Rugby League in 2025 : Sat May 07, 2011 6:02 am  

What will the UK/European game look like?

What will the International game look like?

If you go back to 1995 what have been the major changes in both of the above?

Re: Rugby League in 2025 : Sat May 07, 2011 6:38 am  

New Zealand will be the dominate team Internationally.

ESL 18 teams - the thing they have going for them here is the proximity to Europe so think there could be possibly two French teams (Toulouse or Lezignon to be included with Catalan) maybe Wales could be pushing for another team (can't see the RFL dropping this idea) Scotland and Ireland possibly in the Championships

NRL 22 teams - Sth Brisbane, Ipswich, WA Reds and Southern Orcas join the NRL

Re: Rugby League in 2025 : Sat May 07, 2011 7:38 am  

Big Ask wrote:

What will the UK/European game look like?

What will the International game look like?

If you go back to 1995 what have been the major changes in both of the above?

An amateur game in GB played along the M62 corridor!!!!

Re: Rugby League in 2025 : Sat May 07, 2011 11:10 am  

In 2025 we'll be discussing how Tommy Wellens' move to Rugby Union is a sign that league is struggling and the financially dominant Union sport is on top, with its massive crowds for internationals compared to leagues.

We'll also be discussing what to do with Harlequins after they post a crowd of 342 for a Challenge Cup game against Salford.

Re: Rugby League in 2025 : Sat May 07, 2011 11:14 am  

Haven't you seen the film 2012?!

Re: Rugby League in 2025 : Sat May 07, 2011 11:16 am  

The Norwich Crusaders will have just gone into administration for the first time , Smokey will be on here posting that it is nothing to do with the other 6 times a ' Crusader ' club has done the same , and it's all inherited debt from previous ownership

Re: Rugby League in 2025 : Sat May 07, 2011 11:19 am  

nick hkr wrote:

Haven't you seen the film 2012?!

Since when does world cataclysm stop RL from being played , were not football players and fans you know , those ' Arks ' in that film will be full of premiership players , they are the only ones who could afford to be saved

Re: Rugby League in 2025 : Sat May 07, 2011 11:27 am  

I would hope that as a minimum, all the clubs in the top flight are playing in modern facilities with everyone spending to the cap. Everyone spending to the cap would see a natural increase in the quality of the product and therefore an increase in crowds.

Hopefully Leeds, Wigan and Hull pushing 16-18k average.

Saints, Wire, Bradford, Catalans pushing 13-16k.

Hudds, Hull KR, Castleford getting 10k+

Not really sure which other teams would be in super league but I would hope we could increase the pool of players enough to have 16 teams by then. But if not then just those 10 teams would do for me. Maybe Barrow and their football team can get together with the council and build a new ground so we can have a team from cumbria. Maybe Widnes will be a great success and stay in the league for years to come, we might even see other great clubs in times gone by coming back to the top. Who knows? Maybe another team in France!

One thing is for sure, by 2025 we need to be getting more people through the gates and watching the sport to increase income and increase sponsorship.

Re: Rugby League in 2025 : Sat May 07, 2011 11:35 am  

Odemwingie wrote:

Not really sure which other teams would be in super league but I would hope we could increase the pool of players enough to have 16 teams by then. But if not then just those 10 teams would do for me. Maybe Barrow and their football team can get together with the council and build a new ground so we can have a team from cumbria. Maybe Widnes will be a great success and stay in the league for years to come, we might even see other great clubs in times gone by coming back to the top. Who knows? Maybe another team in France!

One thing is for sure, by 2025 we need to be getting more people through the gates and watching the sport to increase income and increase sponsorship.

There already more than enough English/British players for 14 SL clubs , why do you think the Championship is such a competitive league ? , because probably every club in it has players that could step up to SL given full time training and conditioning , unfortunately due to SL clubs infatuation with Australian players , many of these players don't get a chance , your club has proved they can produce players , even if other clubs have benifited

Re: Rugby League in 2025 : Sat May 07, 2011 12:43 pm  

Odemwingie wrote:

One thing is for sure, by 2025 we need to be getting more people through the gates and watching the sport to increase income and increase sponsorship.

That will be by watching TV or holography or whatever is the "technology" of the day.

Do you believe that Sky put X amount into the sport not to make a profit!!!! They really do not care about attendances. They do not make a penny out of them (not quite true but the comment is a sweeping generalisation)

One thing will NEVER change though.

Your team loses and no matter what, it was a match officials decision(s) that caused it, never ever the players