Re: Bring back Exiles? : Thu Nov 19, 2015 5:43 pm  

What England need is COMPETITIVE INTERNATIONALS, that's why they won all those test-matches and series between 2011 and 2014.

Re: Bring back Exiles? : Thu Nov 19, 2015 6:16 pm  

Are there enough Kiwis in SL to form their own squad?

There are no half backs. Or are they going to stick Frank Pritchard in at scrum half?

Re: Bring back Exiles? : Thu Nov 19, 2015 8:34 pm  

How about an annual double header at Wembley; England v New Zealand followed by SOO Queensland v New South Wales?

Re: Bring back Exiles? : Thu Nov 19, 2015 8:43 pm  

Mr Churchill wrote:

How about an annual double header at Wembley; England v New Zealand followed by SOO Queensland v New South Wales?

How about just the England vs NZ match?

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: Bring back Exiles? : Fri Nov 20, 2015 3:36 pm  

Why not England Vs Knights?

Re: Bring back Exiles? : Fri Nov 20, 2015 7:24 pm  

We need to be trying to improve the quality of games in SL first and foremost, and that will prepare our players for the step up to international level, as well as improving the competition as a whole.
We don't need more international games against non international teams, we need more matches involving real teams.

Re: Bring back Exiles? : Sat Nov 21, 2015 10:06 am  

Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino wrote:

Why not England Vs Knights?

Really don't see this being a popular event. Why would people be interested in watching England vs England.

Asking any ad agency to advertise this would be a hard sell.

Re: Bring back Exiles? : Sat Nov 21, 2015 11:34 am  

This same thing over and over again 'we nee to play competitive games'.

WALES, FRANCE, SCOTLAND AND IRELAND WILL NEVER BECOME COMPETITIVE IF WE NEVER PLAY THEM, AND IF THE ONLY WAY OF PLAYING INTERNATIONALS FOR THREE OF THEM IS TO PLAY FOR ENGLAND.

We aren't going to create an exciting, knife-edge international series out of nothing. We need to play the home nations on a regular basis so they can develop as teams and so eligible players will choose them and not England.

As for taking Union names - yes. Those are well-established brands and if we can capitalise on them we should do so.

Re: Bring back Exiles? : Sat Nov 21, 2015 4:18 pm  

We have to play Wales and France.

Playing a made up set of teams will do nothing. It will not generate interest for the fans, players or the game in general.
To be fair any mid-season game will only be SL's players.

I think we have to bite the bullet and say that playing for Wales/France mid-season will not prevent players being picked for England in future competitions or when England play NZ/AS

I think we also have to be liberal with the Welsh and French sides for heritage rules. Make England selection very strict and a loser restrictions on Wales and France.
So no one can play for England unless they are born here.
Wales and France if you can find a connection then you can play. So Cuthbertson could not play for England, but I'm sure someone in the family tree spent a holiday in Wales once.

Obviously you tighten up the rules for France and Wales once they become more competitive. But for me if we want England to improve then we need more competition from our neighbors.

We will also have to accept for a few years there maybe some blow out scores, just as there were when GB played Australia in the past.

Re: Bring back Exiles? : Sat Nov 21, 2015 4:58 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

We have to play Wales and France.

Playing a made up set of teams will do nothing. It will not generate interest for the fans, players or the game in general.
To be fair any mid-season game will only be SL's players.

I think we have to bite the bullet and say that playing for Wales/France mid-season will not prevent players being picked for England in future competitions or when England play NZ/AS

I think we also have to be liberal with the Welsh and French sides for heritage rules. Make England selection very strict and a loser restrictions on Wales and France.
So no one can play for England unless they are born here.
Wales and France if you can find a connection then you can play. So Cuthbertson could not play for England, but I'm sure someone in the family tree spent a holiday in Wales once.

Obviously you tighten up the rules for France and Wales once they become more competitive. But for me if we want England to improve then we need more competition from our neighbors.

We will also have to accept for a few years there maybe some blow out scores, just as there were when GB played Australia in the past.

Agree with all that.

I think it's important to have a set schedule of playing France and Wales so they have something to build and plan for. It can also start to generate some momentum behind it after a while. If people know that each year we're playing France and Wales at a certain date and place then we'll get more spectators and more sponsors/hospitality at these games.

If we continue to have one off games at random dates and venues, only decided and announced last minute then we'll continue to get poor crowds, media coverage, sponsorship and interest.