given that it appears that the kiwis have out of hosting a series against england next year what does everyone think should happen instead?

heres my idea, which i've just fired off to richard lewis..

the RLEF should step forward and organise a 8 team FEDERATION CUP to be used as a RLWC warm up/test event

the 8 teams, in 2 groups of 4 would be

England - seeded into 1 group
Exiles - seeded into the other group
france
ireland
scotland
wales
italy
usa

the venues...places like warrington,doncaster,leigh,salford and the french playing at home too to build on their recent boost in attendances......with the final played at st helens 'langtree park'

all the making of a nice little comp..serving many purposes the most important 2 being it'll introduce many fans to some of the lesser nations prior to the world cup and it'll keep all the northern hemisphere teams ticking over before the world cup...

Sounds good to me. Therefore it won't happen.

But the Exiles may well want to represent their country.

I'd be tempted for the following as it would be more of a test.

England
France
Wales
Samoa
Fiji
Papua New Guinea

I think that's a great idea.

i think the pretenders and yellowbellys are showing total disrespect to rugby league. If they want an extra 3 weeks off well then scrap your origin for one year. we are trying to grow rugby league whilst they are just happy they are in a very strong postion in aus. dont allow them to play in the world cup if they dont want to play next year. Also as they are so good why dont they stop cherry picking all the best island players?

I'm disgusted that you have suggested including the Exiles in this tournament. Get rid of them and the USA and it's the European Cup, you could play it as a round robin over 5 weeks.

England to tour down under taking in games against Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and a two-match series against New Zealand. Ireland, Scotland, France, Wales, Italy and Lebanon in a European tournament. I'd imagine Canada, Jamaica and the USA will be playing each other in 2012 and The Canadians have already confirmed a two-game series against Lebanon for next summer. That would mean that out of the top twelve teams in the international game only Australia and PNG would be left without games. If the Aussies aren't interested in any fixtures whatsoever then the Kiwis could look at playing PNG at some point during the season and/or possibly more feasibly after the NRL Grand Final.

I imagine the Australia PM's 13 will play PNG as usual, and I think Australia are still playing their annual match against New Zealand, so that would work out pretty well for all nations. Where have you heard about Canada playing Lebanon?

So that's agreed then

or keep the exiles and americans and call it the FEDERATION CUP

take the exiles out and how do you sell a comp that we already know the winner before a ball has been kicked..

and the americans need to play next year....and we need 1 team to make it a 8 team comp......include the yanks...simples

rlEngland coach Steve McNamara has been promised a full international programme in 2012 despite the Four Nations going into cold storage.rl

with next season been the year before the world cup and with the announcements of ireland and france hosting games then i would would like to see a european cup england, ireland, wales, scotland and france with top 2 playing in a final at headingley with places like limerick, avignon and perpignan hosting games, also the benifit of hosting this would be that all eligible players will most probably declare themselves for these nations with it been a year before the world cup and will be good preperation before the world cup. for england next year its looking like 2 games against the exiles which is brilliant hopefully at the kc and langtree park then id also liek to see england take on humberside which would give england another really competitive game.
possible european cup venues
ireland v england @ limerick
wales v scotland @ neath
wales v france @ wrexham
france v scotland @ perpignan
france v ireland @ toulose
france v england @ avignon
wales v ireland @ wrexham
england v scotland @ the shay
england v wales @ salford
ireland v scotland @ limerick
final headingley

I don't see th epoint in playing teams like Wales & France. Either play the big boys or give the players a rest. How is smashing France & Wales going to help us? The season is starting ridiculously eearly this year. Our internationals no longer get an off season.

To me it should be GB touring NZ & playing OZ fo the ashes. This would help Wales ofr the WC. Thumping Wales & Francw won't help us and it's just more games into an already long season. Give them an off season.

Playing teams 'like Wales and France' is what makes international rugby league. With that attitude the FA should refuse to play anyone other than Brazil and Spain while the RFU should organise All Blacks only matches. Who out of the current Wales team would get into a GB side? I can't think of a single player so how would that help the Welsh national team? The Aussies have already said they won't be playing out of season internationals in 2012 so if it's possible I'd like to see us go down under and tour New Zealand and the Pacific islands.

Not saying we shouldn't play Wales, france etc. Just not this time around. The main rpoblem i've got is how early we're starting this seaosn. 3rd of February is stupid. Then adding on a 6 week tour at the end of the season, out internationals will be going straight into pre-season for that. How is that helping us. We'll be burnt out. the intenational calendar should look like this;

2013 - World Cup
2014 - Southern Hemisphere 4N
2015 - Northern Hemisphere 4n
2016 - GB tour

Currntly only Elliot Kear would get in an England squad. but its about building. Dudon, flower, White all have the potential to get in a GB squad.