Euros cancelled

[The Masked Poster]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

There have been some interesting stories from our forum friends here, about their dwindling interest in the game.

I understand there is disappointment in the international game and many want to find a scapegoat for the poor situation our sport is in, but the reality is that hardened fans can soften over time. That is life. Priorities change. Responsibilities change. There are stories of Broncos and Bulls fans with less interest in the sport. My interest would wake too if my club were withering in a lower division after over a decade of repeated financial incompetence.

When I was young, I used to watch at least two footy games on TV every Saturday and Sunday. That was after playing three of my own every weekend. I would watch panel shows for both RL and Aus Rules each week. As a father of three young children, I barely get enough time to watch each of my favourite NRL and AFL teams. Mostly I end up missing the Bombers, but I will always get the Sharks in. 

People having a diminishing interest or active involvement in the professional game is a reality for all sports. It’s a reality of life. It would appear the governors in the NH have been doing an awful job of attracting an a large number of new and younger audience to the sport over the past 20 years. That os the battle which needs winning.

In saying that, the start of SL this year was looking refreshingly vibrant. I hope that interest is holding up as the season continues through the midpoint.

I think you are missing the point of what people are saying here. It's not about following a rubbish team and getting fed up of losing, it goes deeper than that. Personally, it's like the game isn't interested in leaving it's comfort blanket behind and is just happy to remain a very niche sport (note, not Northern as it doesn't even justify that tag) 

People who were formerly evangelical about the game are just feeling, essentially betrayed and let down. They don't expect RL to rule the world anytime soon, but a bit more growth and genuine development would have been nice. I'm sure Australian RL fans might see it differently.

[Sports Prophet]

10 minutes ago, The Masked Poster said:

I think you are missing the point of what people are saying here. It's not about following a rubbish team and getting fed up of losing, it goes deeper than that. Personally, it's like the game isn't interested in leaving it's comfort blanket behind and is just happy to remain a very niche sport (note, not Northern as it doesn't even justify that tag) 

People who were formerly evangelical about the game are just feeling, essentially betrayed and let down. They don't expect RL to rule the world anytime soon, but a bit more growth and genuine development would have been nice. I'm sure Australian RL fans might see it differently.

No, I very much appreciate what you are saying and I don’t mean to distract from the point where individuals are disheartened by the situation we find the international game in. Me too. Maybe my point is a little off track.

But those who are evangelical about the game will mostly be following the sport on a weekly basis and no sport has weekly international activity. The club game is where the hardened supporters get their regular dosage. 

So when the club scene is totally dominated by shrinking clubs in depressed, shrinking towns, with open defiance to broadening the footprint of the club game, it is very understandable that disappointment would turn to despair for many when international footy gets the headlines it has recently. I think with a growing and successful professional club game, we don’t see people in despair, like the examples we are seeing on a couple of threads recently.

As for Australian RL fans, I don’t think the general public really appreciate the opportunity for international footy because their appetite for highly competitive, high standard footy is satisfied by the NRL. That high standard of weekly footy is rightly, the vehicle that Australian administrators use to convert a casual supporter into an invested supporter. So international news like we have had the last few weeks struggles to even get mention, because the sport is generating too much positive discussion at a club level. I anticipate if you ran a poll at this weekend’s NRL fixtures, that less than 20% of fans would even know France were scheduled to host 2025 and if you were to tell them that France were scheduled and have subsequently pulled out, without having their finger on the pulse for international activity, the predominant response would be “well that isn’t surprising”.

So I would say the reason why Australian fans are mainly not in despair, it’s because of the absolute success of their weekly dosage to highly competitive club football.

[Mathius Hellwege]

And because they are a very isolation-prone people as was proven by their very very very extreme covid policy

[crashmon]

14 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

There have been some interesting stories from our forum friends here, about their dwindling interest in the game.

I understand there is disappointment in the international game and many want to find a scapegoat for the poor situation our sport is in, but the reality is that hardened fans can soften over time. That is life. Priorities change. Responsibilities change. There are stories of Broncos and Bulls fans with less interest in the sport. My interest would wake too if my club were withering in a lower division after over a decade of repeated financial incompetence.

When I was young, I used to watch at least two footy games on TV every Saturday and Sunday. That was after playing three of my own every weekend. I would watch panel shows for both RL and Aus Rules each week. As a father of three young children, I barely get enough time to watch each of my favourite NRL and AFL teams. Mostly I end up missing the Bombers, but I will always get the Sharks in. 

People having a diminishing interest or active involvement in the professional game is a reality for all sports. It’s a reality of life. It would appear the governors in the NH have been doing an awful job of attracting an a large number of new and younger audience to the sport over the past 20 years. That os the battle which needs winning.

In saying that, the start of SL this year was looking refreshingly vibrant. I hope that interest is holding up as the season continues through the midpoint.

The biggest turn off for  me for RL was the 2021 WC. In 2013 it felt like there was a real effort to expand the game outside of the m62, and we went all over england and wales to games over that 3 week period.  2021 was basically the M62 cup with all of two games outside "heartlands".   The London semi final was a success in terms of engaging new fans (even if England lost), we have Tonga coming for a 3 test series, and are we building on those fans at the SF?   No we are doing the M62 tour.

We are a small regional sport going backwards.  This is fact.

[The Masked Poster]

12 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

No, I very much appreciate what you are saying and I don’t mean to distract from the point where individuals are disheartened by the situation we find the international game in. Me too. Maybe my point is a little off track.

But those who are evangelical about the game will mostly be following the sport on a weekly basis and no sport has weekly international activity. The club game is where the hardened supporters get their regular dosage. 

So when the club scene is totally dominated by shrinking clubs in depressed, shrinking towns, with open defiance to broadening the footprint of the club game, it is very understandable that disappointment would turn to despair for many when international footy gets the headlines it has recently. I think with a growing and successful professional club game, we don’t see people in despair, like the examples we are seeing on a couple of threads recently.

As for Australian RL fans, I don’t think the general public really appreciate the opportunity for international footy because their appetite for highly competitive, high standard footy is satisfied by the NRL. That high standard of weekly footy is rightly, the vehicle that Australian administrators use to convert a casual supporter into an invested supporter. So international news like we have had the last few weeks struggles to even get mention, because the sport is generating too much positive discussion at a club level. I anticipate if you ran a poll at this weekend’s NRL fixtures, that less than 20% of fans would even know France were scheduled to host 2025 and if you were to tell them that France were scheduled and have subsequently pulled out, without having their finger on the pulse for international activity, the predominant response would be “well that isn’t surprising”.

So I would say the reason why Australian fans are mainly not in despair, it’s because of the absolute success of their weekly dosage to highly competitive club football.

There’s a fair bit of truth in that but ultimately, I would still follow the game, regardless of the standard, if I thought it wanted the same things that I want for it. And like a relationship, you sometimes have to concede that the other party aren’t maybe interested in the same things as you and have different life goals and it’s time to part ways.    Say La Vee. 

[The Masked Poster]

20 minutes ago, crashmon said:

The biggest turn off for  me for RL was the 2021 WC. In 2013 it felt like there was a real effort to expand the game outside of the m62, and we went all over england and wales to games over that 3 week period.  2021 was basically the M62 cup with all of two games outside "heartlands".   The London semi final was a success in terms of engaging new fans (even if England lost), we have Tonga coming for a 3 test series, and are we building on those fans at the SF?   No we are doing the M62 tour.

We are a small regional sport going backwards.  This is fact.

During the 2013 WC, and particularly at the semi final, it felt good, like something was going on, even if it wasn’t genuinely a huge phenomenon, it felt like that was the goal. Now, and during the 2021 WC, it just doesn’t. 

[corkonian77]

What can i say. 

I never expected this.

 

[ATLANTISMAN]

I think we have to remember that the lower levels are amateur hence why everyone carries on as normal with thier wonderful army of volunteers in the developing countries.

The majority of the euros would have been professional players and with no money in the pot after the disastrous RLWC 2021 something had to give and sadly its the euros which was a very ambitious project.

Looks like a slimmed down RLWC 2025 is on the cards and i predict 8 teams.

If this was the old days when we had full time RL journalists working for national papers someone would have done some series investigation on the running and the finances of the RLWC 2021 and the international game at large however nowadays its just easily swept under the carpet as the majority don't give a flying fig.

 

 

 

[JM2010]

3 minutes ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

I think we have to remember that the lower levels are amateur hence why everyone carries on as normal with thier wonderful army of volunteers in the developing countries.

The majority of the euros would have been professional players and with no money in the pot after the disastrous RLWC 2021 something had to give and sadly its the euros which was a very ambitious project.

Looks like a slimmed down RLWC 2025 is on the cards and i predict 8 teams.

If this was the old days when we had full time RL journalists working for national papers someone would have done some series investigation on the running and the finances of the RLWC 2021 and the international game at large however nowadays its just easily swept under the carpet as the majority don't give a flying fig.

 

 

 

Hopefully there will still be some internationals at this level at the end of the season. 
Could France still play against Wales in a series, Scotland vs Ireland in a series? 
Be a shame if they just didn’t play

[Big Picture]

8 hours ago, JM2010 said:

Hopefully there will still be some internationals at this level at the end of the season. 
Could France still play against Wales in a series, Scotland vs Ireland in a series? 
Be a shame if they just didn’t play

With what money though?  The latter three countries you mentioned don't have any, and France doesn't have a lot either.

[welshmagpie]

10 hours ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

I think we have to remember that the lower levels are amateur hence why everyone carries on as normal with thier wonderful army of volunteers in the developing countries.

The majority of the euros would have been professional players and with no money in the pot after the disastrous RLWC 2021 something had to give and sadly its the euros which was a very ambitious project.

Looks like a slimmed down RLWC 2025 is on the cards and i predict 8 teams.

If this was the old days when we had full time RL journalists working for national papers someone would have done some series investigation on the running and the finances of the RLWC 2021 and the international game at large however nowadays its just easily swept under the carpet as the majority don't give a flying fig.

 

 

 

How would you bet qualification works for this 8-team competition then Paul?

[Mathius Hellwege]

11 hours ago, JM2010 said:

Hopefully there will still be some internationals at this level at the end of the season. 
Could France still play against Wales in a series, Scotland vs Ireland in a series? 
Be a shame if they just didn’t play

But without NRLPlayers Italy, Scotland, Ireland do not exist and are bankrupt without IRL (means also NRL-allowed) money

[welshmagpie]

Just now, Mathius Hellwege said:

But without NRLPlayers Italy, Scotland, Ireland do not exist and are bankrupt without IRL (means also NRL-allowed) money

Despite the fact Italy have just played at home this weekend and you can guarantee will play a ‘Sydney’ game this autumn. There must be some funding/budget they’re using. 

[Guest]

On 25/05/2023 at 22:22, nadera78 said:

I never go to watch live games anymore, since the Broncos gave up trying. I watch fewer games on TV than ever. I visit this forum less than ever. I talk about RL less than ever. I think about it less than ever. And none of it was a conscious decision, it just crept up on me.

Life's too short to bother with a sport that, at best, refuses to help itself and, at worst, seems to actively seek out damage.

Lmfao

Fortunately you aren't the sport. 

[headtackle]

The world cup in some form needs to be every 2 years and if England and Australia are the only ones who can afford to host it so be it

Time after time we give some of these smaller countries a bit of exposure and then just let it fritter away.

Its obvious that a lot of our expansion nations are packed out with Aussies and using the grand parenting rule to its full extent. However if we need to do this to attract a few genuine locals and develop local competitions so be it. We've got to start somewhere.

The biggest mistake RL made was not keeping the marketing lady after the 2013 world cup. She did a great job and I think she is now at Wimbledon with the LTA.

 

 

 

[crashmon]

If I was the France RL Federation, I'd be looking to try and get 2 games end of season going, one v Tonga and one v England.  Both as warm up games for Tonga \ England....

Even if for cost reasons they have to play Tonga in the M62 in Leigh Sports Village (but no rail is not a problem as I don't think the Eurostar goes north anyway)

[Sports Prophet]

12 hours ago, headtackle said:

The world cup in some form needs to be every 2 years and if England and Australia are the only ones who can afford to host it so be it

Time after time we give some of these smaller countries a bit of exposure and then just let it fritter away.

Its obvious that a lot of our expansion nations are packed out with Aussies and using the grand parenting rule to its full extent. However if we need to do this to attract a few genuine locals and develop local competitions so be it. We've got to start somewhere.

The biggest mistake RL made was not keeping the marketing lady after the 2013 world cup. She did a great job and I think she is now at Wimbledon with the LTA.

 

 

 

Head hunted by Richard Lewis I believe. Certainly appointed with his influence

[Guest]

12 hours ago, headtackle said:

The world cup in some form needs to be every 2 years and if England and Australia are the only ones who can afford to host it so be it

Time after time we give some of these smaller countries a bit of exposure and then just let it fritter away.

Its obvious that a lot of our expansion nations are packed out with Aussies and using the grand parenting rule to its full extent. However if we need to do this to attract a few genuine locals and develop local competitions so be it. We've got to start somewhere.

The biggest mistake RL made was not keeping the marketing lady after the 2013 world cup. She did a great job and I think she is now at Wimbledon with the LTA.

 

 

 

Not sure the RFL can compete with the package, being in Wimbledon and also an event that runs itself and is probably akin to long term paid retirement. 

[Hopie]

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=933667297895407

I was interested to hear what the Serbian coach was saying (5:00 onwards if you want to skip) about the cancellation, and its a real shame the sacrifices the players have already made were for nothing.

[bbfaz]

On 25/05/2023 at 15:17, Gerrumonside ref said:

Disappointed for loyal organisers, players and supporters of European Rugby League.

All ten of them, God bless them.

[langpark]

6 hours ago, bbfaz said:

All ten of them, God bless them.

Who needs enemies when we have "fans" like you? 

[Guest]

On 28/05/2023 at 15:06, Big Picture said:

With what money though?  The latter three countries you mentioned don't have any, and France doesn't have a lot either.

Sell tickets?

[Guest]

6 hours ago, bbfaz said:

All ten of them, God bless them.

Was hoping to go to England v Ireland as a warmup to the Tonga series. 

Not sure why England Knights still can't play that one. 

[Guest]

On 25/05/2023 at 22:28, langpark said:

I am disappointed as anyone. 

But I hate the fickle comments such as "I am done with this sport", often said by the same person a dozen times at various points throughout the year. 

All is not lost. I expect some national federations to announce some alternative fixtures very soon. 

Quite.

The passion to give up a game over Spain v Serbia being canceled. A lot of posters love to play the professional victim, especially over things they would never even attend anyway.

Went to both England v France and the Bash and, despite both being derided on here, loved both days out. 

And a week where Hull KR v Wigan and Saints v Leeds also produced excellent fare.

Bonkers stuff.  

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, Leonard said:

Went to both England v France and the Bash and, despite both being derided on here, loved both days out. 

Good for you.

They are both examples of loss-making, mediocre, bargain-basement events served up to a diminishing audience.