stuck with. Or even go to 12 and put limits on participation if there is not a decent domestic structure or a squad solely based on heritage. It will take a while to be in a position where there are 16 teams that are solid enough and reflect the world more as opposed to primarily Australasia and GB and Ireland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewWoody Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Is it becoming a thread against heritage players, etc.? Again? Toronto Wolfpack Global Ambassador Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Clothesoff Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 I reckon, if common sense prevails, that all three will take place at Ealing. Skolars at say 12, Broncos at 3 and the International at 5.30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
langpark Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 23 minutes ago, Oliver Clothesoff said: I reckon, if common sense prevails, that all three will take place at Ealing. Skolars at say 12, Broncos at 3 and the International at 5.30. Great idea!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southerner80 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 4 hours ago, MatthewWoody said: Is it becoming a thread against heritage players, etc.? Again? Some people feel its a big issue and as such wish to debate it where applicable. Please respect that.... It is a RL forum and heritage is a hot hot topic. Without it, we probably have a world Cup of 8-12 nations which would resonate very differently... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewWoody Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 24 minutes ago, Southerner80 said: Some people feel its a big issue and as such wish to debate it where applicable. Please respect that.... It is a RL forum and heritage is a hot hot topic. Without it, we probably have a world Cup of 8-12 nations which would resonate very differently... Well, my dream would be actually being able to discuss about a topic (e.g. WC qualifiers) without having to discuss again the issue of heritage teams, etc. etc. You may say I'm a dreamer... By the way, once again, while it is true that some people consider heritage teams "a big issue", it is also true that lots of people actually love just to enjoy games and RL being able to stage some kind of high level and worth watching top tournament, such as the World Cup, etc. And once again, without heritage players (and, by the way, I can tell you that having been involved as a volounteers in a World Cup team, heritage staff, proud of their roots and involved all year long in developing league and keeping legacy alive), we'd have a World Cup with cricket scores, amateur players playing professional, etc. Toronto Wolfpack Global Ambassador Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Is the Greece game in London as a result of all the issues that the game has faced in Greece? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wackojacko Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 1 hour ago, Damien said: Is the Greece game in London as a result of all the issues that the game has faced in Greece? I figured it was just that it was a one-off qualifier so it should take place on neutral ground and London is easy to get to and we have clubs there already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
langpark Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 6 hours ago, MatthewWoody said: Is it becoming a thread against heritage players, etc.? Again? Well, no, it wasn't at all. Until you brought it up. Some had made passing comments referring to heritage players (which is only natural) but it was never going to become a thread solely about that. Unless of course you wanted it to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wackojacko Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Can we please not have this argument again in any case? It's been done to death and it would be nice to have a thread about international rugby league that's focused on the actual games being played rather than this same insipid debate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henson Park Old Firm Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 How many SL and NRP players are born or have Norwegian back ground? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshmagpie Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 3 hours ago, Henson Park Old Firm said: How many SL and NRP players are born or have Norwegian back ground? NRP? Anyway, none as far as we know. They’re able call on a decent player from the Canberra competition and the renowned Ingebrigsten brothers from the Queensland Cup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henson Park Old Firm Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 3 hours ago, welshmagpie said: NRP? Anyway, none as far as we know. They’re able call on a decent player from the Canberra competition and the renowned Ingebrigsten brothers from the Queensland Cup NRL, sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewWoody Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 18 hours ago, langpark said: Well, no, it wasn't at all. Until you brought it up. Some had made passing comments referring to heritage players (which is only natural) but it was never going to become a thread solely about that. Unless of course you wanted it to? Read again the posts. I wasn't the one who posted about changing the structure, putting a limit to heritage, etc. But ok. Toronto Wolfpack Global Ambassador Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henage Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 Would probably head down to London if this happens . Been looking for another reason to go to London . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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