England v Australia 2025 - coming to the UK!

[Hopie]

Just now, JM2010 said:

I wish they’d hurry up and announce it. I want to book some tickets 

The Samoa series wasn't confirmed until June 13th...

[Chris22]

There's plenty of legitimate criticism to make of the RFL but this isn't one of them in my view. The ARL drop on us that if we want this series to go ahead then have to host it, in November 2024. These things take time to organise, two months isn't long to sort venues, times, broadcast arrangements etc.

Not ideal but not on the RFL.

[gingerjon]

11 hours ago, Chris22 said:

There's plenty of legitimate criticism to make of the RFL but this isn't one of them in my view. The ARL drop on us that if we want this series to go ahead then have to host it, in November 2024. These things take time to organise, two months isn't long to sort venues, times, broadcast arrangements etc.

Not ideal but not on the RFL.

They probably shouldn’t have said they were expecting to get the details out by Christmas then.

[Damien]

11 hours ago, Chris22 said:

There's plenty of legitimate criticism to make of the RFL but this isn't one of them in my view. The ARL drop on us that if we want this series to go ahead then have to host it, in November 2024. These things take time to organise, two months isn't long to sort venues, times, broadcast arrangements etc.

Not ideal but not on the RFL.

Well over 2 months is plenty time.

[BristolDevonCharlie]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

Well over 2 months is plenty time.

If you want it rushed and half-arsed, again, then two months is fine.

If they get it announced and tickets on sale in February that is ideal in my book. 8/9 months to market and sell tickets. Plus if announced around start of the season all stakeholders and players know exactly what is ahead at the end of the season. 

[Dave T]

1 hour ago, gingerjon said:

They probably shouldn’t have said they were expecting to get the details out by Christmas then.

Have we heard anything official from them?

To an extent, as frustrating as it is, I can live with an announcement by the end of say Feb - as long as we know that there is an Ashes in October/November and the details are being finalised. It all feels far too secretive. 

The silence worries me that it means there may be a level of nervousness to formally announcing it as it may be in doubt, but to put a positive spin on it, it does suggest that the planning is far more complex than Wigan, Leeds and Hull.

[Damien]

13 minutes ago, BristolDevonCharlie said:

If you want it rushed and half-arsed, again, then two months is fine.

If they get it announced and tickets on sale in February that is ideal in my book. 8/9 months to market and sell tickets. Plus if announced around start of the season all stakeholders and players know exactly what is ahead at the end of the season. 

Over 2 months isn't half assed 

Edited January 9 by Damien

[hunsletgreenandgold]

20 minutes ago, Dave T said:

it does suggest that the planning is far more complex than Wigan, Leeds and Hull.

That's my take - if we're hopefully targeting Prem football stadiums then it will take a bit more organising, especially if it's 3 different venues. 

Still dreaming that it could be:

- Liverpool (New Everton Stadium) 53,000

- Newcastle (St James' Park) 52,000

- London (Tottenham Stadium) 62,000

 

Average attendance of 75% capacity across those 3 would be immense. 

[gingerjon]

30 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Have we heard anything official from them?

To an extent, as frustrating as it is, I can live with an announcement by the end of say Feb - as long as we know that there is an Ashes in October/November and the details are being finalised. It all feels far too secretive. 

The silence worries me that it means there may be a level of nervousness to formally announcing it as it may be in doubt, but to put a positive spin on it, it does suggest that the planning is far more complex than Wigan, Leeds and Hull.

There was a comment in another thread where it was said that the RFL are currently preparing a business case.

So nothing is remotely confirmed yet.

[BristolDevonCharlie]

1 hour ago, gingerjon said:

There was a comment in another thread where it was said that the RFL are currently preparing a business case.

So nothing is remotely confirmed yet.

A business case for what: hosting the Ashes in general or specifically around the venue choices? 

How decent was the source?

[Barley Mow]

36 minutes ago, BristolDevonCharlie said:

A business case for what: hosting the Ashes in general or specifically around the venue choices? 

How decent was the source?

 

[Chris22]

On 09/01/2025 at 09:42, gingerjon said:

They probably shouldn’t have said they were expecting to get the details out by Christmas then.

I haven't seen that, have you got a link to the comments?

[Sports Prophet]

On 09/01/2025 at 05:53, Chris22 said:

There's plenty of legitimate criticism to make of the RFL but this isn't one of them in my view. The ARL drop on us that if we want this series to go ahead then have to host it, in November 2024. These things take time to organise, two months isn't long to sort venues, times, broadcast arrangements etc.

Not ideal but not on the RFL.

You have made assumptions in your summary of how this transpired.

[Archie Gordon]

I see that on another RL news platform, Tony Sutton is saying 'nothing confirmed, will get sorted' for the men's Ashes. No mention at all of the women's Ashes so perhaps they are still to be held in Australia. Or perhaps they don't matter.

I genuinely don't understand who is benefitting from not getting this all signed off. The NRL? Sadly, the RFL comes across as a really weak negotiator - you can have a poor hand, of course, but you needn't play that hand as timidly as we seem to.

[The Masked Poster]

6 minutes ago, Archie Gordon said:

I see that on another RL news platform, Tony Sutton is saying 'nothing confirmed, will get sorted' for the men's Ashes. No mention at all of the women's Ashes so perhaps they are still to be held in Australia. Or perhaps they don't matter.

I genuinely don't understand who is benefitting from not getting this all signed off. The NRL? Sadly, the RFL comes across as a really weak negotiator - you can have a poor hand, of course, but you needn't play that hand as timidly as we seem to.

This is a frustration of mine too. Whether it's TV deals or international fixtures, our side seem to always go "oh damn, we've only got one pair, what do you have?" The other side then go on to claim they have a full house. 

[gingerjon]

10 minutes ago, Archie Gordon said:

I see that on another RL news platform, Tony Sutton is saying 'nothing confirmed, will get sorted' for the men's Ashes. No mention at all of the women's Ashes so perhaps they are still to be held in Australia. Or perhaps they don't matter.

I genuinely don't understand who is benefitting from not getting this all signed off. The NRL? Sadly, the RFL comes across as a really weak negotiator - you can have a poor hand, of course, but you needn't play that hand as timidly as we seem to.

The last report was that the RFL were preparing a business case so I'd assume that means that zero is confirmed as there's been no solid update since.

The women, if they play, will be curtain raisers and we'll have all the quotes about how it's such an honour to play at a big stadium.

[Just Browny]

39 minutes ago, The Masked Poster said:

This is a frustration of mine too. Whether it's TV deals or international fixtures, our side seem to always go "oh damn, we've only got one pair, what do you have?" The other side then go on to claim they have a full house. 

It'd be nice to think that, when it comes to two major governing bodies of the same sport organising three games of rugby, it wouldn't need to be a card game and they could just work together and ####ing get on with it.

[The Masked Poster]

1 hour ago, Just Browny said:

It'd be nice to think that, when it comes to two major governing bodies of the same sport organising three games of rugby, it wouldn't need to be a card game and they could just work together and ####ing get on with it.

Yes, you might think that. But the fact that they can't just get on the blower and arrange something suggests that other factors are at play. 

Remember the almost cancelled 2001 Ashes series? Maurice Lindsay got it sorted in a short space of time. Do we have anyone even remotely comparable in our corner today? 

[Wigan Riversider]

29 minutes ago, The Masked Poster said:

Yes, you might think that. But the fact that they can't just get on the blower and arrange something suggests that other factors are at play. 

Remember the almost cancelled 2001 Ashes series? Maurice Lindsay got it sorted in a short space of time. Do we have anyone even remotely comparable in our corner today? 

That was, I think, because of the 9 / 11 terror attacks on the twin towers, the Aussies were reluctant to travel. Lindsay used his influence to sort out a 3 test tour. The administration of the game does seem to have gone backwards since that era.

[The Masked Poster]

5 minutes ago, Wigan Riversider said:

That was, I think, because of the 9 / 11 terror attacks on the twin towers, the Aussies were reluctant to travel. Lindsay used his influence to sort out a 3 test tour. The administration of the game does seem to have gone backwards since that era.

Yes it was because of the 9/11 attacks and ML was insistent that they happened, as the financial consequences were, well, not good. 

ML had plenty of critics but he could make things happen. 

[JohnM]

The RFL/IRL are in desperate need of a strong and capable PR function. Instead of dribbling out/leaking half -finished plans that only stimulate more questions and more criticism and more uncertainty,  they should in my view speak clearly and authoritatively about the plan stages, then speak only when each stage is complete.

No more "wishy-washy". They need a guy like Alastair Campbell fronting the PR in public, taking no prisoners.

Edited January 25 by JohnM

[DI Keith Fowler]

3 minutes ago, JohnM said:

No more "wishy-washy". They need a guy like Alastair Campbell fronting the PR in public, taking no prisoners.

Exactly, put him in charge of the business case and it would be suitably sexed up. He'd be predicting sell outs within 45 minutes of tickets going on sale. 

[Hopie]

RL in this country is in such a poor financial state that booking the stadiums required is likely to send us to the brink if the Australians don't turn up. Unfortunately they have already reneged on their plans to host, and there is no evidence they are committed to travelling to play.

A well hosted Ashes series would be a real boost to the game in this country and a good opportunity to reach the consciousness of the wider public, however we have already missed out on the "what to look forward to in 2025" type lists because there is no sign of a confirmation of it actually happen.

The longer it takes, the less opportunity we have to gain awareness and sell tickets. It is expensive to be poor, and we lack the money to take risks and the power to influence the other teams who are worth playing, we can't afford to lose out, and we can't earn enough either.

[WN83]

8 minutes ago, Hopie said:

RL in this country is in such a poor financial state that booking the stadiums required is likely to send us to the brink if the Australians don't turn up. Unfortunately they have already reneged on their plans to host, and there is no evidence they are committed to travelling to play.

A well hosted Ashes series would be a real boost to the game in this country and a good opportunity to reach the consciousness of the wider public, however we have already missed out on the "what to look forward to in 2025" type lists because there is no sign of a confirmation of it actually happen.

The longer it takes, the less opportunity we have to gain awareness and sell tickets. It is expensive to be poor, and we lack the money to take risks and the power to influence the other teams who are worth playing, we can't afford to lose out, and we can't earn enough either.

You wonder at which point do they just play it safe and go Elland Road, Wigan, Hull etc because the longer it drags, the less hope you have of making a real go of grounds like Wembley, St James and the like. I get it's not straightforward sorting out dates for football stadiums but they ideally you'd want things announced and tickets on sale in the next couple of weeks. 

[Hopie]

7 minutes ago, WN83 said:

You wonder at which point do they just play it safe and go Elland Road, Wigan, Hull etc because the longer it drags, the less hope you have of making a real go of grounds like Wembley, St James and the like. I get it's not straightforward sorting out dates for football stadiums but they ideally you'd want things announced and tickets on sale in the next couple of weeks. 

We already missed our ideal window, but I appreciate if you have not done it already, the best time to announce things is now.