We need continuity not constant chopping and changing. The Four Nations was building in stature each year. At the last tournament we had 40k at Anfield, 21k at Coventry and 35k in London on a Sunday with a rail strike. It’s madness after that massively successful tournament it was scrapped.
We should go with the structure below, if Australia refuse to play the year after a World Cup replace them with the 5th highest ranked team in the World for that tournament. Our Four Nations in time could rival Rugby Union’s Six Nations.
Year 1
Four Nations - Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, England. Pacific Cup - Fiji, Samoa, PNG, Lebanon
European Cup - France, Wales, Scotland, Ireland
America’s Cup - Canada, USA, Jamacia
Year 2
Four Nations - Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, England. Pacific Cup - Fiji, Samoa, PNG, Lebanon
European Cup - France, Wales, Scotland, Ireland
America’s Cup - Canada, USA, Jamacia
Year 3
Four Nations - Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, England. Pacific Cup - Fiji, Samoa, PNG, Lebanon
European Cup - France, Wales, Scotland, Ireland
America’s Cup - Canada, USA, Jamacia
Year 4
World Cup