Hi folks.

I'm all for spreading the gospel of R.L. but England playing the first game of the World Cup 2013 in a foreign country, well that's just plain bizarre. I'm sure they'll be a great turn out, but surely own own team should be playing in our own country. Personally, getting to Cardiff from good old Donny is not that easy, so I won't be making the journey. If it had been London / Manc / Leeds etc I reckon I would've. Any other opinions????

Yes, you are missing the fact that it's the World Cup opening ceremony and double-header, and that virtually all the other games in the competition are being played in the North of England, on your doorstep.

Double header with Wales v Italy

The competition is being jointly hosted between England and Wales. England has the semi finals and final at Old Trafford. Wales are co hosts so it seems fair that they get the opening fixture at their home national stadium. The England v Australia game being there is quite a clever move by the RLIF as it should ensure a decent attendance whilst at the same time giving Wales a good start to the competition wghich mighht encourage fans to further suppport them especially if they make the quarter finals and play at Wrexham.

It is also a good move to have two of the French games in France. It should spread the interest in the competition to that country and ensure a bigger attendance than they would get in the UK.

Typical whinging RL fan; given a year's notice, but still can't be d making the journey. Put a fiver a week in a biscuit tin, and by next year you'll have about £250; you could probably rent a limo for that.