So we know definitely one game (probably a double header) in London, probably Olympic Stadium as Wembley busy with football & NFL. Also at least one in Scotland was said this week. So I'll go-

Sco v NZ & England v Aus at Olympic

Eng v NZ at DW/KC
Sco v Aus at Scotstoun Glasgow

Eng v Sco at DW/KC
NZ v Aus at Headingley

Final- Etihad

I'd love to see Aus v NZ at Headingley but agree they'll most likely chase the ex-pats and have it in London

Brilliant.

Workington and the fantastic Netherdale (pic below), should be put on a black list for hosting International RL

Someone really should have told Scotland before they beat France to qualify.

Couldn't disagree with this.
I can't believe that as some others think that there will be any games in Scotland.

Yep. I just don't see the point of taking big games like these to Scotland. There's no following or interest in the sport there of any note. It'd be a waste in my opinion. I think we have that little money and media exposure we need to focus it where it can do the most good and provide the biggest or best outlay. In my opinion a 10-15k crowd at Huddersfield is preferable to a 3-4K crowd at a small ground in Scotland. We have nothing to build on in Scotland. I firmly believe we have to focus on Wales & France at international level. Of course Scotland are rightly in this years comp but I'd rather the sport take the money from a bigger crowd at a venue in the heartlands rather than take it to Scotland.

Before going to the Olympic Stadium in November I was all for using it for RL games, but sadly it was a rubbish experience. Obviously not helped by one of the worst RL games I've ever seen but still everything else about the stadium just seemed a bit rubbish. Miles away from the pitch with a slightly bizarre huge gap in between the tiers of seating making it appear like the stadium was still being built, along with no no communal areas or toilets above the ground floor just made it all feel a bit poor and unfinished. Maybe I've been somewhat spoiled by Wembley but then I do often stand on the Western Terrace at Headingley so I doubt it.
So we obviously have to get a game in London, so Wembley it is. The other games, Huddersfield seemed a natural one for the Scotland v England game. It's more or less central and has the Danny Brough connection.
For the 3rd game I'd like to see the sport use its big occasions to help clubs that are trying to grow. So St James Park, on top of the Magic Weekend, might help Newcastle out, or Man City might help out Salford. Newcastle & Manchester being 2 areas I think we can make a crack at growing a team with a decent attendance and getting a bit of traction and interest in a major city. Ideally I'd like the RFL to work with these clubs and help get them promoted at these events too.
Obviously it depends on availability but both grounds have seemed fairly willing to host RL before so you'd think we could get an arrangement with them.

For the final I'd go with whichever of Newcastle or Man City wasn't used for Round 3. If Elland Road weren't such a god-awful stadium I'd pick that as it's obviously got the location in the heartlands and got just about the right size, always having to be careful in case England don't get to the final. But it's truly rubbish so I'm tempted to go with Newcastle or Man City despite them probably being a bit too big.

As I and a few people have said though, read the interview with Solly from the other day, he confirmed that the four nations would have a game in London and said that the tournament would take place in England AND Scotland which could actually mean more than one game north of the border. Lets hope not. Other four nations in Europe have had at least one game in the fourth nation so along with what Solly said and past precedent I think it I wishful thinking when people are saying there isn't going to be a game in Scotland.

I'd take the Scotland v Australia game to Cumbria.
They deserve a gig and it has worked there before.

But that's very short-termist thinking isn't it?

There's a very small interest in RL in Scotland - yes, but there always will be if we stick to this attitude. We've seen (dare I say it) how Union have worked to get Italy & Argentina competitive over the years, building from a regular international calendar with fixtures played in those countries against the bigger nations.

There's a Scottish national RL team. Yes, they're mainly full of English heritage players, but they're still representing Scotland and have earned their place in the 4 Nations (and had a fairly decent WC too). We should use this to the sports advantage to take it to new audiences.

IMO, the easy route would be to play the Scotland vs Aus/NZ games in England's RL heartland, in front of a few thousand English RL fans who are there to see the other side.

Or, do we take the two games to Scotland, in the two biggest Scottish cities, in decent stadia (I'm not talking Murrayfield or Hampden, but certainly not a stadium like Netherdale), in front of Scottish people.

If only 4-6k turn up, so what? Those people will most likely be new RL fans watching their first live game, some of who might be inspired to play themselves, tune in to the Sky games, become a coach, take their mates next time etc.

I don't see it as short termist, more prioritisation. I just think there is that little prospect currently of developing sustainable interest in Scotland that we'd be better off simply taking the money from a higher attended game in England.
There's no clubs for anyone to go and watch other than a tiny handful of amateur clubs.
I'm all for attempting to build the game in a nation but I think it has to be a concerted effort that includes developing proper amateur clubs and leagues, semi-pro clubs into League 1 and of course internationals. For years we've hoped that playing the odd international in a region will "spark" growth of the game. It just doesn't, you have to lay the groundwork which doesn't exist in Scotland. That being the case I'd focus our efforts on Wales and France where a bedrock of support and interest does exist and can be built upon.

That doesn't mean we write Scotland off forever, but that we just prioritise the allocation of what tiny amounts of resources and money we have.

Is the difference in revenue likely to be that much? If we go off previous form, tickets will likely be £10/£5.



Again, I'll go back to Union on this one. How many pro-clubs are/were in Scotland, Italy & Argentina? There's already a Scottish National RL side playing Internationals, who were good enough to beat France who have all the infrastructure you mentioned.

One option is to grow organically like you said, grassroots up, but regular International matches is a pretty good way of stoking up that interest and getting the word of RL out there. We talk about 'legacy' a lot in sport, and larger events if used correctly, can leave that 'legacy' on that sports grassroots.



That's the problem. It shouldn't be the 'odd International'. You & I have been amongst the most vocal on here about the need for a structure International calendar - it comes back to that argument. Scotland internationals in Galashiels or Workington do nothing for the game. Regular matches in Edinburgh might.

Just looking at the locations of edinburgh's stadiums. Tynecastle in right near murrayfield and both are about a mile from the centre of city plus there is a tram stop at murrayfield. Easter road is about a mile at the other side of the city centre. All are easily walkable and Easter road and tynecastle hold about 20,000 each which is about right. Any of those 3 grounds are easily accessible, especially for those travelling from England who will make up the bulk of fans.

Tynecastle would be great - weekend in Edinburgh and able to crash at a mate's who lives within sight of the ground!