Dublin City Exiles qualify for the Challenge Cup

[Tommygilf]

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯

 

Following winning the Irish Rugby League in 2022, Dublin City Exiles have qualified to enter the Challenge Cup based in the UK. It has been a 20 year wait for this momentous occasion. 

 

The 2023 competition will be the 121st edition of the Challenge Cup, the main rugby league knockout tournament in the UK.

 

To fund this expedition and help our traveling players we have set up a GoFundMe. All donations are much appreciated and will go to making sure our players have everything they need to be the first Irish team to win a Challenge Cup game.

[Jughead]

That’s now every amateur players dream away tie. 

[OriginalMrC]

1 hour ago, Jughead said:

That’s now every amateur players dream away tie. 

Irish teams don't get to play at home. The Exiles will be drawn away in whatever tie they play 

[Sports Prophet]

I would love to see the Challenge Cup used as an opportunity to reward domestic players of any European playing nation to combine for a quasi national club representative team and participate in the early rounds of the competition. For example:

Serbian Slayers

Maltese Falcons

Swedish Blondes

Norway’s Cnut’s

Belgian Brewers

Czech Republicans

Spain Senors

Italian Stallions

Deutschland 

I think that would be a great incentive for players in domestic scenes that are not skilled enough to participate in major international fixtures.

[gingerjon]

2 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

I would love to see the Challenge Cup used as an opportunity to reward domestic players of any European playing nation to combine for a quasi national club representative team and participate in the early rounds of the competition. For example:

Serbian Slayers

Maltese Falcons

Swedish Blondes

Norway’s Cnut’s

Belgian Brewers

Czech Republicans

Spain Senors

Italian Stallions

Deutschland 

I think that would be a great incentive for players in domestic scenes that are not skilled enough to participate in major international fixtures.

Scotland, Netherlands and Ireland teams have all competed in domestic English cricket competitions - with rules to make them distinct enough that they were different enough to the first choice international sides. (And, indeed, in football, Jersey and Guernsey enter what are essentially national sides into English leagues).

So not such a completely mad idea. Although your nicknames need a bit of work.

[Sports Prophet]

Just now, gingerjon said:

Scotland, Netherlands and Ireland teams have all competed in domestic English cricket competitions - with rules to make them distinct enough that they were different enough to the first choice international sides. (And, indeed, in football, Jersey and Guernsey enter what are essentially national sides into English leagues).

So not such a completely mad idea. Although your nicknames need a bit of work.

Oh common, I thought the nicknames was the best part of my plan, especially Germany’s  

[del capo]

14 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Scotland, Netherlands and Ireland teams have all competed in domestic English cricket competitions - with rules to make them distinct enough that they were different enough to the first choice international sides. (And, indeed, in football, Jersey and Guernsey enter what are essentially national sides into English leagues).

So not such a completely mad idea. Although your nicknames need a bit of work.

I agree. Not completely mad but be careful what you wish for.The top Community clubs are lying in wait with more than a dozen NCL sides equivalent to Elite 2.

But it's all down to costs I'm afraid.

If the CC rules follow last year then a travel subsidy will be available in these early rounds. Last year the Irish would have received at least £500 towards their expenses each game......

[unapologetic pedant]

58 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

Serbian Slayers

Maltese Falcons

Swedish Blondes

Norway’s Cnut’s

Belgian Brewers

Czech Republicans

Spain Senors

Italian Stallions

Deutschland 

Baffling assortment of adjectives, nouns and apostrophes.

Still, looks a strong line-up for next year`s AFL Euro Premiership.

I`ll be cheering on Norway`s Squashed Cnuts.

[Eddie]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

I would love to see the Challenge Cup used as an opportunity to reward domestic players of any European playing nation to combine for a quasi national club representative team and participate in the early rounds of the competition. For example:

Serbian Slayers

Maltese Falcons

Swedish Blondes

Norway’s Cnut’s

Belgian Brewers

Czech Republicans

Spain Senors

Italian Stallions

Deutschland 

I think that would be a great incentive for players in domestic scenes that are not skilled enough to participate in major international fixtures.

Trouble is they’d get absolutely battered, even by an NCL division 2 side. Also (and I’m cringing at my own pedantry), King Cnut was Danish. 

[langpark]

Definitely cost is the biggest barrier here. Even the Irish have had go asking for 8 grand in donations and they are right next door to England. Imagine the financial burden for teams from further away. 

[BadlyOverdrawnBoy]

48 minutes ago, Eddie said:

King Cnut was Danish. 

"In Danish, I'm a Cnut" is an anagram of Iain Duncan Smith.

[Tommygilf]

43 minutes ago, langpark said:

Definitely cost is the biggest barrier here. Even the Irish have had go asking for 8 grand in donations and they are right next door to England. Imagine the financial burden for teams from further away. 

That's roughly £500 a person for a touring party though, which in itself isn't ridiculous imo. Big for a weekend, but between flights, transfers, hotels and food its not too bad. Other than the flights to the UK, those costs will probably be the same for everyone else in Europe.

 

[Jughead]

Not sure we necessarily need teams from abroad but it should be open to any teams from abroad (or anywhere, for that matter) to take part in should they wish and receive an invitation.

[Harry Stottle]

24 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

That's roughly £500 a person for a touring party though, which in itself isn't ridiculous imo. Big for a weekend, but between flights, transfers, hotels and food its not too bad. Other than the flights to the UK, those costs will probably be the same for everyone else in Europe.

 

Surely it will be the Ferry so they have vehicles with them not flying over with additional travel costs, just a thought.

[JM2010]

Obviously it comes down to funding but I'd like to see champions from European nations in the early rounds with the Elite 1 clubs joining same time as League 1 clubs. Gives an European flavour to the CC and might get some good publicity in the countries with clubs involved 

[Griff]

5 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Surely it will be the Ferry so they have vehicles with them not flying over with additional travel costs, just a thought.

Or - they could travel on the ferry as foot passengers and hire a bus from the ferry port.

Which is what other Irish teams have done.

[Tattersfieldtreiziste]

"In Danish, I'm a Cnut" is an anagram of Iain Duncan Smith.

 

I swear that only on this forum could you have such an incisive post. Brilliant.

[Tommygilf]

1 hour ago, Harry Stottle said:

Surely it will be the Ferry so they have vehicles with them not flying over with additional travel costs, just a thought.

Ferry is generally more expensive in my experience, especially if you're talking multiple vehicles. Other than having your own car, which some like, flying is surely more preferable?

[MatthewWoody]

5 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

Italian Stallions

 

[MatthewWoody]

By the way, the idea is very interesting. I think it's been explored by the Italian federation in the past...
Building a team with the best amateur players available and play a Challenge Cup tie away can be a great experience, maybe better than a test match. 

[headtackle]

When is the draw?

Must be soon

[Sports Prophet]

6 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Baffling assortment of adjectives, nouns and apostrophes.

Still, looks a strong line-up for next year`s AFL Euro Premiership.

I`ll be cheering on Norway`s Squashed Cnuts.

Was it really a baffling assortment or did you just feel the need to comment? I think each are relative, especially when not to be taken seriously.

Also, your fascination of AFL knows no boundaries. You bring it up in every topic. You are fixated upon it. Maybe you need to take a break.

Edited December 13, 2022 by Sports Prophet

[Sports Prophet]

6 hours ago, Eddie said:

Trouble is they’d get absolutely battered, even by an NCL division 2 side. Also (and I’m cringing at my own pedantry), King Cnut was Danish. 

I know, I was clutching and as King of Norway, I put it in there. 

As to getting smashed by a NCL D2 side, is that the lowest tier of teams that get an auto entry into the CC?

Edited December 13, 2022 by Sports Prophet

[Sports Prophet]

4 hours ago, Jughead said:

Not sure we necessarily need teams from abroad but it should be open to any teams from abroad (or anywhere, for that matter) to take part in should they wish and receive an invitation.

It’s not a matter of the Challenge Cup and the British RL system needing it, it is an idea to reward domestic players with international opportunity. Perfect for those that may miss out to heritage players, like in Greece and Italy.

[Jughead]

13 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

It’s not a matter of the Challenge Cup and the British RL system needing it, it is an idea to reward domestic players with international opportunity. Perfect for those that may miss out to heritage players, like in Greece and Italy.

Not sure that helps the Cup or the international game, myself.