England v Australia 2025 - coming to the UK!

[Chrispmartha]

38 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Do you mean Etihad?

Yes ooops

[Dave T]

Just now, Chrispmartha said:

Yes ooops

I thought that was a very bold schedule!

[sweaty craiq]

2 hours ago, Damien said:

It just seems a bit weird when we have the Grand Final in the early evening and get our best crowd of the season. 

Why - its replaced the CCF and has 2 teams who sell 40k between them

[sweaty craiq]

5pm mcr or Leeds is doable - anywhere else will fail.

[Damien]

28 minutes ago, sweaty craiq said:

Why - its replaced the CCF and has 2 teams who sell 40k between them

We have evening kickoff all season, much later than 5pm or 6pm too. Its absolutely no issue for matches in Manchester or Leeds.

[Toupée Turtle]

1 hour ago, sam4731 said:

What is this obsession about how it looks on telly? 

40,000 at Wembley is better than 25,000 at the DW.

If you need an answer to that question spelled out to ye there's nee hope man, seriously. 

40K at Wembley better financially without a doubt but Ill tek the DW full with a better atmosphere and without 50K empty seats.

[Dullish Mood]

1 minute ago, Toupée Turtle said:

If you need an answer to that question spelled out to ye there's nee hope man, seriously. 

40K at Wembley better financially without a doubt but Ill tek the DW full with a better atmosphere and without 50K empty seats.

Wow.  Really?  Wigan over Wembley?  Peak RL that mate. #LocalGameForLocalPeople

[Tommygilf]

Friday night at Elland Road looked and sounded great during the WC.

[Sports Prophet]

9 hours ago, WN83 said:

Not a clue of the reasons behind it but it makes sense. Had the World Cup been in France as planned, I think we could've lived with us not having test matches in the UK for a couple of years but once that got knocked on the head, it became a problem. As with things like the WCC, English teams will do what needs to be done and if they had to travel down under for the next 3 years to get games, they would've done it but thankfully that does not seem to be the case and an Ashes series in the UK will mean far more to the game than it would had it been in Australia. 

Now if we could somehow win the series, that would be one hell of a shot in the arm for the International game. We can but dream!

I would love nothing more than an English Ashes series win. That would set the WC in Aus a year later up to a treat.

I forgot that the WC was due in France. Not sure when the 8yr International Calendar was announced, but if it was at a time when France were still due to host the WC, then it makes sense that there was complications when they pulled out. I suspect it was announced after they pulled out though, because didn’t the WC get pushed back a year after they pulled out.

Anyway, who cares. A series in England is the preferred option and the governing bodies appear to have recognised an issue and have moved to resolve it by keeping the planned series but changing the hosts.

[Sports Prophet]

9 hours ago, sweaty craiq said:

Cost would depend on NRL expectations - if it gets the TV cash which covers a huge sell in the Smog then it’s a no brainer should Wembley be available

Yep. I wonder if the NRL will be coming on a true profit share arrangement and will have a more active role in the marketing of the series?

[Dave T]

Its always interestibg to look back over history when talking about this.

A google search for the 1946 RL Ashes in Australia shows a program with Australia v England on it, and the team photo from that tour shows them wearing the blue and red chevron that we recognise as the GB kit.

[Sports Prophet]

4 hours ago, M j M said:

I think this is just a wrong interpretation of Rugby League's market. Yes the London game should be in the afternoon but for the two northern ones an early evening kick off would be ideal.

 

4 hours ago, Damien said:

It just seems a bit weird when we have the Grand Final in the early evening and get our best crowd of the season. 

Considering the time of year it will be kicking off, what about a twilight kick off in London say at 5.30pm? I would have thought last trains home to the north from London at 9.30pm should be good enough to get people home by midnight. If memory of those train trips serve me right that is.

[Hopie]

9 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Its always interestibg to look back over history when talking about this.

A google search for the 1946 RL Ashes in Australia shows a program with Australia v England on it, and the team photo from that tour shows them wearing the blue and red chevron that we recognise as the GB kit.

Haven't Australians always struggled with the difference between England and GB? To extend that, many Scots will be asked if they are English (meaning British) when on a host of foreign shores.

[Big Picture]

25 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Its always interestibg to look back over history when talking about this.

A google search for the 1946 RL Ashes in Australia shows a program with Australia v England on it, and the team photo from that tour shows them wearing the blue and red chevron that we recognise as the GB kit.

That's an understandable mistake at that time though, Australia always played England in RL internationals until Great Britain's debut in 1946.

 

17 minutes ago, Hopie said:

Haven't Australians always struggled with the difference between England and GB? To extend that, many Scots will be asked if they are English (meaning British) when on a host of foreign shores.

Yes they have.  If memory serves Bob Fulton mistakenly called England "Great Britain" in an interview after the 1995 World Cup Final.

[George Watt]

6 hours ago, JonM said:

LOL. I'm helping my son move flat in London tomorrow as he's broken his collarbone. From here, it's a 12 hour round-trip by car if things go well, or a very expensive and unreliable train journey.

Brings back memories of when I broke my collar bone(fractured clavicle) back in 1959  playing rugby union while staying at a London Uni student hostel near Holloway prison.

Fortunately I was in a room with 3 other guys who assisted me while it healed. Didn't have surgery - it was put back in place with the arm across my chest with my hand on the other shoulder and tightly held in this position with tubular straps.Took about 3-4 weeks before I could use my arm again.

Trust your son has a quick recovery.

[Pie tries]

I was in Aus in ‘92. I was at OT was Joe scored in the corner and when JD at Wembley.

9 years since we last played them, decades since last ashes. Been far far too long - as a sport we should be ashamed of this.

Get this booked, venues dates etc - asap…and while we’re at it - get the return tour booked as well.

[17 stone giant]

Just now, Pie tries said:

Been far far too long - as a sport we should be ashamed of this.

I completely agree. It's inexcusable that the Ashes was treated in this manner.

Going forwards though, what is likely to be the plan? Is it going to be played at a regular interval, or just as and when it can be fitted in?

Given the restrictions (we now have regular World Cup tournaments and there is currently only one proper international window), I would accept it being played every four years. It could be decided each time whether it should be in the UK or Australia. If it means we hold two for every one the Aussies hold, then so be it. You've got to do whatever makes most sense. There's no point expecting the Aussies to host it if the interest isn't there.

Obviously if there ever was two international windows a season, well, that would be a game changer.

[Father Gascoigne]

10 hours ago, Damien said:

Would they? Even England Football very rarely fill Wembley, which illustrates the task at hand when it comes to Rugby League trying to do so.

Different events have different standards, not least because security measures can vary.

For England internationals at Wembley, anything above 80,000 should be viewed as a baseline attendance. 

For example, in March of this year the friendly against Brazil drew 84,000. Six months earlier the qualifier against Malta drew 81,000.

One of those opponents is not like the other, but the difference in attendance is negligible. 

The past nine England internationals at Wembley has attracted eight crowds between 80-84,000 and one at 70,000. 

FA Cup finals, on the other hand, should hit 85,000 as a rough sellout. 

Segregation works differently between club games and internationals, in addition to differences in demand.

NFL meanwhile doesn't have segregation and, coupled with demand for a lot less supply, can eke out attendances closer to 90,000. 

Recent history suggests the baseline target for England RL at Wembley should begin at 50,000 for a top tier opponent. 

10 hours ago, gingerjon said:

To back this up: last two men's internationals were 10,000 and 20,000 short of capacity. The Lionesses v Germany didn't break 50,000 this time around.

I know, because it's one of my other worlds, that transport home was a key issue around the Lionesses game in particular.

The last two internationals were against Greece and Finland. England's relegation to League B makes these fixtures less attractive. Attendances of 70,000 and 80,000 are, by any measure, fantastic turnouts given the context, and they wouldn't be matched anywhere in the world in similar circumstances.

[Damien]

4 hours ago, Father Gascoigne said:

Different events have different standards, not least because security measures can vary.

For England internationals at Wembley, anything above 80,000 should be viewed as a baseline attendance. 

For example, in March of this year the friendly against Brazil drew 84,000. Six months earlier the qualifier against Malta drew 81,000.

One of those opponents is not like the other, but the difference in attendance is negligible. 

The past nine England internationals at Wembley has attracted eight crowds between 80-84,000 and one at 70,000. 

FA Cup finals, on the other hand, should hit 85,000 as a rough sellout. 

Segregation works differently between club games and internationals, in addition to differences in demand.

NFL meanwhile doesn't have segregation and, coupled with demand for a lot less supply, can eke out attendances closer to 90,000. 

Recent history suggests the baseline target for England RL at Wembley should begin at 50,000 for a top tier opponent. 

The last two internationals were against Greece and Finland. England's relegation to League B makes these fixtures less attractive. Attendances of 70,000 and 80,000 are, by any measure, fantastic turnouts given the context, and they wouldn't be matched anywhere in the world in similar circumstances.

So they rarely fill Wembley, which was the point.

[Sports Prophet]

7 hours ago, Pie tries said:

9 years since we last played them, decades since last ashes. Been far far too long - as a sport we should be ashamed of this.

I think the next thing the ARLC will learn is that having utilised the brand so little, the British public have been starved of seeing some crazy talented teams play against England and help enrich the Kangaroos and RL.

Worsening this is that I don’t think the current Kangaroos team really matches the entertainers tag many in the years 2000 - 2020 could, so any curious public attending in London (especially let’s say RU fans open to RL) may well be sold on the idea of an opportunity of watching “Australia’s best rugby players” and ultimately be disappointed by a lack of flair. In saying that, should England win, then a poor showing from the Kangaroos can be put down to the brilliance and strength of this current English team.

Me… I will never really support England, but as I have for the entirety of this century, I will be hoping for an English win.

[Father Gascoigne]

4 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

I think the next thing the ARLC will learn is that having utilised the brand so little, the British public have been starved of seeing some crazy talented teams play against England and help enrich the Kangaroos and RL.

Worsening this is that I don’t think the current Kangaroos team really matches the entertainers tag many in the years 2000 - 2020 could, so any curious public attending in London (especially let’s say RU fans open to RL) may well be sold on the idea of an opportunity of watching “Australia’s best rugby players” and ultimately be disappointed by a lack of flair. In saying that, should England win, then a poor showing from the Kangaroos can be put down to the brilliance and strength of this current English team.

Me… I will never really support England, but as I have for the entirety of this century, I will be hoping for an English win.

How do you define flair?

I'd argue a team with Munster, Cherry-Evans, Tedesco, Edwards, Trbojevic, Holmes etc offers the potential for a lot of flair. 

Is there a more exciting player to watch in either code than Munster? Not for me. 

[Tommygilf]

9 hours ago, Dave T said:

Its always interestibg to look back over history when talking about this.

A google search for the 1946 RL Ashes in Australia shows a program with Australia v England on it, and the team photo from that tour shows them wearing the blue and red chevron that we recognise as the GB kit.

It's a pretty common phenomenon tbh, and unsurprising given England is the largest part of Great Britain and the one closest to Europe. 

It's seen in lots from the time and even now. The example you give, the "66 world cup with Union Flags more abundant than St George's crosses, the oft used "The Queen of England" descriptor, even in the Mid 30s we'd see Great Britain and England (in the various languages of Europe) used interchangeably.

Those were incorrect uses of course, but at some point those uses become the norm for a reason and some even become the correct use!

[Damien]

Maybe someone should have told the RFL and people in this country:

It was previously announced at an International Rugby League board meeting that England would be touring Australia in 2025, leading into the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.

Those plans have been put on hold following the announcement of Australia as host of the 2026 World Cup after France’s withdrawal due to financial concerns.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-australia-set-to-travel-to-england-in-2025-ashes-series-kangaroos-great-britain-tour-revived-australia-rugby-league-comission-news-videos/news-story/30825263caa8adc4173da7ccb060a760

[gingerjon]

4 hours ago, Father Gascoigne said:

Attendances of 70,000 and 80,000 are, by any measure, fantastic turnouts given the context, and they wouldn't be matched anywhere in the world in similar circumstances.

Which is irrelevant to this discussion.

Good to have you back, by the way.

[Matthias Wald]

On 16/10/2024 at 14:39, JM2010 said:

What other games have Wales got lined up this Autumn?

 

On 22/10/2024 at 08:55, Damien said:

Always hate the way the Aussies run these schedules in their favour. It's always they play the weaker team first to warm up to then play NZ who they hit cold without a game.

 

On 23/10/2024 at 11:06, Damien said:

Its been pathetic, I don't know how you can say this at all. There has been next to nothing coming out about this, this thread itself is evidence of that.

 

On 25/10/2024 at 13:21, Archie Gordon said:

Oh. It gets worse.

Local game for local people.

Presumably by Sunday, tickets will only be available from behind the bar at the local boozer.

 

9 minutes ago, Damien said:

Maybe someone should have told the RFL and people in this country:

It was previously announced at an International Rugby League board meeting that England would be touring Australia in 2025, leading into the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.

Those plans have been put on hold following the announcement of Australia as host of the 2026 World Cup after France’s withdrawal due to financial concerns.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-australia-set-to-travel-to-england-in-2025-ashes-series-kangaroos-great-britain-tour-revived-australia-rugby-league-comission-news-videos/news-story/30825263caa8adc4173da7ccb060a760

says everything about the state of RugbyLeague journalism that you have to detect this very important information (or at least their oure focus on games between tweo M62-corridor teams)