Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:52 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

That's not what's happened in New Zealand.

Intrigued,prey tell.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:56 pm  

Tony Kemp's comments that it has widened the net in terms of rugby league players in NZ. It could very well fall on its booty over here but let's face facts, the number of players exposed to rugby league isn't anywhere near enough for us to compete with the Aussies or Kiwis.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Oct 25, 2010 10:49 pm  

Both rugby league and rugby union will be treated equally by the Government as the UK hosts the respective codes' world cups in 2013 and 2015, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has vowed. Sports Minister Hugh Robertson wrote: "But absolutely my intention is to treat both similarly." And well done Helen Jones

Both rugby league and rugby union will be treated equally by the Government as the UK hosts the respective codes' world cups in 2013 and 2015, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has vowed. Sports Minister Hugh Robertson wrote: "But absolutely my intention is to treat both similarly." And well done Helen Jones

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Oct 26, 2010 9:03 am  

English Premiership chief critical of IRB They need to get round a table and sort this out quick sharp, otherwise this could get very messy. While in other news, the Gavin Henson saga rumbles on...

English Premiership chief critical of IRB They need to get round a table and sort this out quick sharp, otherwise this could get very messy. While in other news, the Gavin Henson saga rumbles on...

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:17 am  

Catalancs wrote:

Both rugby league and rugby union will be treated equally by the Government as the UK hosts the respective codes' world cups in 2013 and 2015, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has vowed.

And well done Helen Jones

I wonder why on earth the RFL didn't make the request?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:18 am  

Catalancs wrote: English Premiership chief critical of IRB They need to get round a table and sort this out quick sharp, otherwise this could get very messy. While in other news, the Gavin Henson saga rumbles on... Isn't he meant to go to Saracens?

Catalancs wrote: English Premiership chief critical of IRB They need to get round a table and sort this out quick sharp, otherwise this could get very messy. While in other news, the Gavin Henson saga rumbles on... Isn't he meant to go to Saracens?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:23 am  

Urmston Wire wrote:

Isn't he meant to go to Saracens?

It's a done deal. For me he's been out of the game for too long and it may take him the rest of this season just to get up to speed.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Oct 26, 2010 11:37 am  

Catalancs wrote:

It's a done deal. For me he's been out of the game for too long and it may take him the rest of this season just to get up to speed.

Hmmm...it won't last long, I sense. I can see this being spun as "star player comes to Aviva Prem", disguising the loss of the real stars to France.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Oct 26, 2010 12:14 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

Both rugby league and rugby union will be treated equally by the Government as the UK hosts the respective codes' world cups in 2013 and 2015, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has vowed.

And well done Helen Jones

There's a world of difference between similarly and equally.

Maybe the reason the RFL isn't asking for HMG to underwrite the tournament is because it's got more confidence in its product and isn't spending money it doesn't have trying to put on the biggest show on earth, unlike the RFU?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Oct 26, 2010 2:30 pm  

The rugby world cup always makes massive profits. All 2.4m tickets for the last rugby world cup were snapped up within hours.

Rugby league has a long way to go before it can give away half of that in freebies, let alone sell 1.2m tickets.

The rugby world cup is a guaranteed success, especially in a country that is rugby mad