Kenya v France

[JonM]

1 hour ago, Ragingbull said:

Lets not kid ourselves here. 

Its not a test match and its not Kenya v France. 

Its Kenya v  an Elite 1 select 

We don't have an official definition of a test match in RL. I believe the record keepers club or whatever they're called has come up with some formulation along the lines of recognised senior men's international. As it's off-season for Catalans and Toulouse (and I believe Catalans are the last to start their pre-season), I suggest it's probably the best squad they could put out for players who are available to fly out to East Africa for a few days in December. France have explicitly said that this is not France A, or France B, it's the full France team.

Kenya have won the World Rugby (sic) Sevens comp. They have some very fast & elusive runners and some huge forwards - there's plenty of potential there and it's a huge boost to get a country like France visiting. They're not likely to get that in football or rugby union. Amazing what Eddie Rombo, Lucas Onyango and other Kenyans who played RL here in the UK have been able to go back and set up.

Do you think anyone in the Pacific cared that BARLA wasn't a full strength GB team when they did the tour that helped the sport get going in Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands etc. or when the King of Tonga turned up to meet them?

France had a 21 hour journey from Toulouse to Nairobi. They're playing at 1795 metres altitude, they arrived on Friday night and are playing Saturday afternoon and another game on Tuesday. We've seen GB teams struggle in PNG under similar conditions, this will be a good test for those players.

I genuinely don't get the negativity around this. France beat Gibraltar 14-0 in a football European championship match this week. I don't see football fans calling the Euros a waste of time or whatever.

 

Edited December 2, 2023 by JonM
Punctuation

[Ragingbull]

7 minutes ago, JonM said:

We don't have an official definition of a test match in RL. I believe the record keepers club or whatever they're called has come up with some formulation along the lines of recognised senior men's international. As it's off-season for Catalans and Toulouse (and I believe Catalans are the last to start their pre-season), I suggest it's probably the best squad they could put out for players who are available to fly out to East Africa for a few days in December. France have explicitly said that this is not France A, or France B, it's the full France team.

Kenya have won the World Rugby (sic) Sevens comp. They have some very fast & elusive runners and some huge forwards - there's plenty of potential there and it's a huge boost to get a country like France visiting. They're not likely to get that in football or rugby union. Amazing what Eddie Rombo, Lucas Onyango and other Kenyans who played RL here in the UK have been able to go back and set up.

Do you think anyone in the Pacific cared that BARLA wasn't a full strength GB team when they did the tour that helped the sport get going in Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands etc. or when the King of Tonga turned up to meet them?

France had a 21 hour journey from Toulouse to Nairobi. They're playing at 1795 metres altitude, they arrived on Friday night and are playing Saturday afternoon and another game on Wednesday. We've seen GB teams struggle in PNG under similar conditions, this will be a good test for those players.

I genuinely don't get the negativity around this. France beat Gibraltar 14-0 in a football European championship match this week. I don't see football fans calling the Euros a waste of time or whatever.

 

Wow my little post triggered quite a rant didnt it. Ive no idea who you a going off at

[NRLandSL]

53 minutes ago, Charlie said:

I’m aware I watch a little I’m more asking the people who watch more do any have sl potential. I think wail at Toulouse might 

Oh ok, sorry for the misunderstanding.  Baptiste Fabre is the obvious one of course, an absolutely superb player who definitely has first grade potential whether that’s in the NRL or SL.

There is plenty of other good youth on show aswell though, Nolan Lopez-Buttignol is one who could definitely play first grade. The bloke is only 18 years old and already starting and staring for Carcassonne and now in the French team, I truly think he could become one of the faces of French rugby league.

Also I’ve been really impressed with Mathias Leveille the young front rower for Albi this season. Others I’d look out for are Talanted Catalan Duo Yacine Ben Abdeslem and Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, and Quinten Crunel the young Limoux Fullback.

[JonM]

Also worth pointing out that the French referee Stephane Vincent, who's officiating the game, will be running a course for 25 local match officials.

[barnyia]

Andrew pilkington the Wigan Spanish official does loads for promoting the game and runs refereeing courses, he's definitely a dedicated official, and probably one of the best officials coming through the system in Europe 

[JonM]

Kenya 0 France 42 at half-time.

[JonM]

And a full-time score of 78-6.

[JonM]

L'independant report reckons that some baboons turned up to watch.

[NRLandSL]

A lot closer of a score than I anticipated, well done Kenya.

[welshmagpie]

Well done France. Well done Kenya.

Let this fixture blossom over the coming years. 

[Odsal Outlaw]

1 hour ago, JonM said:

And a full-time score of 78-6.

That actually better than I’d expected. Well done France for going there.

[Gomersall]

6 hours ago, audois said:

Saw Pons playing for St-Gaudens against Limoux recently he's a young player who could do somethink

 

Any relation to Cyril?

[Gomersall]

5 hours ago, JonM said:

We don't have an official definition of a test match in RL. I believe the record keepers club or whatever they're called has come up with some formulation along the lines of recognised senior men's international. As it's off-season for Catalans and Toulouse (and I believe Catalans are the last to start their pre-season), I suggest it's probably the best squad they could put out for players who are available to fly out to East Africa for a few days in December. France have explicitly said that this is not France A, or France B, it's the full France team.

Kenya have won the World Rugby (sic) Sevens comp. They have some very fast & elusive runners and some huge forwards - there's plenty of potential there and it's a huge boost to get a country like France visiting. They're not likely to get that in football or rugby union. Amazing what Eddie Rombo, Lucas Onyango and other Kenyans who played RL here in the UK have been able to go back and set up.

Do you think anyone in the Pacific cared that BARLA wasn't a full strength GB team when they did the tour that helped the sport get going in Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands etc. or when the King of Tonga turned up to meet them?

France had a 21 hour journey from Toulouse to Nairobi. They're playing at 1795 metres altitude, they arrived on Friday night and are playing Saturday afternoon and another game on Tuesday. We've seen GB teams struggle in PNG under similar conditions, this will be a good test for those players.

I genuinely don't get the negativity around this. France beat Gibraltar 14-0 in a football European championship match this week. I don't see football fans calling the Euros a waste of time or whatever.

 

On the football issue I know plenty who think the likes of Gibraltar, Lichtenstein etc. should have to pre qualify for the qualifying group stage.

[Gomersall]

 

[Gomersall]

 

[Odsal Outlaw]

a few clips of the game on a Kenyan news programme 

[Mumby Magic]

This is why we should have an open World Cup Qualifying Tournament where only the hosts and previous winners qualify. Imagine starting a World Cup of RL in Brazil, Kenya via Jamaica or Cook Islands and it ends at Wembley or Sydney. 

 

Sorry I just woke up....

 

[Gomersall]

3 minutes ago, Mumby Magic said:

This is why we should have an open World Cup Qualifying Tournament where only the hosts and previous winners qualify. Imagine starting a World Cup of RL in Brazil, Kenya via Jamaica or Cook Islands and it ends at Wembley or Sydney. 

 

Sorry I just woke up....

 

I would personally go with the four semi finalists being rewarded with qualification fir the next tournament plus the host if not one if the four.

[ATLANTISMAN]

Great stuff

[barnyia]

There's more info on the TV about rugby league in Kenya this week than there ever is France!!!

[Gomersall]

55 minutes ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

Great stuff

You’ve changed your tune.

[Gomersall]

 

[Mumby Magic]

3 hours ago, Gomersall said:

I would personally go with the four semi finalists being rewarded with qualification fir the next tournament plus the host if not one if the four.

Yep open to discussion. For me no matter what ranking level let's have a festival of world RL.

[ATLANTISMAN]

2 hours ago, Gomersall said:

You’ve changed your tune.

Now it's happened yes i will take that on the chin.

Still alot of money though 

[Gomersall]

13 minutes ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

Now it's happened yes i will take that on the chin.

Still alot of money though 

Agreed. I was of the same opinion as you if I’m honest.