Dublin ?

[Luke HKR]

It's believed that next year (contracts still to be signed), Wigan, Warrington, Wakefield & Hull FC will be playing in Dublin over 2 days.

Thoughts?

[dboy]

Yes please!

[Gav Wilson]

Lets hope they don't play it the week after the Cup Final.

[The 4 of Us]

Just now, Gav Wilson said:

Lets hope they don't play it the week after the Cup Final.

Discussed this yesterday. If nothing else joined up thinking and a governing body with a “plan” would avoid that happening. Can’t blame the clubs for wanting to grow their sport but it doesn’t necessarily take account of anything else going on.

At least the date of next years final is known, although I’d assume it was for this year!

[Douglas]

Why not have magic in Dublin?

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

Hull FC nailed on for a novelty Guinness themed kit.  

[WN83]

Hadn't heard Wakey and Hull were involved. That would be interesting but I'd be surprised if they hired a stadium out for 2 days, rather than it being a double header. Looking forward to it anyway.

I must say, it's little wonder the neutral support at Wembley is dropping year on year. You have Wembley, Vegas, Toulouse, Catalans, York, Magic Weekend, Paris, Dublin and on and on. I'll have done 4 of those in the space of a few weeks soon and it's financially a drain. I'd be happy if they were interested but my missus and daughter aren't in to Rugby League, so I shudder to think what families are having to pay out. 

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

2 minutes ago, WN83 said:

it's financially a drain. I'd be happy if they were interested but my missus and daughter aren't in to Rugby League, so I shudder to think what families are having to pay out. 

Swop you mate.  I even had the mother in law showing interest in Vegas last week 

Edited June 1 by Wollo Wollo Wayoo

[WN83]

10 minutes ago, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

Swop you mate.  I even had the mother in law showing interest in Vegas last week 

Poor bloke

Got them coming to York but not going to the game. It seems a big draw York for neutrals. I'd guess more so for people on this side of the pennies but a few people I know are going to that game that didn't go to Wembley. 

Edited June 1 by WN83

[gavin7094]

13 minutes ago, WN83 said:

You have Wembley, Vegas, Toulouse, Catalans, York, Magic Weekend, Paris, Dublin and on and on.

York on a par with Las Vegas, Paris et al.?

Love it!

[Damien]

Wigan and Warrington has been in the planning for a long time. The other game though is a new addition.

Edited June 1 by Damien

[LeytherRob]

Feels a bit risky playing 2 games over 2 days rather than as double header

[Damien]

13 minutes ago, LeytherRob said:

Feels a bit risky playing 2 games over 2 days rather than as double header

2 games over 2 days appeals to me much more than trying to sit through one after another. Never liked double headers. Each to their own though.

[graveyard johnny]

1 hour ago, Gav Wilson said:

Lets hope they don't play it the week after the Cup Final.

or the week before - some teams might field their reserve squad

[RigbyLuger]

Are Dublin paying for this game to be played there?

[Luke HKR]

1 hour ago, Douglas said:

Why not have magic in Dublin?

Think Magic will be eased out, and we might go back to on the road fixtures.

 

 

[MZH]

2 hours ago, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

Hull FC nailed on for a novelty Guinness themed kit.  

I'd be disappointed if we don't look to do some sort of commercial deal with Guinness for the game.

[The British Lion]

2 hours ago, Luke HKR said:

It's believed that next year (contracts still to be signed), Wigan, Warrington, Wakefield & Hull FC will be playing in Dublin over 2 days.

Thoughts?

If its a RL love in at a new venue for the sake of it, no. Tell us the vision RFL, or clubs.....whats the why behind the what? Sell us the vision. Is it to go consistently, to build an appetite for Rugby League? Promote player pathways into certain SL clubs, establish a SL club? Or is it just for the sake of going? It matters.

[tiffers]

8 minutes ago, The British Lion said:

If its a RL love in at a new venue for the sake of it, no. Tell us the vision RFL, or clubs.....whats the why behind the what? Sell us the vision. Is it to go consistently, to build an appetite for Rugby League? Promote player pathways into certain SL clubs, establish a SL club? Or is it just for the sake of going? It matters.

As much as I'd love it to be a strategically planned move to support our (the EFL/SL's long term goals and vision for the sport, I suspect it's "just because".

 

[The British Lion]

9 minutes ago, tiffers said:

As much as I'd love it to be a strategically planned move to support our (the EFL/SL's long term goals and vision for the sport, I suspect it's "just because".

 

Unfortunately, that would be pointless.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

4 hours ago, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

Hull FC nailed on for a novelty Guinness themed kit.  

I'd deffo buy that, and then drown myself in Guiness!!

[Just Browny]

4 hours ago, The British Lion said:

Unfortunately, that would be pointless.

All rugby is pointless. Maybe all life is. Maybe it would just be good fun for the players and fans who do go to play/watch a game in a new place, and the clubs have involved have judged that they can break even or better from doing so.

I'm keen for them to get on with announcing the Warrington game as I would like to go.

[OriginalMrC]

As much as this would be pretty cool to go to, why are they playing games in Dublin? Is it to open new markets? To help develop the game in Ireland? Because major sponsors are backing it?

Without a strategic reason for going there and some sound financials I'm not sure of the point of it. 

[gingerjon]

We can (and should) do things for fun. That's not an issue. I actually really like the idea of a Dublin Weekender. Why not? It's a cool city and accessible.

But - and, to smirk, it is a big but - the gag about it hopefully not being the week after the Cup final is true. This absolutely cannot be set up in such a way as to take away from the marquee events that are meant to promote and sustain the whole sport.

If the plan isn't to sell tickets to lots of Dubliners then, from that perspective, all it is going to do is just more selling to the same people. That isn't sustainable.

[Tommygilf]

Once again I am disappointed to not see Leeds involved in these initiatives from the start.

We're a city with one of the largest Irish Diasporas in England, we should be involved in this event. But like Vegas before we seem to be content to let others pave the way. 

Its a real shame from the biggest club in the game and is indicative of the comfort blanket "isn't Headingley great" approach the club takes.