Re: England's latest failure ! : Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:47 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Rugby League in the UK needs a new administration. They need to make the competitions exciting, they need to make it vibrant and get both the supporters in through the door and the press interested. If they had 10,000+ crowds at all SL games, with London included in that they could get the press on board. But instead the RFL just sit there and do the absolute minimum possible, the international game is a complete farce and there really is no future for the sport as it is now. Sooner or later Sky will realise this and slash the price they are willing to pay for it, which is already borderline charitable as no other broadcaster would even consider bidding.

I agree totally with this paragraph. While whatsisface who likes tennis did wonders for the financial administration of the RFL - well, it couldn't have gotten any worse to be honest - what we now need is a total overhaul of every other section of the sport's ruling body because they are totally inept, passive, weak and amateurish.

Re: England's latest failure ! : Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:49 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Rugby League in the UK needs a new administration. They need to make the competitions exciting, they need to make it vibrant and get both the supporters in through the door and the press interested. If they had 10,000+ crowds at all SL games, with London included in that they could get the press on board. But instead the RFL just sit there and do the absolute minimum possible, the international game is a complete farce and there really is no future for the sport as it is now. Sooner or later Sky will realise this and slash the price they are willing to pay for it, which is already borderline charitable as no other broadcaster would even consider bidding.

On this point, what do you suggest?

The game in this country is behind Australia / New Zealand on all levels - competition, coaching, deveopment schemes, finances, administration, everything. It isn't an easy fix. In fact, I'd say it's practically impossible without serious investment and a restructure of the game from top to bottom.

Re: England's latest failure ! : Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:58 pm  

same quote every year...**WE'LL LEARN BY THIS**
we never do..never will...and never be good enough
remember at one time the kiwi's could never beat us..just shows how backward wev'e gone instead of forward.
but no worries i suppose **WE'LL LEARN BY THIS**..

Re: England's latest failure ! : Mon Nov 08, 2010 11:33 pm  

foz11 wrote:

Steve McNamara should never have been anywhere near the shortlist for the England Head Coaching job. He hasnt won anything what so ever at club level and took the Bradford Bulls backwards at an alarming rate. Just the qualities you dont want when picking an International Coach.

Whilst he is in-charge of England he is leaving all other SL clubs alone....they guy is tactically inept complete bafoon / tool.

Re: England's latest failure ! : Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:40 am  

Blobbynator wrote:

On this point, what do you suggest?

The game in this country is behind Australia / New Zealand on all levels - competition, coaching, deveopment schemes, finances, administration, everything. It isn't an easy fix. In fact, I'd say it's practically impossible without serious investment and a restructure of the game from top to bottom.

Of course it is. I'm obviously not the man to achieve that goal, otherwise I'd be banging the RFL's door down.

The most disappointing element is us not being able to match or even get close to NZ, not only on the field with the latest 17, but in terms of strength in depth. Considering they only have 1 professional side it's a bit ridiculous. Perhaps a short term integration of players into the NRL would help in the short term.

There must be more the RFL can do to promote the sport. I live in Warrington and apart from the Guardian you wouldn't know the club existed. I'm sure it's the same in London with Quins and most of the other clubs as well. A sport-wide offer of primary school kids getting in for free is one idea. Forcing every club to do 2 'big ones' like Wigan is another. At the moment bar administering the sport in terms of registering players and providing officials and fixtures and the Millenium Tragic event they don't do nearly enough to promote it's hard to see what the RFL does.

Re: England's latest failure ! : Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:44 am  

Another idea is to offer the franchises to outside input. I read the other week that the owners of QPR are looking for other ventures for example. All year use of their ground might appeal to them. If someone can come in with a better business plan for the London franchise, let them and take it off Quins.

Same with the second French franchise. Let the Paris billionaires fight it out. A lot of potential investors will be put off by the ridiculous system they have now where a club would have to enter the lower leagues, win promotion twice and win the NL, all being done without anything really to promote as the standard is pants.

Re: England's latest failure ! : Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:54 am  

Most people don't even realise there are 2 types of rugby.
RL down here in the smoke is practically anonymous.

Personally if we want people more readily involved i think the best way to start is really get the TAG rugby into primary and secondary schools has part of the yearly curriculum. Get both sexes involved and plenty of mixed comps.

This gets them interested, this gives them the taste, people will naturally progress to the full contact in time and the mums and dads who are getting increasing protective won't mind their little precious bundles playing TAG.

Start off young and get this game thrust into peoples consciences, currently we are sh*te because Football, Rugby U and even Cricket are just that much more appealing and better run.

Re: England's latest failure ! : Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:57 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

There must be more the RFL can do to promote the sport. I live in Warrington and apart from the Guardian you wouldn't know the club existed.

Im not sure thats true.... about Warrington
I doubt you would find many Warrington Residents that would struggle to name what game was played at the stadium if they had a picture of it shoved in there faces......it is after all on the busiest road next to the busiest supermarket in town...

and ive seen the thing that fans seem to constantly cry out for " the poster round the town advertising the game", Also matches get advertised on Wire Fm...maybe you should switch from Jazz fm...
players also go into schools, and the challenge cup goes everywhere

So i think the club are doing plenty

the problem with the game though is the lack of star names or the thing that people identify with most these days...."Celebrities". I would imagine many residents would struggle to name a single Wire player.

we(the game) havent had a star player since Martin offiah........ the RFL need to get the elite players that can string a sentence together and big them up, and get them sponsorship gigs....and get their faces out there...look at Gavin Henson and Johnny Wilko...they've probably played 10 minutes of Rugby between them in the last 3 years but they are still more well known and have had more column inches in the last 3 years than any English Rugby League player....

the sport is the best in the world but i'm afraid it isnt glamorous enough....the move from the tired old grounds will help the image of the sport but we need to get them filled regularly and people turn out in their droves to see household names....

which is why they could charge £600 a ticket for that exhibition of boxing skills on Saturday night...its not just about the sport on offer its about the celebrity, and thats our problem we think just because the sport is the best people will turn up ..they wont and they arent...

but your right about the RFL needing to promote the game