RL needs Internationals

[JM2010]

Obviously all the talk is about SL increasing to 14 and the quota going up to 10 but what RL really needs is a strong and regular international game.

A strong England brand and a few guaranteed home fixtures per year both mid season and post season could be used to increase the profile of RL in England, France, Wales etc and might even attract new fans and sponsors. It could also be used to help encourage kids to take up the game of RL with increased profile it would bring and might make some players a bit more ‘known’ in the UK.

If done right with a full commitment to grow the international game it could also bring money into the game like it does in RU. 

[Archie Gordon]

I'm fully behind this but given NH international rugby is in a state of disrepair, it will be a loss leader for a while. But absolutely necessary we put it on, yes.

[Tommygilf]

England need to play a minimum of 5 games per year, ideally that would be more. At least one of those needs to be at home. And at least one of those needs to be in London.

[Damien]

I think most people would agree

[Hopie]

RL does, NRL doesn't, and therefore...

[Griff]

22 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

England need to play a minimum of 5 games per year, ideally that would be more. At least one of those needs to be at home. And at least one of those needs to be in London.

Against whom?

That's been the sticking point for many years now.

[Jonty58]

31 minutes ago, JM2010 said:

Obviously all the talk is about SL increasing to 14 and the quota going up to 10 but what RL really needs is a strong and regular international game.

A strong England brand and a few guaranteed home fixtures per year both mid season and post season could be used to increase the profile of RL in England, France, Wales etc and might even attract new fans and sponsors. It could also be used to help encourage kids to take up the game of RL with increased profile it would bring and might make some players a bit more ‘known’ in the UK.

If done right with a full commitment to grow the international game it could also bring money into the game like it does in RU. 

A three Test series against France to start the ball rolling.

[The Future is League]

1 minute ago, Jonty58 said:

A three Test series against France to start the ball rolling.

All played in France and the England team have to pay their own expenses.

[Chrispmartha]

15 minutes ago, Hopie said:

RL does, NRL doesn't, and therefore...

The NRL has put quite a lot of importance on internationals to be fair. Just not with England or NH sides. it's not up to the NRL to sort England RL out

[WN83]

1 minute ago, Chrispmartha said:

The NRL has put quite a lot of importance on internationals to be fair. Just not with England or NH sides. it's not up to the NRL to sort England RL out

I'm not convinced they're that fussed tbh. I think it's being done half hearted, with a view to just keeping negative noise down. Maybe the NRL will say nothing is on them personally but I look at the complete disorganisation on the Australian part in terms of their plans for the Ashes and then the Pacific championship games only just being sorted out and it all still seems a total afterthought.

The International game will go nowhere unless we get it properly organised, well in advance and fans, broadcasters and sponsors know exactly what they can sign up for and when. 

[Tommygilf]

A summer sport should have internationals in Summer

[JM2010]

31 minutes ago, Griff said:

Against whom?

That's been the sticking point for many years now.

But if we’d have stuck with it years ago and supported France and Wales then it might be a viable mid season tournament now

[Griff]

21 minutes ago, JM2010 said:

But if we’d have stuck with it years ago and supported France and Wales then it might be a viable mid season tournament now

Key word there is "might".

[JM2010]

Just now, Griff said:

Key word there is "might".

Obviously it’s ‘might’ because it never happened so I can’t say it as a fact

[Big Picture]

33 minutes ago, JM2010 said:

But if we’d have stuck with it years ago and supported France and Wales then it might be a viable mid season tournament now

Without more full time pros able to play for those countries it wouldn't be.  They need better players to avoid being beaten easily every time.

[StandOffHalf]

1 hour ago, Griff said:

Against whom?

That's been the sticking point for many years now.

Other Nationalities/Exiles, France, England tri-series mid-year, with Wales playing France as well.

That would give England two or three games mid-season, with at least three games following after the season has ended.

I am firmly of the belief that RL needs two international windows a year. One window reduces internationals to a mere afterthought, needing resuscitation from slipping away.

Edited July 31, 2025 by StandOffHalf

[Griff]

4 minutes ago, StandOffHalf said:

Other Nationalities, France, England tri-series mid-year, with Wales playing France as well.

That would give England two or three games mid-season, with at least 3 games following after the season has ended.

I am firmly of the belief that RL needs two international windows a year. One window reduces internationals to a mere afterthought, needing resuscitation from slipping away.

We've done this before and all we've demonstrated is the public's apathy for these games.

 

[Big Picture]

1 minute ago, Griff said:

We've done this before and all we've demonstrated is the public's apathy for these games.

Even if they drew good crowds and TV audiences they'd likely not do much to boost the game's profile and finances.  The game's geographic spread just isn't big enough to enable it to capitalize, nowhere close in fact.

[Jonty58]

34 minutes ago, Big Picture said:

Without more full time pros able to play for those countries it wouldn't be.  They need better players to avoid being beaten easily every time.

Maybe they could adopt some heritage players.

[48C North Stand]

I'd love to see regular international RL involving England but the games have to be competitive to attract a decent audience. The French game is just not developing and Eire, Wales and Scotland just don't have any squad depth. 

The French game won't develop while their best players are isolated in Superleague. The game needs at least 3 French teams in the top tier or them all to be playing in a competitive league wholly based in France to bring new talent through in sufficient quantity to ensure a high standard. 

The only possibility is a 3 way league with England vs a Rest of Northern Hemisphere vs Exiles. 

[Click]

50 minutes ago, Griff said:

We've done this before and all we've demonstrated is the public's apathy for these games.

 

Sticking England v France at Leigh, and the game gets what it deserves.

[Dunbar]

27 minutes ago, 48C North Stand said:

The French game won't develop while their best players are isolated in Superleague. The game needs at least 3 French teams in the top tier or them all to be playing in a competitive league wholly based in France to bring new talent through in sufficient quantity to ensure a high standard. 

The Kiwis seem to be doing ok internationally with just one pro team in the NRL... and only one Warriors player in the 17 that beat the Kangaroos 30-0 in the Pacific Cup final in 2023.

[StandOffHalf]

51 minutes ago, Griff said:

We've done this before and all we've demonstrated is the public's apathy for these games.

 

The international game won't go anywhere without internationals.

France have some sensational young talents in the backs, and should be playing England mid-season.

[Dunbar]

I find it quite remarkable that people say we shouldn't play France, the only other established League nation in the Northern Hemisphere. Home and away every single year is the minimum.

I bet many of the same people who say we shouldn't play France every year because they dont offer the appropriate competition are the those who complain Australia don't want to play us.

[Archie Gordon]

But France need to come to the party - too often they undermine international RL.