... about an international game of RL taking place between Scotland and Wales last night.

Is that correct?

Did it really happen?

RLWC legacy by plenty.

Yep - and Premier Sports offered to televise all of the European international matches free-to-air, but requested £30k to cover some of the production costs - they were turned away.

Good to see the sport taking international rugby and raising it's profile as serious as ever....

Now it might not have gotten mountains of viewers, but some is better than none!

Weren't we told that last years RLWC was a huge success making record profits which would be invested in international RL? Yet the game will not and cannot commit a paltry £30k for TV coverage of a tournament which is alleged to be important in terms of qualification for the 4N in 2016 and the RLWC in 2017? How difficult would it be to find sponsors to pay the £30k instead? Filed away in the "too hard basket" at Red Hall obviously.

On the topic of baskets, the sport may prefer to recognise itself as "the greatest game" but in reality it's a total and utter basket case. Blaming Australia for the current state of international RL should satisfy the Moonie Brigade however, despite the fact that England haven't played since last years RLWC.

I don't know why Premier Sports bother. They got stiffed by the RFL over Championship coverage last year when it bent over for Sky and now this. Premier Sports should stick two fingers up and concentrate on enhancing their coverage of the game down under instead.

International RL - RIP

Slightly OT, but the worst part of Premier Sports getting done out of the championship rights is Sky are only planning on showing the "Summer Bash" and the finals anyway. Surely it could have been sorted so that PS still showed one weekly round game per week as they had intended to for this season until the new TV deal was announced.

Yep - it's poor form all round!

The RFL are in the pocket of Sky - which is kinda understandable, as Sky are the only big money regular contributor. But the reliance on Sky is limiting every aspect of the game.

Why should the RFL pay 30k for a tiny sports channel to broadcast the euro comp? How would it do anything to raise the profile of the game? Where's the financial return? The only people watching would be existing fans of the game. No business should chuck 30k at something for no clear return.

Have a word with david hughes will you.....

I've also heard a rumour that an international game of RL took place in Dublin today between Ireland and France. The same rumour alleges the French surrender monkeys surrendered again. Having a French team in Super League doesn't appear to be doing the French national team any good whatsoever.

All Catalans French players were in the World Cup last year and had no off-season. Weren't Catalans 0-5 at the start of this year? Relegation brought back for next year and Catalans withdraw players like Bosc, Mounis, Elima, Duport, Escare, Maria and Casty (re-signed) etc. from the France squad this time. Who can blame them?

They should still beat Ireland though. That is a pathetic showing.

Been reported this week that the Football rights could go for 4 billion due to BT sports interest. No doubt that BT will take a bigger slice of the games than the 38 per year that they currently have.

Think the RFL were too quick to jump into a new sky deal. Obviously sky were wanting to protect the RL deal early, incase they lost out on prem football.

Sky are only showing games from the qualifers, Im sure each one of those will include one of the SL teams. So they arn't really showing any championship

Are you seriously claiming that a return to a system of P&R next season is responsible for France being an international basket case? You agenda-driven Franchise Fairies just can't let your failed dogma go can you? Are you Martyn Sadler in disguise or just one of his gophers? You forgot to mention JEOPARDY! EBOLA! ISIS!

The introduction of a French team in Sooper Dooper League was supposed to lift the French national team yet their playing standards (and results) at international level have been worse than ever. Funnily enough, so have those of England or GB... ever since the switch to a bright new summer era funded by Sky's millions since the mid 1990's onwards.

Such is the profile and standing of this European Championship which the RLEF (Translation
Quite.

Beaten by a team consisting of lowly championship team players and a bunch of amateurs is about as pathetic as it gets. It's right up there in the embarrassment stakes alongside England's loss to Italy last year.

Taking the bit about Championship clubs and Premier, I do not know of one part time championship club who didnt want the end of Premier sports. The clubs got no money from it and were often forced to play their more attractive fixtures on a Thursday night live on TV, and take the subsequent loss of income that followed.

It's truly incredible what the French achieved at the World Cup last year. Quarter Finalists on the back of scoring 21 points in 4 games. They were awful.


Sundry Australian and Kiwi players have withdrawn from the 4N tournament. Last time I checked, the NRL was still a franchise fairies structural wet dream. Still, if it suits your agenda to blame the Catalonian withdrawal of half a dozen players from the French squad due to an impending SL Jeopardy Virus, feel free giving it your best shot.


That goes without saying and would happen in any event. It's a cultural thing in RL. Club before country. Always has been. That's what needs to change.


Any alleged French improvement as a consequence of being exposed to SL playing standards is clearly not being translated into any improvement at international level. The evidence suggests the opposite.


Would that be via P&R or the franchising route? Let me guess