<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (snoopy snoopy dog dog @ Jan 9 2009, 12:12 PM)
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Dec 12 2008, 12:47 PM)
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Problem is we're not even sure when the next world cup will even be held and as for a super league team with the current expansion it's hard to see an avenue for an Irish team or a Scottish team, it not's just a case of lumping together a team and saying there you go off to super league, you'd need years to build up a team, they'd have to prove themselves at a lower level of competition before being given a Super League license by which time any interest from the world cup will have well and truly evaporated.[/b]
I agree almost entirely. If an Irish team was thrown together to compete in Super League, it would be doomed to failure given the current appetite for the sport in Ireland. While there was some reporting on the World Cup, it often came buried deep in the sports bulletins and was quickly forgotten.
That's not to say that rugby league will never take off in Ireland. For it to grow, the RLIF needs to develop a proper international calender. At present, the best that can be said about the international calender for non-Tri Nations teams is that it's haphazard. At worst, and probably more accurate, is that it's virtually nonexistent. When will the Ireland team that played in the World Cup play as a unit again? How will they build on the momentum generated by beating Samoa? Without regular international competition, the impetus gained from the 2008 World Cup will wither away, much like in 2000. Ireland need regular international competition against their peers in this part of the world (Wales, Scotland, Russia, Lebanon) to help the sport progress. More games equals more exposure to the sport and the possibility of more players making the jump to professional RL in England, Wales and France.
That will set the ball rolling for the sport to gain a small foothold over here. In my opinion, for things to move further than that, the RLI should look to develop a relationship with the IRFU. It's a long way down the road but such a link up could be mutually beneficial. Union is a winter sport and thus, grounds such as Musgrave Park, Ravenhill, Donnybrook and Thomond Park will be vacant for 3 months each summer. Would it not be advisable for the IRFU (or the respective branches) to look to maximise revenue via using one or more of these stadia 12 months of the year? The IRFU could tap into Super League's growing revenue - the French market is growing with Les Catalans in SL and Toulouse bound to follow in 2012, the Welsh market has been opened via Millenium Magic and the Celtic Crusaders whereas progress will hopefully be made in Scotland via Murrayfield Magic. RLI could tap into the IRFU's playing base and facilities. I believe it's worth exploring a link up between the organizations but fully doubt it will happen.
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I agree; we really need to get some kind of European tournament going. Something like - Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England A, France A (or just France if they aren't in the Tri-Nations), Russia, Serbia and Lebanon. At the very least, we need more test matches between the home nations.
