A severe oversight on my part, for which I have given myself a good old rollicking.

I'm confident that none of the Leeds players will look out of their depth on the international stage against Wales and France. The same would apply to the two faux international fixtures against Exilia.

The most dissapointing thing for me is that these faux international fixtures present a much stronger test than Wales and France. And teams like Wales and Scotland will never get better while their best Players (brough, Henderson etc...) can choose to change their international team as they like and play for England.

Don't worry about it. The problem is this 'England' malarkey. As others have pointed out, we should play as GB. That's our international RL heritage and it simplifies matters concerning national identity. I don't care who is selected to play for England. It matters not a jot to me as I consider myself British.

I must admit if it was up to me I'd go rather have a GB side.

As a matter of interest, why do you not consider yourself a citizen of the United Kingdom? What do you have against Northern Ireland? Or, for that matter why not European? Why draw the arbitrary line at a collection of three countries if you don't feel your identity is covered by just the one?

Because my passport says I'm a British citizen.


My passport says I'm a British citizen which constitutes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.


Europe isn't a country. It's an economic union. My passport says I'm a British citizen which constitutes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as well as being a member of the European Union.


Which three countries have I drawn an arbitrary line at?

How come we have 2 games against Exiles this season. Aren't our top players complaining we have too many games?

It'd be hard to see where we'd get space to re-arrange a game, with the extra game from the WCC still to be fitted in as has been mentioned above

I hate agreeing with you, but I have no idea how, even in my own most wildly optimistic moments, I'm struggling to see how I can get excited about an international series with Wales and France. The Exiles game is an amusing carnival show and might at least be entertaining, though not terribly meaningful, but the other two are traditionally warm up matches for something juicier.

I agree, with the caveat that nationality and national identity is a little more complex for many people than what it says on your passport, and I don't think considering yourself English (which I do as a first level) necessarily precludes you from considering yourself British or UK - the terms often being used interchangeably - at the next level (which I also do). It is also perfectly possible to further see yourself as European (which I don't except at the most genetically anthropological level). It is also possible to genuinely identify yourself with two countries (dual nationality - I have a couple of good friends who are married to people of different nationalities who are raising children of dual nationality who will legitimately feel a connection to two countries - one English/German, one Russian/Armenian, even more complicatedly born in the UK) or to identify yourself with a nationality not available on a passport (Catalan, Basque and Roma spring to mind first here, there are plenty more).

This is why forming concrete "fact" opinions on eligibility for sports teams is so difficult. Increasingly, in Europe at least, it is one of the few areas of life where the distinctions between nations still have any consequence for someone's practical (rather than emotional) existence.

But, in summary, I agree, we should play as GB. Or GB and Ireland if people prefer. GB&I makes a little less sense geographically, but has some precedent.

It should GB&NI as the Republic is a truly independent nation. We should follow the line of the BOA, not the RFU. But as things stands if you have represented Scotland for example, you not be able to change to England, or like Harrison Hansen from England(at Academy level) to New Zealand to Samoa,

I like the idea of "England Knights" but i would have them play a "shadow" Tri -nations when the 1st team comp is ongoing and play against the Kiwi and Aussie u23's.
In terms of 1st team for me GB should be the flag under which we perform and i'd reinstate the "Ashes" tours every 4 years.
Whilst we play the Ashes again i'd have the Knights competing with their u23 counter-parts.
In terms of France ,Wales ,Ireland and Scotland etc etc they too could compete with the Knights as "mid-season" tests with the ultimate goal for the home nations to be called uop to the GB squad.
France could enter the u23 series v kiwis ,Aussies and the Knights and IF they subsequantly improve maybe they could be considered for a future 4 nations comp.
In the southern hemisphere i'd have a regular series between Tonga ,Fiji ,Samoa and PNG and the Maori again with evetual winer getting a guest spot at the new 4 nations down under but the series has to be more structered and competitive i'e home and away tests then an eliminator.