Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Thu Oct 13, 2011 8:08 am  

Catalancs wrote:

You enjoy watching England rugby union? Christ, you must have a semi just watching Wigan warm-up.

One of the best posts i've ever seen on rlfans

If we are going for young union lads does it make the whole Scorpions feeder club rumour stronger?

Got to say the more i have thought about it the more i like it and IL is one clever sob if true

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:01 am  

inside_man wrote:

This is why developing RL international fixtures is huge, not just relying on Aus + NZ, but developing France, Scotland, Wales + Ireland. Home nations tournaments on a competitive international level is something we are sorely lacking.

Then we need to put an end to playings jumping ship from one country to another

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:52 am  

I was at the Wigan V Crusaders U15 and U16 games last year and there were at least two outstanding players in the Crusaders sides. Now if these kids can look very good in an inexperienced team what could they do in a full time environment. You only need to pick up one top class player every couple of years for it to be a success.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:27 am  

[Gareth] wrote:

Then we need to put an end to playings jumping ship from one country to another

Been banging on about that for months and months.

The Chase situation is one I don't agree with (residency etc etc) but he hasn't played for NZ.

Once you play for a country, you can't switch. However, until Wales/Ireland/Scotland get more regular high profile games, you'll get players not committing to them in the first place. The likes of Bridge/Brough etc. wouldn't have played for Ireland/Scotland if they knew that they could then NEVER play for England.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:34 am  

Catalancs wrote:

You enjoy watching England rugby union? Christ, you must have a semi just watching Wigan warm-up.

Boy u have really brightened my day at work.

[Pemps]

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:39 am  

inside_man wrote:

Been banging on about that for months and months.

The Chase situation is one I don't agree with (residency etc etc) but he hasn't played for NZ.

Once you play for a country, you can't switch. However, until Wales/Ireland/Scotland get more regular high profile games, you'll get players not committing to them in the first place. The likes of Bridge/Brough etc. wouldn't have played for Ireland/Scotland if they knew that they could then NEVER play for England.

Same could be said for Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands.....

If the players did commit to these teams though, they'd be quite strong. Nigel Vagana played for Samoa then NZ and then Samoa again. Peluatua (sp) and Solomona have both reverted back to Samoa too. If this quality of player stuck with Samoa then they'd have a team to challange.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:05 am  

Pemps wrote:

Same could be said for Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands.....

If the players did commit to these teams though, they'd be quite strong. Nigel Vagana played for Samoa then NZ and then Samoa again. Peluatua (sp) and Solomona have both reverted back to Samoa too. If this quality of player stuck with Samoa then they'd have a team to challange.

Exactly, and it's not as if it's a rule that limits a players options to choose. Just once you've chosen, thats it!

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:34 am  

headhunter wrote:

After just one Super League season in South Wales, Crusaders managed to produce 4 Super League standard players. Wigan is a far bigger club than Scarlets or Blues, domestic RU is nothing.

Who are these SL standard players and, more importantly, are they Wigan standard? Also, whilst Wigan may be bigger than any welsh RU club ( I wouldn't know) we cannot compete against the allure to a welshman of playing RU for Wales IMO.

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:44 am  

Catalancs wrote:

You enjoy watching England rugby union? Christ, you must have a semi just watching Wigan warm-up.

I fully understand the sentiment but I think the OP has a point. Whilst there is no comparison to be made between the codes in terms of which is the better the fact that international RU is genuinely big time does affect me, I admit.

Here's an analogy given to me last night discussing this very thing. My brother reckons badminton is a better sport than tennis but if the UK badminton Championship (is there one?) was on TV at the same time as Wimbledon guess which he would watch?

Finally, sorry for derailing the thread!

Re: Rumours and signings v8 : Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:32 pm  

jinkin jimmy wrote:

Who are these SL standard players and, more importantly, are they Wigan standard?

I guess so since Wigan are about the announce the signing of two of them.