England v Fiji, this October

[gingerjon]

At Spotland, as part of the Hornets' anniversary year

Covid restrictions mean that at present tickets are limited to 2,000

 

[Hela Wigmen]

Rochdale? Nothing says international sport quite like a game in Rochdale. 

Still, expected, the right opponent and a decent game on offer. 

[gingerjon]

Just now, Hela Wigmen said:

Rochdale? Nothing says international sport quite like a game in Rochdale. 

Still, expected, the right opponent and a decent game on offer. 

I think it's fine as there's a decent story to go with it and it'll not detract from selling for RLWC games themselves.

[John Drake]

15 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

I think it's fine as there's a decent story to go with it.

Indeed there is...

 

Following the news today that England are going to play Fiji at Rochdale in a World Cup warm-up match on Oct 15, we thought we'd repost this feature from Rugby League World from 1999 on the remarkable story of Rochdale’s Fijian pioneers. https://t.co/2rGrluXtmb pic.twitter.com/fEcrwHsFQB

— Rugby League World (@rlworld) April 20, 2021

 

[Spidey]

Called it. Where do I collect my internet points

[RP London]

3 minutes ago, Spidey said:

Called it. Where do I collect my internet points

i believe you can pick them up form here

[Whippet13]

Rochdale is a good choice, great Fijian history story to tell here and it has a railway station as well.

[Whippet13]

In other international news Tonga NRL have lost their Court for Arbitration in Sport appeal to be readmitted to the IRL.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7218197/cas-confirms-tonga-rugby-league-expulsion/?cs=14274

The IRL can now go ahead and formally admit a new board to represent Tonga and run the sport there.

[Hela Wigmen]

Let’s hope Rochdale AFC let them in for this, then. 

[Leyther_Matt]

Straight in the diary and looking forward to it.

50 minutes ago, Whippet13 said:

Rochdale is a good choice, great Fijian history story to tell here and it has a railway station as well.

Railway station is a proper trek from the ground and in reality is a bit of a moot point for a Friday evening kick off.

[Damien]

5 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Railway station is a proper trek from the ground and in reality is a bit of a moot point for a Friday evening kick off.

Now, now don't be bitter.

[Dunbar]

This is an important game for England.

We absolutely need to be up to speed for game 1 against Samoa.  We win that game and probably top the group, and if we lose we finish second and are highly likely to play Tonga in the quarters.

I know we have to beat a couple of the big teams to win this thing but the longer England progress in this tournament the better for the sport and so a warm up game is a big element.

[Man of Kent]

How many Fijians actually live in Rochdale? I know there's link going back yonks but is there a proper community, with shops and all that jazz?

[davet]

2 minutes ago, Man of Kent said:

How many Fijians actually live in Rochdale? I know there's link going back yonks but is there a proper community, with shops and all that jazz?

26

[tms]

4 minutes ago, Man of Kent said:

How many Fijians actually live in Rochdale? I know there's link going back yonks but is there a proper community, with shops and all that jazz?

Rochdale boasts the biggest UK Fijian community outside London, now in its fourth generation,

[Spidey]

34 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Straight in the diary and looking forward to it.

Railway station is a proper trek from the ground and in reality is a bit of a moot point for a Friday evening kick off.

A couple of boozers on the way if you choose the right route

[Eddie]

Great choice of opponent and I’m glad it’s somewhere where there are no WC games too. And if capacity restrictions are lifted hopefully they can sell the place out. 

[Manfred Mann]

Likely Fijian team:

 

Sitiveni Moceidreke

Mika Sivo, Waqa Blake, Brayden WIlliame, Mikael Ravalawa

 

Kevin Naiqama

Brandon Wakeham

 

Jacob Saifiti

Villiame Kikau, Tariq Sims

Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Apisai Korisau, Daniel Saifiti

 

Interchange: Kane Evans, Tui Kamikamica, Korbin Sims, Joe Lovodua

 

Reserves: Marcelo Montoya, Semi Valemei, Taane Milne, Isaac Lumelume,

 

Marcelo Montoya could be in the run on team in the centres in place of Brayden WIlliame.

[JonM]

Good decision, particularly given the way Rochdale responded to the Fijian visit for the 2013 WC.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/24613617

A great story to get into the news a couple of weeks before the world cup, particularly if the visitors can be persuaded to do a bit of singing for another viral video.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/mar/28/silktails-sang-from-balconies-for-hotel-and-for-australian-rugby-league

Let's hope capacity is a lot higher than 2000 come October.

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

2 hours ago, gingerjon said:

At Spotland, as part of the Hornets' anniversary year

Covid restrictions mean that at present tickets are limited to 2,000

 

I don’t see why we are only selling 2000 tickets at the moment. If only 2000 can attend games the World Cup will be cancelled and the game won’t be on anyway. We may as well sell upto 50% of stadiums capacity because under that level there will be no World Cup.

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, Man of Kent said:

How many Fijians actually live in Rochdale? I know there's link going back yonks but is there a proper community, with shops and all that jazz?

You can take a guess that it's several hundred. The census reckons there are c. 6,000 Fijians in the UK - the overwhelming majority in London or around army bases. But the official stats don't, as far as I can tell, allow for acknowledging that heritage for 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation etc.

[Nate90]

Bought my tickets. Looking forward to this. 

[DavidM]

Good stuff

[Leyther_Matt]

 

2 hours ago, Spidey said:

A couple of boozers on the way if you choose the right route

Not done the walk since the 2003 Arriva Cup Final, was knackered by the end and I was a lot younger back then! Have supped in the town centre in recent years before Leigh have played there though and got a taxi. 

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Only just seen the announcement, very happy to be playing another game before the World Cup especially against such a strong opponent. Can't wait for the World Cup!