It would still be every 4 years in each hemisphere.

Personally I was hugely against this when I first heard it. But the more I think about it the more I think it would work for RL.

The years is a long time between meals for anyone but the big 3. We lose all momentum gained in them during the gap between them.

If you look at things the like world cup, there is still the European championships, cops America, etc in between. The Olympics have the world championships. So many sports have more than one big international comp in that 4 year cycle.

I think a WC every two years would give us the same. There isn't enough for a European championships, some big nations would be left out of a Pacific comp.

If necessary we can call it something else and run it in a different way but I'd need to be sold on the benefits of giving up that prestige and recognition.

Whatever this federation cup or whatever is, I'm not sure what we are gaining by having it instead of the already prestigious and recognised brand of the world cup.

Because the World Cup isn't a prestigious or special brand if you have it every two years. Same reason Christmas is only once a year and not once a month. And the Federation Cup would not be a World Cup, it would probably have 8 teams, providing a major tournament in between the World Cup cycle similar to the continental championships/Confederations Cup in football. I have no idea why anyone would be against that or favor needlessly blowing a load by massively oversaturating the "World Cup" brand.

I'm not sure why a biennial comp is less prestigious than a quadrennial one. Or how 2 instead of 4 is over saturation. Especially when their likely to be held in two ends of the earth.

The world cup is a huge boost to developing nations. The casual fan knows and understands what a world cup is. I highly doubt they would be put off by it only being 2 years since the last one and an 8 teams comp would necessarily exclude a lot of them.

I'm very pleased to see that the concept of biennial Rugby League World Cups, alternating between the hemispheres, has the support of Smokey TA. I hope the idea can really gain some traction. The enormous opportunity that Rugby League, in its own particular circumstances, has is staring us in the face. Just look at what is going on just in Europe below the top level and consider the on-going boost that would be given by guaranteed biennial World Cups rlhttp://www.rlef.eu.com/index.phprl

All ideas and arguments attract some antediluvians who do not need to be accorded any weight. All I'll say is that seven series in the last ten years doesn't and hasn't detracted from the prestige and passion of the Ashes in cricket for example.

Oh do sod off.

Talking of the right amount of international rugby league, it was interesting to read the following about Gus Risman (part of the RL bronze sculpture to be unveiled at Wembley on Saturday):

"He played in five Ashes series, home and away in 1932, 1933, 1936, 1937 and 1946 (the last aged 35 – another record)."

i.e. there were four GB v Australia Ashes test series in five years in the 1930's (and it wasn't quite so easy to travel in those days)!