RL World Cup : Thu Jul 22, 2021 7:58 am  

Both Australia and New Zealand have pulled out:- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/57925720

Both Australia and New Zealand have pulled out:- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/57925720

Re: RL World Cup : Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:24 am  

I'm caught in two minds.

Part of me wants the comp to go ahead just to spite them but the other part of me knows it's a farce if it does.

As a rugby league fan, it's constantly disheartening to see those who run the game never being able to see the bigger picture.

Re: RL World Cup : Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:36 am  

The way Covid Infection is increasing here is alarming. Don't blame Aussies and NZ at all. I think they are seeing the bigger picture OK. I wouldn't assume other Countries will want to come either.

Re: RL World Cup : Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:43 am  

Jack Napier wrote:

I'm caught in two minds.

Part of me wants the comp to go ahead just to spite them but the other part of me knows it's a farce if it does.

As a rugby league fan, it's constantly disheartening to see those who run the game never being able to see the bigger picture.

The NRL clubs will probably ban their Pacific Island players such as Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea from playing also.

Re: RL World Cup : Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:46 am  

Smiffy27 wrote:

The way Covid Infection is increasing here is alarming. Don't blame Aussies and NZ at all. I think they are seeing the bigger picture OK. I wouldn't assume other Countries will want to come either.

I’d be very surprised now if NRL based Tonga/Samoa/Fiji/PNG even Eng, Wal & Sco players in the NRL (whether heritage or those that have moved out there) will be coming over. NRL clubs will now put pressure on them to stay at home.

I don’t see the point in having a World Cup without the worlds best players. Whatever the rights and wrongs are of Aus & NZ not coming over, for the sake of the integrity of the competition, it needs to be pushed to 2022.

Re: RL World Cup : Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:46 am  

Boss Hog wrote:

The NRL clubs will probably ban their Pacific Island players such as Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea from playing also.

Beat me to it!

Re: RL World Cup : Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:49 am  

Smiffy27 wrote:

The way Covid Infection is increasing here is alarming. Don't blame Aussies and NZ at all. I think they are seeing the bigger picture OK. I wouldn't assume other Countries will want to come either.

It's only alarming if you believe our media's constant fear mongering, though I can appreciate that coming from countries like Australia & New Zealand, where vaccination programmes are far behind ours, might be worried of coming here.

Re: RL World Cup : Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:56 am  

Smiffy27 wrote:

The way Covid Infection is increasing here is alarming. Don't blame Aussies and NZ at all. I think they are seeing the bigger picture OK. I wouldn't assume other Countries will want to come either.

I'm fairly certain we'll still be seeing Australia play rugby in the UK in November. Just won't be rugby league.

This decision is just about protecting the NRL, not players.

Re: RL World Cup : Thu Jul 22, 2021 9:00 am  

There isn't much point without them. I don't see how it can go ahwad without looking farcical!

Perhaps allow some superleague based invitational teams in? Australian all stars and Pacific all stars? Rest of UK, England, France. Just have an entirely different tournament and event as a one off?

Re: RL World Cup : Thu Jul 22, 2021 9:07 am  

It's coming home.