Grass roots RL taking off globally -- now Asia : Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:48 pm  

New developments at the grass roots taking place in Asia.

Thailand now has a four team domestic competition. And in Thailand it is not a team of mostly western expats. For example in the final of the domestic competition played just recently 31 out of 34 players were ethnic Thai. It is hoped that the number of clubs will expand in 2015. Thailand needs to be strengthened greatly to take on the might of Southeast Asian champions the Philippines. That is because the Philippines can draw on several NRL players who have Filipino mothers (e.g. GC Titans winger/full back Kevin Gordon, and his brother, Titans hooker Matt Srama and his brother).

Rugby league is also starting to emerge in Hong Kong, and in the most unlikely place of all, Pakistan, though information on these two is a bit sketchy at the moment.

But all in all it is a good thing for international rugby league if domestic competitions can be formed in these countries.

Re: Grass roots RL taking off globally -- now Asia : Fri Dec 19, 2014 5:02 am  

Singapores got a 4/5 club comp just started as well. Great to see the game being taken up in other countries. NRL goes out across Asia on a number of pay tv channels which can only help when people see the quality of our athletes and style of play compared to more pedestrian codes.

Re: Grass roots RL taking off globally -- now Asia : Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:06 pm  

JB Down Under wrote:

Singapores got a 4/5 club comp just started as well. Great to see the game being taken up in other countries. NRL goes out across Asia on a number of pay tv channels which can only help when people see the quality of our athletes and style of play compared to more pedestrian codes.

Do us all a favour and don't encourage him.

Re: Grass roots RL taking off globally -- now Asia : Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:19 pm  

A Jean post will either be something French related, a random bad boy Aussie linked with SL, rugby league in obscure places or some snide criticism of England. Take your pick. Jean bingo. The "stevo" or RL fans.

Re: Grass roots RL taking off globally -- now Asia : Fri Dec 19, 2014 2:15 pm  

Errlee Berd wrote:

Do us all a favour and don't encourage him.

I agree......union is more pedestrian. There are reportedly over 16000 pedestrian players in Thailand at 154 clubs.....but tuis is smashing news about league that will only further increase the size of the next NRL deal once they have cut the game into 4 quarters per half with more slots for advertising