Re: Four Nations 2016 : Wed Nov 25, 2015 2:05 am  

richardviking wrote:

Leeds, Manchester, London and one other city (Hull, Newcastle or Birmingham for geographical spread's sake) would work a treat I think. Something tells me that as soon as the rest of the country see we are staging Test matches in small towns they switch off.

I actually thought I'd read something about RL being interested in Villa Park after the success of the RWC fixtures there. Its a good-quality ground, a good ambitious size and a new catchment area while being reachable down the M6 and M1 for most core supporters. I wonder if they'll take the plunge and take our game to Birmingham.

I hope we don't use Villa Park.
We have to use London to build up our profile.
The other games should either be in the heartlands to guarantee decent crowds or go to areas where we're trying to develop the game. So really either Manchester or Newcastle or heartlands.

Re: Four Nations 2016 : Wed Nov 25, 2015 1:20 pm  

Birmingham is a good shout; could hardly be more central, could it?

Re: Four Nations 2016 : Wed Nov 25, 2015 2:02 pm  

What about the Ricoh Arena in Coventry? It's in an RL development area, and has a decent capacity of 32k.

Re: Four Nations 2016 : Wed Nov 25, 2015 2:11 pm  

Charlie Sheen wrote:

What about the Ricoh Arena in Coventry? It's in an RL development area, and has a decent capacity of 32k.

Whose turn is it to own the Ricoh this week?

Re: Four Nations 2016 : Wed Nov 25, 2015 5:14 pm  

It's got to be London or the heartlands. Talk of Birmingham, Coventry or Newcastle is madness.

Re: Four Nations 2016 : Thu Nov 26, 2015 9:58 am  

If a RL World Cup is not to be held very two years, I'd go for a 4 Nations tournament every year except when it's a World Cup year.

Alternate the 4 Nations between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

GREAT BRITAIN** to compete in the 4 Nations every time. When in Northern Hemisphere ALWAYS GB, FRANCE, NZ, Aus. When in Southern Hemisphere GB, Aus, NZ & winner of earlier South Sea Islands tournament. Play as England only in the World Cup.

Then every year of a 4 Nations there should be a European Championship in advance with England Under 21s representing England.

** Incentive for say top Welsh RU players to come to Super League.

Re: Four Nations 2016 : Thu Nov 26, 2015 12:05 pm  

Mr Churchill wrote:

If a RL World Cup is not to be held very two years, I'd go for a 4 Nations tournament every year except when it's a World Cup year.

Alternate the 4 Nations between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

GREAT BRITAIN** to compete in the 4 Nations every time. When in Northern Hemisphere ALWAYS GB, FRANCE, NZ, Aus. When in Southern Hemisphere GB, Aus, NZ & winner of earlier South Sea Islands tournament. Play as England only in the World Cup.

Then every year of a 4 Nations there should be a European Championship in advance with England Under 21s representing England.

** Incentive for say top Welsh RU players to come to Super League.

Surely a 4N every year (unless there is a World Cup) although providing a decent contest, actually diminishes the value of the World Cup ?
Also, if we revert to GB, this will stifle the development of the other hoe nations, which is just madness.
We need to do everything possible to improve their status.

Re: Four Nations 2016 : Sun Nov 29, 2015 5:05 pm  

Mr Churchill wrote:

If a RL World Cup is not to be held very two years, I'd go for a 4 Nations tournament every year except when it's a World Cup year.

Alternate the 4 Nations between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

GREAT BRITAIN** to compete in the 4 Nations every time. When in Northern Hemisphere ALWAYS GB, FRANCE, NZ, Aus. When in Southern Hemisphere GB, Aus, NZ & winner of earlier South Sea Islands tournament. Play as England only in the World Cup.

Then every year of a 4 Nations there should be a European Championship in advance with England Under 21s representing England.

** Incentive for say top Welsh RU players to come to Super League.[/quote

wrencat1873 wrote:

Surely a 4N every year (unless there is a World Cup) although providing a decent contest, actually diminishes the value of the World Cup ?
Also, if we revert to GB, this will stifle the development of the other home nations, which is just madness.
We need to do everything possible to improve their status.

"Great Britain" is a fantastic Rugby League brand and we are missing something in not taking the chance to keep in the national sporting consciousness year-on-year. The red and blue V on the white Great Britain RL shirt is truly iconic.

Players like George Best and Ryan Giggs were never able to achieve anything on the world stage with Northern Ireland and Wales and Andy Murray would never have been part of a Davis Cup wining team with 'Scotland'.

Rugby League badly needs an annual calendar of internationals which everybody knows will happen every year. That way, more potential stars are attracted to playing Rugby League.

Union has its annual 6 Nations fixed in the calendar (even in years when it has a RU World Cup as well!) That's in addition to their annual 'autumn internationals' and overseas tours. Doesn't detract from their game.

We should have a 4 Nations (alternating between the Northern & Southern Hemispheres) every year when it's not a World Cup year. As I suggested before, we should always play as Great Britain in the 4 Nations and as England and the home countries only every 4 years in the RL World Cup when there are more teams in the tournament finals.

The annual 4 Nations (or World Cup every four years) should be in the calendar to take place every year after the NRL and Super League Grand Finals. In a four Nations year, we in Europe should have a mid-season European Championship which would also in effect be a GB and France 4 Nations selection trial. England Under 21s and France Under 21s would compete with Wales, Scotland, Ireland plus maybe Italy/Russia/Serbia. Then later in the year Great Britain and France would be in the 4 Nations.

A full, regular and fixed international calendar is essential if RL is to achieve its potential and demonstrate its worth in the global sporting scene.

Remember that when the Super League Grand final at Old Trafford started in 1998, it was second in prestige to the Challenge Cup final with lower attendances. By leaving it in place and it becoming an annual fixture highlight, Old Trafford is now full each year for the season's main event. The same would happen if we put this sort of annual international calendar in place.

Re: Four Nations 2016 : Sun Nov 29, 2015 9:33 pm  

No, no, no to a return to G Britain. I support Australia, unless they're playing against Wales. Do me a favour, chuck Wales, Scotland and N Ireland out of the "United" K. It's about emotion. That's why I can relate so well to Origin, and wish more NSW players felt like me, the fact is J Thurston grew up wanting to play for QLD not Aus. I be it was the same for Cronk, Smith and Slater too.

Re: Four Nations 2016 : Sun Nov 29, 2015 9:44 pm  

There's very little chance of G North or Scott Williams coming over to RL, even if you went to G Britain.