Actually just looked at the cgf constitution for sports inclusion and there is no specific number of countries needed to be accepted as a core or optional sport. Marketability, performance and participation are key factors. I suspect the union old boys network is a far stronger reason they are a core sport than any notion of participation levels. Page 31: www.thecgf.com/about/constitution.pdf

Actually just looked at the cgf constitution for sports inclusion and there is no specific number of countries needed to be accepted as a core or optional sport. Marketability, performance and participation are key factors. I suspect the union old boys network is a far stronger reason they are a core sport than any notion of participation levels. Page 31: www.thecgf.com/about/constitution.pdf

Its to do with the status the CG awards to sports...Theres three Catogories, Recognised, Optional and Core. As far as I can see, each 'edition' of the CG has the 10 Core Sports and 7 (from 15) optional Sports....If the game is serious about being included on a semi regular basis, then changing RL9's status from Recognised to Optional is the next step.

And to do that, 9's would need to be played in 31 CG Countries...is how I'm reading it. Tho have to 'fess up and admitt I'm going off a combination of a union forum and wiki...

Why would 9's be considered for the Olympics? It's hardly played apart from the second string tournament in the UK. It doesnt compares with 7's in terms of its global reach and number of tournaments.

There is no specific number of countries in the eligibility criteria for a sport to be included.

It wouldn't and shouldn't now but there is no reason that we could not have a long term plan to get it in. The benefits would be massive and nines is actually a good development opportunity for the code.

How exciting would this backline be to watch?

Fiji
1 Hayne
2 Keven Naiqama
3. Wes Naiqama
4. Koroibete
5. Uate

Hey I believe ya JB , tho ya can normally rely on the unionites being anal enough to know rules and regs stuff backwards

.

The only thing I'd point out is Reg6, para1 of the CGF pdf:

Get a *Commonwealth/ World 9's series up and running leading into the (possible) inclusion as an exhibition sport at Gold Coast 2018.

The idea would be to have qualifiers, not just invite teams.

The world nines held in feb each year would act as the qualifier

Biggest issue would be the fact the cg are held late july and I can't see the clubs being willing to close down the domestic season for two weeks.

I'm sure the World 9s would act as a good qualifier, but there needs to be enough countries participating first. There may not be a specific figure, but 10-15 I doubt will be anywhere near.

However, we also need to bear in mind that there are "countries" in the Commonwealth like Gibraltar, Jersey, etc. that would be fairly easy to get something going at in terms of teams.

In terms of releasing players, it's only 9 a side. Shouldn't be too difficult to get teams to release one or two players surely?

You would hope to see the best RL players with the big profiles at the games though and I can't see SL and NRL clubs being happy to let them go for two weeks. Otherwise it would just be reserve graders and not sur ethat will really have the attraction or profile we are looking for. One possibility would be to schedule SOO at the same time as stand alone weekends so that at least the majority of NRL players would be available. Seems the RLIF is def targetting the C'wealth games with development focus on Africa Quote Ghana is the first of a series of countries that is being targeted in the region, with Togo, Nigeria and Sierra Leone also on the long-term agenda. The initiative meets RLIF objectives within the context of the Commonwealth Games Federation, which recognised the sport in 2011, to develop the sport in Commonwealth regions with sp rugby league activity, especially Africa and the Caribbean. '" www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=42495

You would hope to see the best RL players with the big profiles at the games though and I can't see SL and NRL clubs being happy to let them go for two weeks. Otherwise it would just be reserve graders and not sur ethat will really have the attraction or profile we are looking for. One possibility would be to schedule SOO at the same time as stand alone weekends so that at least the majority of NRL players would be available. Seems the RLIF is def targetting the C'wealth games with development focus on Africa Quote Ghana is the first of a series of countries that is being targeted in the region, with Togo, Nigeria and Sierra Leone also on the long-term agenda. The initiative meets RLIF objectives within the context of the Commonwealth Games Federation, which recognised the sport in 2011, to develop the sport in Commonwealth regions with sp rugby league activity, especially Africa and the Caribbean. '" www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=42495

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.


Good stuff, the RLEF also helping to encourage sport in the Caribbean Countries:

[urlhttp://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/503/rlef-announces-new-chairman[/url