RLWC2025 qualifying announced

[marklaspalmas]

7 minutes ago, langpark said:

Correct. Early indeed, but let's not forget, there are far more nations involved now. Plus, for RLWC2021, all teams had qualified by the end of 2019. Something I personally do not like, I believe the team we see at WC should be as close as possible to the one that got them there. Whereas a lot of teams can change significantly in 2-4 years.

However, given what happened with covid in 2020, it worked out well in the end. 

Yeah. Regardless of numbers and processes, two years 2023 and 2024 ought to be enough to cover all qualifying. That way, the possibility of the scenario you outline would be mitigated.

[Charlie]

1 hour ago, marklaspalmas said:

There are a lot of Nigerians in super league?

I know muizz mustapha. Sadiq adebiyi and doro are Nigerian plus a few in the champ and sl academy’s then you have Jason saab and okunbor in the NRL and a young fb at parra, komolafe. 

[Pulga]

A bit unfair that all Women's teams don't have to qualify. The 8 that go through from this year will have never qualified.

 

One team hasn't played a single sanctioned game and is guaranteed two World Cups....

[bowes]

23 hours ago, langpark said:

In the men’s competition, Asia Pacific will have between 5 and 7 berths, Europe will have 6 to 8, Americas will have 2 and Middle East Africa will have 1 or 2.

This paragraph suggests we will be seeing quite a few repechage matches across continents, which I look forward to seeing!

https://www.intrl.sport/news/international-rugby-league-announces-qualification-places-for-france-2025/

I would guess that means the Repechage is:

Repechage 1

Pacific 6 Vs Europe 7

Repechage 2

A four team knockout with:

Pacific 7

Europe 8

Middle East/Africa 2

Loser Repechage 1

I suspect both Repechage spots will go to Pacific Island teams, although Greece may have a chance against Cook Islands in Repechage 2 if they field enough heritage players.

[langpark]

6 minutes ago, Pulga said:

One team hasn't played a single sanctioned game and is guaranteed two World Cups....

Yes, Brazil!!

Historic moment, you and I actually agree!!

Overall though, I like what they have done. For the most oart I think they have gotten it right. 

[bowes]

11 hours ago, Waghi Tumbe said:

I think the following nations will feature in RLWC 2025:

Asia Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands.

Europe: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Wales, Scotland, Greece and Serbia.

Americas: United States and Jamaica

MEA: Lebanon and Morroco (if they bring over their french based players in the qualifiers on September).

I'm sure there'll be at least one or two changes to this list especially in Europe, if some heritage players in the NRL and Superleague decide to take the field in the qualifiers.

 

I think:

Asia Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands.

Europe: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Wales and Scotland

Americas: United States and Jamaica

MEA: Lebanon

Greece might have a chance against Cook Islands though.

[langpark]

1 minute ago, bowes said:

Greece might have a chance against Cook Islands though.

I think this year's WC will give us a better idea. But overall I think people are over-rating Italy and under-rating Greece. 

Too many people it seems are still picturing 2017 Italy, a team full of NRL stars including Tedesco. So many players from that WC have since retired. 

But overall, you are not far off. I think it will come down to Greece and Italy for those last spots. 

[Pulga]

5 minutes ago, langpark said:

Yes, Brazil!!

Historic moment, you and I actually agree!!

Overall though, I like what they have done. For the most oart I think they have gotten it right. 

If they started with a clean slate, did qualifiers for all the women's teams it would bring a lot of goodwill.

It's like having a neutral ref. There may not be any corruption but there will always be doubt if they don't go about it the right way.

Cards on the table: I think the IRL is as crooked as the day is long.

[theswanmcr]

Having two guaranteed spots for Americas is a good start.
 

Would like to see MEA also with two, with Europe and Asia Pacific having six each for the next World Cup.

[marklaspalmas]

1 hour ago, Charlie said:

I know muizz mustapha. Sadiq adebiyi and doro are Nigerian plus a few in the champ and sl academy’s then you have Jason saab and okunbor in the NRL and a young fb at parra, komolafe. 

Hmm.

[bowes]

38 minutes ago, langpark said:

I think this year's WC will give us a better idea. But overall I think people are over-rating Italy and under-rating Greece. 

Too many people it seems are still picturing 2017 Italy, a team full of NRL stars including Tedesco. So many players from that WC have since retired. 

But overall, you are not far off. I think it will come down to Greece and Italy for those last spots. 

I always find out of all of the teams, people are most inclined to overrate Serbia and Russia (the latter presumably won't be in this world cup qualifying). They have good domestic development for a developing nation, but are nowhere near world cup standard due to not having enough heritage players.

[Charlie]

15 minutes ago, bowes said:

I always find out of all of the teams, people are most inclined to overrate Serbia and Russia (the latter presumably won't be in this world cup qualifying). They have good domestic development for a developing nation, but are nowhere near world cup standard due to not having enough heritage players.

Serbia have a good amount of heritage players it’s just getting them to play small nations is the problem 

[langpark]

17 minutes ago, bowes said:

I always find out of all of the teams, people are most inclined to overrate Serbia and Russia (the latter presumably won't be in this world cup qualifying). They have good domestic development for a developing nation, but are nowhere near world cup standard due to not having enough heritage players.

Indeed, Russia were not even on the radar, long before the war began. 

Serbia are well above the minnow nations, but still well below the WC nations. If they could get every available heritage player to commit, things would be different. (3 Trbojevic brothers, Cotric and Opacic).

[langpark]

22 minutes ago, theswanmcr said:

Having two guaranteed spots for Americas is a good start.
 

Would like to see MEA also with two, with Europe and Asia Pacific having six each for the next World Cup.

This is why I like repechage as it gives them the opportunity to get there but it ensures the strongest team goes through. 

MEA though, a lot of their nations are still so new and it would be super risky given one of them direct passage to the WC, at the expense of a tried and tested outfit like the Cook Islands for example. 

[Charlie]

24 minutes ago, marklaspalmas said:

Hmm.

You can find most of there player profiles on Nigeria fb or instagram pages 

[marklaspalmas]

19 minutes ago, Charlie said:

You can find most of there player profiles on Nigeria fb or instagram pages 

Right. I really hope the game takes off there and as a nation they can be competitive.

I suppose I was challenging your use of "a lot" to describe one player on loan to a championship club, one yet to debut, and one other Nigerian descent player in SL.

These are the first steps and let's not overstate the case.

[theswanmcr]

7 minutes ago, langpark said:

This is why I like repechage as it gives them the opportunity to get there but it ensures the strongest team goes through. 

MEA though, a lot of their nations are still so new and it would be super risky given one of them direct passage to the WC, at the expense of a tried and tested outfit like the Cook Islands for example. 

That’s fair enough and I understand that point of view -  though the question is always whether a WC is about the 16 best teams or about representing nations from across the globe.

With the repecharge you’re likely to get the same team(s) qualifying each time eg Cook Islands.

If we’re serious of showing we are a global game we need to guarantee an African representative going forward.

 

[langpark]

17 minutes ago, theswanmcr said:

That’s fair enough and I understand that point of view -  though the question is always whether a WC is about the 16 best teams or about representing nations from across the globe.

With the repecharge you’re likely to get the same team(s) qualifying each time eg Cook Islands.

If we’re serious of showing we are a global game we need to guarantee an African representative going forward.

Well I believe that is slowly happening. For example, the 2025 qualification means the Americas get an extra spot and Africa is getting an extra playoff spot. Which is a start. 

It is getting more diverse with every WC that passes. However, we also need to be smart about it. 

[Charlie]

1 hour ago, marklaspalmas said:

Right. I really hope the game takes off there and as a nation they can be competitive.

I suppose I was challenging your use of "a lot" to describe one player on loan to a championship club, one yet to debut, and one other Nigerian descent player in SL.

These are the first steps and let's not overstate the case.

My argument would still be with these players they would be better than Morocco. But guess we will just have to wait and see 

[marklaspalmas]

22 minutes ago, Charlie said:

My argument would still be with these players they would be better than Morocco. But guess we will just have to wait and see 

Yes, indeed. That's the beauty of sport. Morocco v Nigeria could answer that question. 

[Anita Bath]

5 hours ago, langpark said:

I think this year's WC will give us a better idea. But overall I think people are over-rating Italy and under-rating Greece. 

Too many people it seems are still picturing 2017 Italy, a team full of NRL stars including Tedesco. So many players from that WC have since retired. 

But overall, you are not far off. I think it will come down to Greece and Italy for those last spots. 

Italy should be OK given they dont have a RL team in Macedonia (or even one part of it)

[RL Sonja]

17 hours ago, Charlie said:

I’d have Nigeria over Morocco. They have a lot of players in sl and a couple in the NRL 

I’m not sure any sport can do without Nigeria. Lagos will be the most populated city on the planet by the end of the century. 

[JM2010]

13 hours ago, marklaspalmas said:

Yes, indeed. That's the beauty of sport. Morocco v Nigeria could answer that question. 

I thought Nigeria won the African championships last year?

Is there one again this year?

[JM2010]

Just seen that the MEA championships are in September

[marklaspalmas]

5 hours ago, RL Sonja said:

I’m not sure any sport can do without Nigeria. Lagos will be the most populated city on the planet by the end of the century. 

I'd like rugby league to be played all over the planet but I don't follow your rationale.