Scrap Magic Weekend and the France mid season international. England vs Other Nationalities two game series to replace them. One game in Lancashire and one in Yorkshire. Playoffs to be reduced to the top six teams.
* they have to be called 'the other nationalities' cos a) 'the barbarians' is a union concept...b) calling them 'ALLSTARS' implies all the 'stars' in SL are from down under...
How to create a RL equivalent of the barbarians.
Get a bunch of well-known ex-players to form a "club" which meets once a year for a piss-up/sportsmans dinner type affair. Choose a name connected with our sport's rich history. They get to invite others to join as they see fit.
That club exists to play one game a year against England (and maybe Wales, Scotland or Ireland). And to sell jerseys etc. They can choose from anyone not selected for England (or whoever they're up against).
I've always said that this concept could really fly if marketed correctly. The key is not to give up on it after 2/3 years. You have got to stick with these things! Origin had numerous critics when that concept was first thought up.
The Aussies and Kiwis would love the chance of some representative rugby as lets face it, not many of them have or ever will play for their international team.
The only thing getting in the way of this imo is that the RFL fear major embarrassment when the England team are comprehensively beaten time and again.
Trying to re-create origin just sets us up for a fall. What we should look at it creating a Lancashire and Yorkshire team to play against touring sides like Tonga/Fiji/PNG/Samoa/NZ Maoris in order to win selection for a final England game.
week 1 - France v South Sea Touring team week 2 - Yorkshire v South Sea Touring Team, Lancashire vs France week 3 - Lancashire v South Sea Touring Team, Yorkshire vs France week 4 - England (selection based on performances in buildup games) vs South Sea Touring Team
I'd definately go and watch Lancashire play at the HJ and it gives us a way to have a look at players out of their club enviroments. I know we want to compete with the Aussies, but I'm sure we could take one year in four off those fixtures (let Austrailia and NZ have a three test series that year) to play on a more modest international scene.
I'm not sure if its viable given the apparent rivalry between Tonga nd Samoa, but a combined South Sea "Lions" team would be a fearsome apponent for any team.
Regarding the origin vs international selection policies, I'm pretty sure adrian lam played queensland and PNG. I don't see why they couldn't let it happen again.
I'm not sure if its viable given the apparent rivalry between Tonga nd Samoa, but a combined South Sea "Lions" team would be a fearsome apponent for any team.
Regarding the origin vs international selection policies, I'm pretty sure adrian lam played queensland and PNG. I don't see why they couldn't let it happen again.
Isn't the eligibility rule based on where you first played rugby after turning 16? Maybe I'm way off with that, but I'm sure I read it somewhere. I think it would benefit everyone (except maybe Australia, therefore it will never happen) if players could represent 'their' state and then represent their nation.
I know we want to compete with the Aussies, but I'm sure we could take one year in four off those fixtures (let Austrailia and NZ have a three test series that year) to play on a more modest international scene.
I think 2012 is blank in the International Calender to prepare for the 2013 World Cup so there would be a space then. This might defeat the object of a break before the World Cup though.