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WARRIORCRAIG wrote:

I'd do it all at the same time then, Knights to play France as a curtain raiser. If there are no changes to the RL calendar next year then there simply isn't enough time for 2 games. We should have one free weekend dedicated to an international game like this year but without the stupid cramming of a 2nd fixture in midweek.

One Saturday afternoon in June at a reasonably-sized stadium (Langtree/Halliwell maybe Hudds/KC/DW):

3 pm England Knights v France
5.30 pm England v Exiles

We need the game to have its own sponsor, a decent incentive for playing in it (ie prize money) and if possible we should be looking for the release of the NRL-based players so the squads are as strong as possible. If it is marketed well and sensibly priced, together with 2 strong playing squads then the concept will grow. The RFL got greedy trying to add a 2nd fixture this year and it backfired massively.

England Knights should not and hopefully will not be playing against France, or any other international team in the future. Get a grip.

[Sheldon]

Starbug wrote:

Explain?

I'd have 2 war of the roses and then england v exiles in the season, 2 weeks after the sl grand final i'd have the wcc.

Sheldon wrote:

I'd have 2 war of the roses and then england v exiles in the season, 2 weeks after the sl grand final i'd have the wcc.

You seriously think the Aussies would spoil their holidays to fly over here after they have just won their GF? And how do you fit in a 4 nations tournament or WC which would normally start then?

I'd have a European 3 nations with England, Wales, and France every year during the season. Winner plays Exiles....
And also have a 2 match test series with Great Britain and France and a Emerging European Cup with Ireland, Scotland and Russia or Italy

England V Wales, Wigan
France V England, Montpellier (on Bastille Day)
Wales V France, Wrexham

European Champions V Exiles

Great Britain V France (City of Manchester Stadium)
France V Great Britain (Toulouse Stade Ernest-Wallon)

One player could represent 5 times during the season in all 3 comps... Virtually the same amount for NRL players with State of Origin series, Anzac test, All Satrs Game and Country V City

[Sheldon]

Starbug wrote:

You seriously think the Aussies would spoil their holidays to fly over here after they have just won their GF? And how do you fit in a 4 nations tournament or WC which would normally start then?

Would they prefer it to pre season?

International games start a month after the season finishes.

Four Nations tournament between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales - the teams competing in the RLWC. It might encourage some SL players to switch allegiances again and get stronger teams for the rest ahead of their campaigns. It would also get England in camp much more and get some strong bonds together allow Steve Mc more time ahead of the World Cup

Put the games on a Sunday afternoon back-to-back (i.e. two fixtures one after another) and move all SL games to Friday/Saturday night. Split the fixtures across three weekends through usmmer.

English games could be held at likes of Keepmoat Stadium and City of Salford Stadium. Irish games at Thomond Park. Scotland, at some small Scottish football ground?

Home Nations tournament would be a disaster. If the Knights can put 60 on Ireland mid-season, what are England going to do?

There'd be little gain from it. Neither team would get a worthwhile challenge. At least Exiles is competitive.

As for WCC at the end of the season, would be nice but I'm still holding on to thought of an extended competition. Plus, even as a one-off, it would be hard to sell ANOTHER show piece event at the end of the season. People are already paying for play-offs, internationals and a GF in the space of 2 months (+ the CCF a month earlier).

headhunter wrote:

England Knights should not and hopefully will not be playing against France, or any other international team in the future. Get a grip.

Why not? They are the players who are seen as future internationals. They've just played Ireland and put 60 on them, what's the point in them smashing Ireland or Scotland every year? France don't provide a stern enough mid season challenge for the full England team which is why the Exiles concept was developed. Knights v France would be a decent game I reckon and would be a very good curtain raiser to the main game, why would you be against it?

As for the WCC it definitely should be at the end of the season. There is usually a warm up international game before whatever tournament is on (usually Wales/Maoris etc). The WCC could be played on this weekend. This would also mean that the WWC would alternate between hemispheres.

As we all know the RFL are onboard with this concept and are for the forseeable future. The reasoning behind this concept was to enable England to play 1 or 2 competitive matches against reasonable oppostion as the other host nations are seen as being too weak at present.

With the raise in the NRL cap the pool of decent Australian and NewZeland players is only going to shrink over the next 2/3 years. Is it not worth the RFL scrapping this concept now rather than allowing it to degrade due to lack of quality imports. And look at re establishing the War of the roses?

This was resurrected about 8 years ago i think and the interest for that was certainly higher than the interest in the Exiles game. The issue of players dropping out will probably be raised but if the RFL could get a sponsor for the contest and use that funding to pay players additional money for playing in the series as the Australians do in Origin it would counteract this problem. Also play them at better stadia Elland road and Etihad stadium for example this obsession we ahve of playing ganes ot traditional games does not generate external interest. I would also look to have a parallel series being ran between Cumbria and Cheshire if possible. These are areas of RL talent too.

IF they are to continue with the exiles games i cant for the life of me understand why they dont play a game in London what with all the Aussies and Kiwis Living in that area.

I know this concept would not enable the English team to play together but it would enable most players in contention for an england shirt to play against each other in a quality team against a quality team and see who fits best.

Constructive thoughts please......