Not always, GC2018 will be held over the 4 - 15th of April for example, but your point about player release is still a good one. Anyone know how union solved this issue?

If the sport is actually serious about anything other than Exhibition status at GC2018, the biggest issue is the need to increase the number of RLif affiliated Commonwealth Nations and have actual 9's Comps up and running in those Nations.

rlhttps://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/503/rlef-announces-new-chairmanrl

Union has specialist 7's squads with a lot of "younger" players ......I believe that the "clubs" of these players are paid by each country's Union. League could do something similar with U20's/Reserve graders, but again, the clubs would need to be compensated and the players wages met by each country's governing body.

Would be a shame if it became a reserve grade comp like Union is. People want to see the likes of Slater, Hayne, ingles and Tomkins, not some unheard of kid who happens to be fast.

Pre season world and club nines would be fine but not sure how you get star players to the c'wealth and eventually Olympic games. Maybe each club has to release one player for it.

In terms of it being played more, there are actually a number of nines comps already around the world inc uk and oz that are international and club mixed comps.

Cheers gf...I know 7's now recieves funding via the ioc, but I'd hazard a guess that union7's was previously funded (in part) via their International game.


Aye, thats what I was thinking (tho not sure I like this being in agreement thing lol)...U20’s/ fringe players providing the base with 1st grade players from RSL/ NRL/Championship/ LER providing the sparkle....

Would exempting ALL players who make themselves available for a International 9’s series from the Salary Cap calculations be enough of a carrot for the clubs(+match payments to players obviously)...? Maybe add a stipulation that no 1st grade player will be selected more than 4 times but be required to attend 9’s training sessions press days etc?
Taking them off the S.C may also allow clubs to retain more of those U20’s/ Reserve graders and give another pathway for player development.

This is what I’m thinking(and remember, just throwing ideas about here - Ima not claiming this to be a cunning plan which the Rlif should implement tomorrow)
Create a seven rnd elite International 9’s series to be played alongside a 2nd tier 9’s National/ Invitational comp in the Host Nation...maybe play 5 in Commonwealth Countries and 2 in non Commonwealth/ Countries; E.g be played over the CC weekend, which would give us: Friday London Lights, Sat CC Final, Sun-Mon World 9’s, SL 9’s finals and the London Rugby League Boris Johnson 9's

Meanwhile, back in the real world, finding the funding and media partners for something like this would prolly be too much of a ‘challenge’@ the mo...ppl really need to stop with the BS excuses and start attending and supporting the International game.

**D'oh!, any fule kno there are six Commonwealth zones.Sorry.