RLWC 2026 Confirmed

[langpark]

2 hours ago, Keith989 said:

Georgia are backed by a billionaire who funded any training center and pitches they wanted to though. A better example might be the likes of Namibia who have been awful in every world cup they've been in. 

Well even so, according to wikipedia, there are 9317 registered RU players in Namibia right now.  So for me, that is still somewhat of a success story.  Greece has actually already produced a League One player, who played a full season with Doncaster, with only around 200 players in Greece.  If the player pool were to continue growing, the chances of unearthing more talented players would also increase.

As for the Georgian billionaire, I don't know anything about that.  But I would ask the (rhetorical) question:  would he have been as willing to pour his money into Georgian RU if their WC had also been reduced to 10, effectively excluding nations like Georgia?

[Sports Prophet]

On 02/08/2024 at 19:12, langpark said:

Was not a stupid fixture at all. Georgia lost by a similar scoreline to England in the 2003 RUWC, then in 2022, they have now reached a level where they managed to beat both Italy and Wales. Because RU showed patience and persistence with them. In RL, the loud, whiny voices (like yours) that expect every match to be a golden-point thriller, sadly have gotten their way. 

They may not have made the "Athens Gazzette", but this was the reaction in a bar where the RL community of Athens gathered, when they scored their first WC try. And RL in Greece was only 10 years old at the time. So who knows what they could have become with a little patience and nurturing....

 

 

That is great to see.

What many here would find most impressive is the level of fanaticism the locals showed for a team almost exclusively made up of heritage players  

[langpark]

4 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

That is great to see.

What many here would find most impressive is the level of fanaticism the locals showed for a team almost exclusively made up of heritage players  

8 out of the 24-man squad were domestic.  And every one of them got game time at the WC.  One player (Nianiakas, who also had a stint in NCL with Wooston Rovers) actually played in all 3 matches.  

But yes, most of their matches featured 14 or 15 heritage players, out of the 17.  Which is still a far more local team than many others.  Lebanon, for example, after two WCs have not given a single minute to a local player.  And Italy, after three WCs, gave a 15-minute stint to Gioele Celerino at the last WC.  

[Gomersall]

5 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

That is great to see.

What many here would find most impressive is the level of fanaticism the locals showed for a team almost exclusively made up of heritage players  

Almost a mirror image of the local Tongans and Samoans.

[gingerjon]

9 hours ago, langpark said:

Well even so, according to wikipedia, there are 9317 registered RU players in Namibia right now. 

That's around double the number of registered rugby league players in France, I believe.

[Dave T]

For me, the main issue isn't the 4 weeks of the World Cup, it's the 4 years in between where next to zero is done in some of these countries. And I don't mean that as any criticism of the hard working people who are trying. 

The World Cup (and other tournaments) needs to be the vehicle to fund development via the international governing body. 

When other sports are growing world cups, it's reflecting of growth and development in a wider geographical area, we just take the easy options each time. Heritage teams can't be the whole thing. 

[ATLANTISMAN]

2 hours ago, gingerjon said:

That's around double the number of registered rugby league players in France, I believe.

Registered players in France is a myth at senior level i would say around max 1800/2000 underneath Juniors no idea but that's what bumps it up.

Out of the senior players those of a decent standard would say around 500

Still amazing how many decent players France produces.

 

Edited August 4, 2024 by ATLANTISMAN

[welshmagpie]

18 hours ago, langpark said:

Well even so, according to wikipedia, there are 9317 registered RU players in Namibia right now.  So for me, that is still somewhat of a success story.  Greece has actually already produced a League One player, who played a full season with Doncaster, with only around 200 players in Greece.  If the player pool were to continue growing, the chances of unearthing more talented players would also increase.

As for the Georgian billionaire, I don't know anything about that.  But I would ask the (rhetorical) question:  would he have been as willing to pour his money into Georgian RU if their WC had also been reduced to 10, effectively excluding nations like Georgia?

Two if we also count Dimosthenis Kartsonakis at West Wales.

[Sports Prophet]

On 04/08/2024 at 13:39, langpark said:

8 out of the 24-man squad were domestic.  And every one of them got game time at the WC.  One player (Nianiakas, who also had a stint in NCL with Wooston Rovers) actually played in all 3 matches.  

But yes, most of their matches featured 14 or 15 heritage players, out of the 17.  Which is still a far more local team than many others.  Lebanon, for example, after two WCs have not given a single minute to a local player.  And Italy, after three WCs, gave a 15-minute stint to Gioele Celerino at the last WC.  

That’s good. What’s your point?

Edited August 5, 2024 by Sports Prophet

[Sports Prophet]

On 04/08/2024 at 14:56, Gomersall said:

Almost a mirror image of the local Tongans and Samoans.

A little less fanatical, but similarities, yes.

[langpark]

53 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

That’s good. What’s your point?

No point, just correcting your "almost exclusively" propaganda. 

[Damien]

Greece was a little different in that just being at the World Cup was the cause for celebration amongst Greek RL fans and players. This meetup was only a few months after being allowed to play the game legally for the first time and just being there and playing at big stadiums was a massive thing for those that had been arrested by Police etc.

[Sports Prophet]

1 hour ago, langpark said:

No point, just correcting your "almost exclusively" propaganda. 

It wasn’t propaganda, it was fact.

There were two players in that match who were not foreigners participating based on their heritage status.

I think this easily satisfies the “almost exclusively” comment.

[langpark]

7 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

It wasn’t propaganda, it was fact.

There were two players in that match who were not foreigners participating based on their heritage status.

I think this easily satisfies the “almost exclusively” comment.

FOUR domestic players played in the match against England (Rousoglou, Nake, Nianiakas, Katsidonis).

Source:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Men's_Rugby_League_World_Cup_Group_A#England_vs_Greece

But again, do not let facts get in the way, when you have an agenda to push. 

[Odsal Outlaw]

Just seen that Greece will play USA in Vegas in Feb! They have said they will use a mix of domestic and heritage players. Hopefully more than 4

[Sports Prophet]

11 hours ago, langpark said:

FOUR domestic players played in the match against England (Rousoglou, Nake, Nianiakas, Katsidonis).

Source:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Men's_Rugby_League_World_Cup_Group_A#England_vs_Greece

But again, do not let facts get in the way, when you have an agenda to push. 

Hmmm, I was of the understanding it was two, but from a quick review you may be right with four.

what agenda do you think I am trying to push?

[BristolDevonCharlie]

Final qualifying arrangements announced. 

World Series wasn't viable. Two playoffs instead. 

https://www.intrl.sport/article/406/rlwc2026-mens-qualifying-play-offs-announced

[langpark]

Fantastic!  France should be able to get past Jamaica and Cook Islands should breeze past South Africa.

[sam4731]

11 minutes ago, BristolDevonCharlie said:

Final qualifying arrangements announced. 

World Series wasn't viable. Two playoffs instead. 

https://www.intrl.sport/article/406/rlwc2026-mens-qualifying-play-offs-announced

Ughh whatever. I give up.

[BristolDevonCharlie]

8 minutes ago, langpark said:

Fantastic!  France should be able to get past Jamaica and Cook Islands should breeze past South Africa.

Really hope South Africa surprise Cook Islands!

[DoubleD]

18 minutes ago, BristolDevonCharlie said:

Final qualifying arrangements announced. 

World Series wasn't viable. Two playoffs instead. 

https://www.intrl.sport/article/406/rlwc2026-mens-qualifying-play-offs-announced

No viable bid for the World Series or NRL/players union blocked it? 

Edited March 18 by DoubleD

[BristolDevonCharlie]

Just now, DoubleD said:

No viable bid for the World Series or NRL/players union blocked it? 

They say the former, but who knows. 

I suppose a 'viable' bid would mean suitable sponsorship / governing body money to put into the tournament to pay for all the things the RLPA require of internationals these days. 

[DoubleD]

3 minutes ago, BristolDevonCharlie said:

They say the former, but who knows. 

I suppose a 'viable' bid would mean suitable sponsorship / governing body money to put into the tournament to pay for all the things the RLPA require of internationals these days. 

Yes my question was whether that is the party line or the actual reason

[langpark]

1 minute ago, DoubleD said:

Yes my question was whether that is the party line or the actual reason

The 'World Series' was never a viable concept to begin with!  2000 fans will turn up to watch France vs Jamaica IN FRANCE.  How many would have turned up for that match in a neutral location?  Likewise for Cooks vs South Africa.  

[Dave T]

And Troy Grant has the nerve to big himself up and whatba good job he's doing while criticising the old administration.