Ashes 2028

[Sports Prophet]

If we are to believe the Ashes will take place in Australia in 2028, I would love to see England/GB run a five week tour building to the Ashes.

End the SL the same weekend as NRL, straight into camp in Port Moresby, play an opening test there, followed by another against Fiji in Suva and then three tests against the Aussies.

I just hope they enter that series as holders of the Ashes and with any luck, with England as current holders of the WC.

Vs PNG: Port Moresby Oct 14/15

Vs Fiji: Suva Oct 21/22

Vs Aus: Melbourne Oct 28/29

Vs Aus: Sydney Nov 4/5

Vs Aus: Brisbane Nov 11/12

Reckon there would be a few on this forum keen to travel on that tour?

Depending on what other international footy is played around that schedule (Pacific Cup NZ, Samoa & Tonga; Bowl PNG, Fiji & Cook’s) I reckon an international 9s including all of Eng, Aus, NZ, Sam, Ton, PNG, Fij and Cok may even be a decent curtain raiser in Brisbane starting Oct 14/15 and pushing above schedule back one week.

[Damien]

I think that would be great, albeit wouldn't be fussed about the 9s part.

I would also like to see Australia play a similar 5 game schedule next year with a game v France and maybe a game in the Southern hemisphere before they fly. I think it's important for teams to play at home at least once a year.

[sam4731]

11 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:

If we are to believe the Ashes will take place in Australia in 2028, I would love to see England/GB run a five week tour building to the Ashes.

End the SL the same weekend as NRL, straight into camp in Port Moresby, play an opening test there, followed by another against Fiji in Suva and then three tests against the Aussies.

I just hope they enter that series as holders of the Ashes and with any luck, with England as current holders of the WC.

Vs PNG: Port Moresby Oct 14/15

Vs Fiji: Suva Oct 21/22

Vs Aus: Melbourne Oct 28/29

Vs Aus: Sydney Nov 4/5

Vs Aus: Brisbane Nov 11/12

Reckon there would be a few on this forum keen to travel on that tour?

Depending on what other international footy is played around that schedule (Pacific Cup NZ, Samoa & Tonga; Bowl PNG, Fiji & Cook’s) I reckon an international 9s including all of Eng, Aus, NZ, Sam, Ton, PNG, Fij and Cok may even be a decent curtain raiser in Brisbane starting Oct 14/15 and pushing above schedule back one week.

Nice idea in theory but we're just so far from this happening.

[up the robins]

Agree not keen on 9s idea but would love for us to add a couple of fixtures in the southern hemisphere before the ashes

[Damien]

2 minutes ago, sam4731 said:

Nice idea in theory but we're just so far from this happening.

Not really, it's only 1 more game than we played in 2019. That extra game is essentially another test v Australia too. It could easily be done on an Ashes tour which is a much bigger sell than the farce in 2019.

Edited November 12 by Damien

[Sports Prophet]

9 minutes ago, Damien said:

I think that would be great, albeit wouldn't be fussed about the 9s part.

I would also like to see Australia play a similar 5 game schedule next year with a game v France and maybe a game in the Southern hemisphere before they fly. I think it's important for teams to play at home at least once a year.

I’m not especially fussed on 9s either but I expect it would get an audience featuring in a schedule like the one I mentioned, maybe grab the attention of a younger audience and may prove useful as short sided, bite sized introduction for non traditional, international audiences.

Organising 9s as a major standalone feature doesn’t excite me much at all, but when it’s an easy add on to a more comprehensive schedule for the fans of full sided games, I think it can have its place.

[gingerjon]

We’ll have had at least two more international calendar resets by then.

England playing PNG and another nation before the Australia series is a good idea.

[Just Browny]

17 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

We’ll have had at least two more international calendar resets by then.

 

It will have been brought down to a one match series with Australia, but we will be comforting ourselves that it is a good start and something to build on.

[Jack GB]

I agree with the warm ups - makes sense, increases exposure, and hopefully gets the team fully firing by the time they meet Australia. 

Selfishly - and maybe strategically with the intro of Perth to the NRL - i would love to see an Ashes Test in Perth. Maybe Perth, Brisbane then Melbourne/Sydney. Maybe go for Melbourne and let Samoa/Tonga play in Sydney in Pacific Champs.

[marklaspalmas]

20 minutes ago, Just Browny said:

It will have been brought down to a one match series with Australia, but we will be comforting ourselves that it is a good start and something to build on.

I think your post is still too optimistic 

[JonM]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

I just hope they enter that series as holders of the Ashes and with any luck, with England as current holders of the WC.

In that highly improbable scenario, I am 100% sure that the tour itinerary would include a few midweek games in Perth, Cairns and Darwin, after the original proposal of midweek games in Broome, Launceston, Christmas Island and Norfolk Island have been rejected by the RFL. 

Edited November 12 by JonM

[sam4731]

2 hours ago, Damien said:

Not really, it's only 1 more game than we played in 2019. That extra game is essentially another test v Australia too. It could easily be done on an Ashes tour which is a much bigger sell than the farce in 2019.

I just don't think the will is there on either side to be honest.

[Just Browny]

1 hour ago, marklaspalmas said:

I think your post is still too optimistic 

First half NZ v England, winner stays on to play Australia in second half? Call it a Tri Nations.

[marklaspalmas]

1 hour ago, Just Browny said:

First half NZ v England, winner stays on to play Australia in second half? Call it a Tri Nations.

At Leigh. As a curtain raiser or part of a triple header. Live on The Sportsman.

[gingerjon]

Just now, marklaspalmas said:

Live on The Sportsman.

The Sportsman's new own PPV platform being used for the first time?

[marklaspalmas]

2 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

The Sportsman's new own PPV platform being used for the first time?

Hoooooow much ???!?!?!?

[Dullish Mood]

2 hours ago, marklaspalmas said:

Hoooooow much ???!?!?!?

Peak rugby league

[Welshleaguelover]

Should play Queensland and NSW without their test players. Good chance of selling out Suncorp and a decent sized stadium in NSW.

[Odsal Outlaw]

I asked the IRL about World Cup 9’s recently on X and they confirmed it’s not currently in the planning and they are focused on World Cups, Pacific Champ and Tours.

[StandOffHalf]

That would be a nice itinerary.

I hope the Roos play PNG in Australia and perhaps France in Perpignan as warm-ups if they come to England next year.

[Eddie]

8 hours ago, Sports Prophet said:

I’m not especially fussed on 9s either but I expect it would get an audience featuring in a schedule like the one I mentioned, maybe grab the attention of a younger audience and may prove useful as short sided, bite sized introduction for non traditional, international audiences.

Organising 9s as a major standalone feature doesn’t excite me much at all, but when it’s an easy add on to a more comprehensive schedule for the fans of full sided games, I think it can have its place.

Is there any evidence that younger people, or indeed anyone, prefers 9s to actual rugby league? 

[Hopie]

NRL Aussies only want 3 internationals a year, and no extension to the season, doubt they'd wait the 2 extra weeks for the start of the Ashes or let the English NRL players play 5 tests.

[gingerjon]

9 hours ago, Eddie said:

Is there any evidence that younger people, or indeed anyone, prefers 9s to actual rugby league? 

This is a really good question. It's probably not been tested enough but the few examples we have of 9s tournaments don't really seem to (a) last or (b) serve a different audience.

The only real benefit anyone seems to have for 9s is that it's there as an alternative if raising sides of 13 is not an option.

It is not our 7s and definitely not our T20/Hundred.

[The Rocket]

10 hours ago, Welshleaguelover said:

Should play Queensland and NSW without their test players. Good chance of selling out Suncorp and a decent sized stadium in NSW.

Getting beaten before the first Test would be a disaster.

PNG sounds like a better idea, get the combinations working, run up a score and get your confidence up.

[Dave T]

10 hours ago, Hopie said:

NRL Aussies only want 3 internationals a year, and no extension to the season, doubt they'd wait the 2 extra weeks for the start of the Ashes or let the English NRL players play 5 tests.

I agree. I think this is the end gamr as I've said a fair bit here recently

The Aussies don't want other nations dictating, taking financial rewards, or forcing them to play more games.

3 matches appears to be their limit, plus a World Cup that probably won't be much more than 3.