: Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:22 am  

dally messenger wrote:

yeah those competitions are still going though in nz the crowds are fairly poor now.

all the money is in the Super 14. without it all the best players would either be in the nrl or in union overseas.

Change these for the UK and SL and we are very similar

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:55 am  

JB Down Under wrote:

RU is dying in Oz, S14can't get on FTA TV as no one wants it, they are reliant on signing RL players to prop up their ailing national team and even succesful clubs like the Force are seeing a big down turn in finances and memberships.

I'd like to see the RFL really hit Wales hard and put in some serious financing to get development officers, school porgrammes and marketing happening. Taking MM away was a big mistake and the poor Welsh national team at the mo don't help.

nope. they were warned. every time we went and for cup finals there was a certain anti-league feeling. hotels ripping fans off, prices raised in bars, pubs etc. we even had the bus driver tell us the saturday games had been called off

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:23 am  

Catalancs wrote:

nope. they were warned. every time we went and for cup finals there was a certain anti-league feeling. hotels ripping fans off, prices raised in bars, pubs etc. we even had the bus driver tell us the saturday games had been called off

It was teh best vehicle for promoting RL in WAles (aside from a succesful Welsh national squad). To remove it at the time we are pushing into Wales makes little sense, especially if it was just due to hotels making a $.

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:34 am  

JB Down Under wrote:

It was teh best vehicle for promoting RL in WAles (aside from a succesful Welsh national squad). To remove it at the time we are pushing into Wales makes little sense, especially if it was just due to hotels making a $.

did you ever go to a cup final or millenium magic weekend in wales?
i know you're on the other side of the world so it might be have been difficult but believe me the league atmosphere was almost entirely down to the visiting fans. celtic's games on the friday nights didnt attract thousands of locals spurred on by the weekends rugby league spectacle.
im glad the rfl have moved the event to scotland. murrayfield isnt my favourite ground but at least they treated the fans properly.
celtic and rugby league in wales will have to stand on its own two legs and fight. if it depends on one weekend a year for its survival then it's a very sad state of affairs indeed.

how's league going in western australia?

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:35 am  

The Chair Maker wrote:

There will be kids out there in Wales who have no interest in RU and may only want to play RL, just as upto now many kids prefer to play soccer or other sports.

Provided they can earn a good living in League there will be no reason for them to cross over to union.

The biggest sport in South Wales is as ever Soccer, Cardiff average 18k and Swansea 15k. They represent a bigger threat to the success of the Crusaders than RU teams and any player poaching.

Soccer and RL go hand in hand in the heartlands, what a great opportunity to offer a deal to Cardiff and Swansea FC season ticket holders. I know many Cardiff FC fans have a dislike for Union. Pity the franchise isnt in Cardiff, university, soccer club and all.

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:37 am  

maurice wrote:

Soccer and RL go hand in hand in the heartlands, what a great opportunity to offer a deal to Cardiff and Swansea FC season ticket holders. I know many Cardiff FC fans have a dislike for Union. Pity the franchise isnt in Cardiff, university, soccer club and all.

there have been rumours in the past that if celtic fail the folk thee will look to move to cardiff and be given ANOTHER chance to 'make it work'

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:51 am  

dally messenger wrote:

seriously, how anybody can watch it and think its good is beyond me.

I watch most sports other than wendy ball and to be fair to Onion, the England v Italy game was the worst example of union I have seen since I began watching the the 5 nations in the 60's. I watch Union as a seperate sport and therefore have no inclination to compare it with either Rugby League or Gealic football.
The point about Welsh Union nicking Crusaders talent is just pi55 and wind as the WRU is in no position to bankroll high profile signings and probably wouldn't after the RFU Farrell fiasco.
In fact, I would go as far as to say that those players just outside the WRU elite squad may well jump ship the other way if they are good enough.
What this has done, is highlight the fact that the WRU are aware of the Crusaders and will monitor the situation closely...which points to them being a little nervous about the potential competition from League.

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:56 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

I watch most sports other than wendy ball and to be fair to Onion, the England v Italy game was the worst example of union I have seen since I began watching the the 5 nations in the 60's. I watch Union as a seperate sport and therefore have no inclination to compare it with either Rugby League or Gealic football.
The point about Welsh Union nicking Crusaders talent is just pi55 and wind as the WRU is in no position to bankroll high profile signings and probably wouldn't after the RFU Farrell fiasco.
In fact, I would go as far as to say that those players just outside the WRU elite squad may well jump ship the other way if they are good enough.
What this has done, is highlight the fact that the WRU are aware of the Crusaders and will monitor the situation closely...which points to them being a little nervous about the potential competition from League.

I don't think this is about high profile signings though, more about picking up kids at 17/18 unless I misunderstood it

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:32 pm  

South Africa's 'obsession' with RU has always been a white elite class-purported myth.

For Mr. Average South African the Kaizer Chiefs (or other club) has always been the bigger draw.

Always will be.

: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:34 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

South Africa's 'obsession' with RU has always been a white elite class-purported myth.

For Mr. Average South African the Kaizer Chiefs (or other club) ...

Orlando Pirates.