England Mid-Season International

[Chris22]

Announcement coming tomorrow reportedly. Aaron Bower has put on Twitter that England will face the "Combined Nations All Stars" on 25 June. Will be the Exiles but can include players from other home nations too. 

 

[Futtocks]

That's a seriously-receding hairline in the middle.

 

[Damien]

Catchy name, not:

England will take on a Combined Nations All Stars team on Friday June 25, it has been confirmed.

In a change from the previous Exiles concept, the Combined Nations team will enable players from other countries, such as Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France and Jamaica to participate in the game, alongside their Antipodean colleagues.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/england-to-face-combined-nations-all-stars-team-in-summer/

[Whippet13]

The "All Stars" tagged on is rather naff, simply "Combined Nations" or "World XIII" would be better.

[Man of Kent]

Carp name. Would prefer ‘Combination Uniting National Talents’.

[Odsal Outlaw]

What a terrible name, a terrible concept ... what’s wrong with a proper game like France in France who we know have offered to play! And we’d be able to call on NRL players for that.

This has that bunch of Right Fu**in Losers (RFL) written all over it.

[Man of Kent]

If it’s about the World Cup - and it clearly is - why not ‘World Cup All Stars’ and pick players who are likely to feature in the tournament?

[Yakstorm]

World XIII, Rest of the World, even Other Nationalities (which is the original name of the team this concept is based on) are all more marketable than the CNAS...

They could have even kept calling it the Exiles, they use to classify 'Pat Richards' as being 'Irish' in that Exiles team, and it would have been a better option than what they've settled with...

[DI Keith Fowler]

It's the International Global Invitational Earth President's XIII Select All Stars going up against the Domestically Based England Side in a match already being described as, "scheduled". 

[Gerrumonside ref]

Yay, international rugby (of sorts).

[The Hallucinating Goose]

That is a shockingly bad name. 

[Tommygilf]

Would go with "Other Nationalities" just to revive the name 

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

Not sure about the name Combined Nations All Stars, I think simply Super League All Stars is a better name. Although I think we’ve missed a trick not making it England v Australia (Super League based Australian players)

[Henson Park Old Firm]

Rest of the World would do me

[gingerjon]

"Combined Nations All Stars" gives off the proper end of the pier, meat raffle, vibes that too many of the people who run our game seem to love.

[Eddie]

The more I read about this the worse it becomes. We should have played France. 

[Eddie]

6 minutes ago, Henson Park Old Firm said:

Rest of the World would do me

It’s not though is it, it’s the rest of the World based in the Northern Hemisphere. I wonder if you’ll be able to buy their jersey. 

[Eddie]

8 hours ago, Chris22 said:

Announcement coming tomorrow reportedly. Aaron Bower has put on Twitter that England will face the "Combined Nations All Stars" on 25 June. Will be the Exiles but can include players from other home nations too. 

 

If any of the ‘Scotland or Ireland’ players were from there they could have still called it the Exiles. Now we can have lads from Yorks and Lancs playing against England too. 

[Henson Park Old Firm]

Or how about a Tri Series, England France and Rest of the World or Rest of Great Britain

[welshmagpie]

I would rather they stuck with the Exiles, what does this now say to Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Jamaica?

Your only chance of action is a couple of your guys featuring in this ‘All Stars’ team? That is not what they need!!? They need games as much as England do* and this is sheer neglect of that idea. 

*I know they’re welcome to organise their own games but I can guarantee we will again see them in a selection tug-of-war - do their best players get All Stars selection? Exiles would have been easier.

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, Henson Park Old Firm said:

Rest of the World would do me

You could even give it a bit of gravitas and go with RFL President's XIII or somesuch and have Clare Balding lead her team of chosen foreigners out onto the field.

(Not saying that's a better idea, but it is, at least, a different one.)

[Whippet13]

Strikes me that everything indicated it was the Exiles right up until last week. I am very suspicious that the sudden change to the awfully named CNAS is heavily influenced by one or more SL Chairmen (Pearson being the public one, but there will be others) objecting to their expensive imports playing in this game.

[The Rocket]

 We always hear a fair bit about this `Barbarian` thing that the union have. Why can`t League have a concept like that and stick with it so it builds a bit of cred over the years.

[EastLondonMike]

It is a strange and seemingly unnecessary adoption of a new/different name.

And although it is a small thing, the RFL just love giving people a stick to beat them with, and around a concept that has never been universally popular, despite its advantages and the opportunities it could provide.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

1 hour ago, Eddie said:

It’s not though is it, it’s the rest of the World based in the Northern Hemisphere. I wonder if you’ll be able to buy their jersey. 

Probably won't even bother with a jersey, just have them running round in the nip.