We're quick to slag the BBC, but they have shown, with the likes of Chappers and Clare Balding, that they have guys who can do well by rugby league.

The BBC's general sports new on their radio and TV channels always favours sports they have the broadcast rights for, so its not surprising that they're putting a bit of effort in given they've got it on telly.

I can't wait to see the capacity crowd at Huddersfield on TV, especially if we smash Ireland.

It's featured twice recently, with interviews, in the sports news on radio 4's Today show. As we normally only get something on cup final/grand final morning it's a definite positive.

At the weekend I played a bit of this year's Grand Final for someone who's a big RU supporter and not from this country (has very little awareness of League). This was in the middle of watching about 6 Heineken Cup Games on the impressive Sky red button coverage. He was blown away by the crowd (I told him it was typical ), atmosphere, skill level, speed and strength of the players, esp in the context of the Union games where the ball was hardly ever in play. He'd never heard of Sam Tomkins, but after 10 mins said 'that kid's a star'.

It just really hit home that we have such an amazing product and it's criminal the way the RFL have failed to market it effectively since such a great start to the SL era.

The WC should be the first stepping stone to do just that, but unfortunately I don't see anyone in place at the RFL with the skills to do it.

listening to five live this morning they were advertising the RLWC at 8:45am and heard it again later in the morning too

That BBC article is brilliant, really enjoyed it. Had no idea about the cup itself vanishing for 20 years.

There was a 45 second advert on Radio 1 this morning and the tv advert was on in the X-Factor break on Saturday night. The message is going to millions of people.

But yet there will still be some Rugby League fans that won't be happy.

Decent extract from Wikipedia regarding theft & recovery of the RLWC (please excuse the reference nos included from the original article) The trophy was stolen six days before the final, on the night of Sunday, November 1, 1970 and remained unseen for the next 20 years.[11][12] Before its theft the trophy was last held aloft by Johnny Raper after Australia's 20-2 win over France at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 10 June 1968 to claim the fourth World Cup title.

However, the trophy was not the one which was due to be competed for and presented in the World Cup Final the following Saturday at Headingley Stadium. With the commencement of sponsorship in the game, administrators had decided to play for a new sponsored trophy, whilst keeping the original safe and on display at the hotel in a symbolic capacity only.[13]

Nothing is known of the trophy's whereabouts for the next 20 years. In 1990, a Bradford resident named Stephen Uttley discovered the trophy, minus the plinth amongst rubbish dumped in a ditch near the Bradford and Bingley Rugby Club, in Bingley.[11] Unaware of the significance of his find, Uttley made enquiries at local rugby clubs around Bradford, including Bradford Northern, without success. He turned the trophy in to the police but it was returned to him 28 days later after no-one claimed it. He tried contacting Yorkshire Television's Calendar programme but could not interest them in the story. There were plans for the cup to be turned into a body building trophy by Uttley's local gym.[14] Uttley eventually contacted the local Telegraph & Argus newspaper who ran an article on it. The trophy was identified from this by rugby league historian Trevor Delaney, who notified the police, the paper and the Rugby Football League (RFL) of the find. Delaney and Uttley were concerned for the safety of the trophy, which was being kept at Uttley's council house, believing it to be increasingly vulnerable due to the media attention placed on it. They were anxious it should be turned over to the proper authorities as soon as possible before it was stolen again.[13]

On Friday, 1 June 1990, the trophy was presented to Roger Millward representing the RFL outside the White Rose Health club in Bradford at 10 Speaking on its return, RFL spokesman David Howes commented, "It is like the return of the Holy Grail.[11] No-one knows what its value is, but in rugby league terms it is priceless".[11] The RFL were pleased to offer a reward to Mr Uttley for the trophy's welcome return, offering "anything except a place in the team" Howes joked.[11] Mr Uttley asked only for some tickets to matches.[11]

The original World Cup trophy was brought back into use for the 2000 World Cup minus the cockerel that had adorned it initially. It was presented to the victorious Australian team. The trophy featured again during the 2008 World Cup, when it was used prominently as the basis for the competition logo. It is likely this trophy will be retained for the 2013 competition and thereafter.

BBC have put a good piece on their web site www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24481185

BBC have put a good piece on their web site www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24481185

Dan Roan is doing a piece on BBC news at 6. This is very surprising.

The BBC are presumably bigging it up as part of a post RLWC Union recruitment drive for their WC?

There will be downsides of all the publicity that is coming on stream. An obvious one might be if there is a small crowd at Cardiff - the Press will have a field day. Looking at the ticket sales diagram there are few blocks that have sold out. Not sure how many tickets have been sold? Last WC games there the crowd looked pretty good on paper but I went and the stadium seemed and looked empty.

The stadium plans haven't changed for a while now, other than the Huddersfield game

5 live have had running ads most of the day. I've spent about 5 hours in the car today and every 15 to 30 minutes there is a RLWC ad.

It's getting on my nerves.











[sizeOnly kidding, but can't count myself a RL fan without 1 moan[/size