We're seven games in to this 2013 Rugby League World Cup and hasn't it been great so far!
We've had good crowds, close games, big hits, upsets, skill and drama.
I hope it continues throughout. There are some games that will test the good will earned so far - the Ireland v Australia game is one to really test where we're at and it would be great to see that risk deliver - but this is the time to come up with a plan. A way forward that holds onto this early momentum. Not just for this tournament, but the international game beyond.
Us fans should enjoy the present, but the administrators at the RLIF and the national bodies need consider the future. They need to come up with a plan to take advantage of the current positive light shining on the international game.
There is a dark cloud hovering in the background of this tournament - that no formal announcements for the 2014 international calendar or beyond to the next world cup have been made.
Now is the time, and here is what I would suggest.
A five year rotation of events. I know most international sporting rotations are four years (olympics, soccer world cups, lions tours etc.) but they don't have to be.
Say 2013 is Year One. It's a world cup year, so the next world cup should be 2018. Unless the strength of the weaker/emerging nations comes on fast, this year's format makes sense as its working well!
Year Two (i.e. 2014 in my example) - Australia or New Zealand (alternating) play a proper tour and test series against Great Britain in Britain. Other European / North American nations host tours from Pacific Island nations, or vice versa.
Year Three (2015) - GB tour Australia or New Zealand (alternating) in test series with tour games hopefully thrown in. Other European and North American sides play tour games with Pacific Islands again (alternate northern/southern hemisphere).
Year Four (2016) - Britain breaks into constituent parts for teams to build to the next world cup. A number of four nations tournaments based on world ranking will be played. The 'Top Four' league alternates between England and Australia, other leagues moving between northern and southern hemisphere based on teams involved/finances etc.
Year Five (2017) - a European nations tournament between top 6 (8 if game grows) nations in region and an equivalent for southern hemisphere and other regions.
Ranking points from year four and year five games would decide which nations join Australia, New Zealand and England at the next world cup.
I think key is helping emerging nations grow, both with domestic exposure and from greater buy in to their long term cause by qualifying players from NRL and Super League.
That's my proposal (admittedly not thought through in great detail!), what's yours?
I am totally with you as far as the concept goes. At the stage we are ate I think having 3 regions that have a Championship tournament for the top 6 ranked nations in each region. I wouldn't overdo the Great Britain idea, I think a 3 test series once every 4 years between Australia and GB for old times sake but I hope to see the 4 British nations get more pride in their own heritage and if they are Welsh they play for Wales rather than play for England when it suits them. We can't afford to weaken any of the emerging nations (I would say that now we have legitimate Scotland and Wales and Irish teams.
ReplyDeleteWith the Americas they have a geographical region that has experience very very thin on the ground and although an Americas Trophy is desirable they need to also play some pacific teams and against European sides. Too hard to go into details atm but it is something I have been putting thought into. basically we need to create an International season where we concentrate on tournaments. Special tests like the Anzac Tests will always be fixtures. Super League and NRL now finish at same time of year and then it should be wall to wall internationals. Also the international federation need to ensure sponsors and worldwide tv rights.
We can no longer afford to weaken nations that do have players from the NRL and SL by having lots of tests during the NRL season but with all the empty months available there should be Test matches and tournaments. A top notch Tournament should be on each year.
This world cup has proven that the vast gap between the top nations and the others in this world cup is smaller than it's ever been. The days where it all revolves around Aus/ NZ and England are over and rightly so. A match such as the Tonga v Samoa match earlier this year showed that when these sorts of teams are at full strength the result was incredible and amazing rugby league (one of the best tests I ever saw in my life).
Thanks for reading and commenting. I agree that end of season events are key to the progression internationally. I still think GB doesn't dilute the desire for your own nation. In fact it promotes it as you still get to play in top matches against the Aussies and Kiwis. It'd be good to hear more about your ideas about the international season.
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