The Ashes is back !

[Pie tries]

If only it was the RL version.

How can it be that this once truly national headline grabbing event has been binned. Seven long years since we last played Aus.

Once every four years will do, please bring it back…

[Big Picture]

32 minutes ago, Pie tries said:

If only it was the RL version.

How can it be that this once truly national headline grabbing event has been binned. Seven long years since we last played Aus.

Once every four years will do, please bring it back…

The answer to your question is simple: the Aussie public lost interest due to winning so easily for so long.  So it only makes sense for them to play it over in Britain now, but with the rise of the Pacific island countries and their made-up teams Australia can play competitive "Internationals" at home without any English involvement so they don't have to go over there unless it suits them to.

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

Men's cricket is the only true Ashes series.

[Futtocks]

The Aussies have had a few nasty moments in the 21st century, when the wins haven't come as effortlessly as they think they are entitled to. Yes, losing a couple of 4 Nations to the Kiwis rocked them, but it was the World Cup loss to Tonga that really made them mess their budgie-smugglers.

The Australian cricketers have more moxie, win or lose. Plus a proper (if occasionally baffling) international calendar.

Edited June 15, 2023 by Futtocks

[Whippet13]

5 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

The Aussies have had a few nasty moments in the 21st century, when the wins haven't come as effortlessly as they think they are entitled to. Yes, losing a couple of 4 Nations to the Kiwis rocked them, but it was the World Cup loss to Tonga that really made them mess their budgie-smugglers.

The Australian cricketers have more moxie, win or lose. Plus a proper (if occasionally baffling) international calendar.

The Kiwis beat Aus in the WC, not Tonga. I was there and got very drunk post-match on Caxton Street. The Aus defeat to Tonga was a post season stand-alone game.

[Futtocks]

5 minutes ago, Whippet13 said:

The Kiwis beat Aus in the WC, not Tonga. I was there and got very drunk post-match on Caxton Street. The Aus defeat to Tonga was a post season stand-alone game.

My defence...

Edited June 15, 2023 by Futtocks

[Pie tries]

45 minutes ago, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

Men's cricket is the only true Ashes series.

Yep. But boy do I miss the RL version…

[soulboy]

49 minutes ago, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

Men's cricket is the only true Ashes series.

You ever been to a best of three test GB v Aussie RL series ?

[Mr Frisky]

19 minutes ago, soulboy said:

You ever been to a best of three test GB v Aussie RL series ?

I don't think they have mate.

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

1 hour ago, soulboy said:

You ever been to a best of three test GB v Aussie RL series ?

Yes, but not sure what that has to do with any sport plagiarising the term Ashes from Cricket though.

[Mr Frisky]

9 minutes ago, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

Yes, but not sure what that has to do with any sport plagiarising the term Ashes from Cricket though.

So its been called the Ashes for well over 100 years but now you decide we can't call it that.... Great stuff

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

5 minutes ago, Mr Frisky said:

So its been called the Ashes for well over 100 years but now you decide we can't call it that.... Great stuff

No.  I've commented many times previously.  It's no big deal, just one of my pet hates.  Women's Ashes, even if it's cricket, is a similar tacky appropriation.

[Sports Prophet]

19 minutes ago, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

No.  I've commented many times previously.  It's no big deal, just one of my pet hates.  Women's Ashes, even if it's cricket, is a similar tacky appropriation.

We should put a veto on any further tackling regulations and change the series name to The Smashes!

[DlEHARD]

It really sucks that we don't have the Ashes anymore. We need GB v Oz test series. With Kiwis too. 

So frustrating.

[StandOffHalf]

As someone outside the UK, it really has to be stressed that GB vs Oz had an allure, an intensity, a tradition that cut through and put the international scene front and centre.

Bring it back!

[Phil]

As long as the Aussies have this huge stiffy for origin the international game will unfortunately take second place

[Dunbar]

7 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

We should put a veto on any further tackling regulations and change the series name to The Smashes!

Or change broadcasting policy so they can zoom in on streakers like the good old days and call it The Flashes!

[Jughead]

There’s been three Ashes series in Rugby League in thirty years, I know we had the 2020 series (was that ever called an Ashes series?) planned but we have to be realistic, it’s not coming back. 

[Chris22]

11 hours ago, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

Men's cricket is the only true Ashes series.

I agree, it's called the Ashes for a specific reason.

Us using the name makes us look cheap in my view. Nothing wrong with a lions or kangaroo tour.

[Barley Mow]

12 minutes ago, Chris22 said:

I agree, it's called the Ashes for a specific reason.

Us using the name makes us look cheap in my view. Nothing wrong with a lions or kangaroo tour.

I agree in general terms - sports starting to call their competitions the ashes now does look cheap in my opinion. I may have held that view had I been around when the first RL Ashes were held.

In our specific case though series between GB and Aus have been known as The Ashes since the first Australian tour in 1908. I think we have a significant enough tradition/heritage in this regard now for it to continue.

Perhaps I wouldn't call an England v Australia series The Ashes, it could be just reserved for GB v Australia (which wouldn't break with our tradition). GB may not play again anyway. 

Edited June 16, 2023 by Barley Mow

[gingerjon]

21 minutes ago, Barley Mow said:

I agree in general terms - sports starting to call their competitions the ashes now does look cheap in my opinion. I may have held that view had I been around when the first RL Ashes were held.

In our specific case though series between GB and Aus have been known as The Ashes since the first Australian tour in 1908. I think we have a significant enough tradition/heritage in this regard now for it to continue.

Perhaps I wouldn't call an England v Australia series The Ashes, it could be just reserved for GB v Australia (which wouldn't break with our tradition). GB may not play again anyway. 

And the women's cricket Ashes as a term goes back to before the second world war.

Tackiness clearly has a long history.

But I do agree that England v Australia in RL wouldn't be the Ashes anyway. I'm also far from convinced that it would be a win for us unless England/GB actually won the series. That is literally the only we'd break out of our silo, and maybe not even then.

[GeordieSaint]

3 hours ago, Phil said:

As long as the Aussies have this huge stiffy for origin the international game will unfortunately take second place

The critical issue. They don’t really have any interest. So we can be all nostalgic about it or keep pushing for as many international games as we can against a broad range of opposition. Tonga this autumn is a step in the right direction.

[Sports Prophet]

3 hours ago, Dunbar said:

Or change broadcasting policy so they can zoom in on streakers like the good old days and call it The Flashes!

Can we call the women’s series The Lashes?

[Pie tries]

21 hours ago, Mr Frisky said:

I don't think they have mate.

I was in Melbourne (and Lang Park - but less about that) in ‘92. Proper tour, proper headlines. I was there when Joe Lydon best Gary Jack….such a shame

[Tex Evans Thigh]

On 15/06/2023 at 19:20, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

Yes, but not sure what that has to do with any sport plagiarising the term Ashes from Cricket though.

Every other sport stole the term 'derby' from us, so it's fair game for me.