I see your point. There is no doubt players pick England in order to compete against the best However, I think one of the big things to combat this would be to put a rule in place that once you play for one nation you cant select another.

That would mean that Ireland would now have Chris Bridge, Ben Harrison, Micky Mac etc

Scotland would have Brough and Ian Henderson

Wales would have great youth coming through.

It really weakens the developing countries when you can play for one on your way up and another when you make the grade

but none of those players are Irish, and neither of those players are Scottish. finding a Wiganer with a grandparent from Dundee doesn't represent development.

I agree, but its one thing questioning the eligibility rules and another choosing to switch when a better nation comes calling

Making your decision final, as I believe it is in football (may be wrong) would be a big help in spreading some of the talent around, not all, but some

Surley a more profitable tour would be to play an 3 test Ashes series against Australia and one game against NZ? I hope they have got that the wrong way around!

That tour sounds superb!

Then in 2015 The Kangaroos tour UK, playing GB, France, Leigh, the Super League and Challenge Cup Winners.

That would be ace.

I'm sure he said 3 NZ and 1 for Aus and I just presumed it was against 2 NRL teams cos he said 8 games but only mentioned 6 international fixtures. It could be NSW and QLD or even QLD Cup/NSW Toyota Cup teams for all I know.

Also said that Nigel Wood wasn't a big fan of the Four Nations but wanted to bring Tri-Nations back, as it was a lot more popular and profitable, with a 4th international team playing against Aus/GB/NZ on a bye weekend when 2 of the other 3 nations are playing each other.

For example if Aus v NZ was the Tri-Nations fixture for that particular weekend, then GB would play PNG in a one off test meaning that teams like PNG are still getting top international footy. Then weekend after if Aus v GB then NZ would play PNG.

That 4th team would be decided by Pacific Cup or Euro Championships for NH Tri-Nations.

IMO its sounds a cracking idea. Think it was in the Sydney Morning Herald paper but could be wrong.

It's a bit unfair making them play Widnes twice but I'll take it!

Forgive me if I'm misunderstanding, but isn't that just the 4N, but changing the England shirt to a GB one, and eliminating the 4th team from any potential win (however unlikely)?

Exactly.

The Tri Nations had GB play NZ and Aus twice with a final.
The Four Nations had Eng play NZ and Aus once and a fourth nation once, with a final. It was LESS games.

Why not have them just all play each other twice?! England could play the other European nation twice in the middle of the season, leaving four games on the bounce against Aus and NZ each. ANZAC test mid-season and a test before they jet up here. Surely that would be more profitable?

Year 1 RLWC
Year 2 GB ashes full tour, pacific & European cups, C'wealth games nines
Year 3 5 nations (eng, oz,NZ,pacific winner, Europe cup winner from previous year)
Year 4 RLWC

Every year RL World Nines held in Feb.

That'd do me!

For the ashes tour in year two I,d alternate between

Gb touring southern hemi and playing
3 match ashes series v oz
PNG in port moresby
NZ in Auckland or Wellington
PI all stars in Fiji/Samoa or tonga

And

Gb v oz in England 3 matches ashes series
Gb v NZ 2 matches in England

At same time NZ v France 2 games
Oz v France one game

Giving each side 5 games