If the Ausies take this stance then I'd make any player who is withdrawn from the England squad, without good reason, unavailable for England selection for the remainder of the year.

That means Widdop, Burgess and Ellis could not play for England in this years four Ns.

I know Ellis at least would be mortified about not being able to play for England and I'd bet that Burgess would feel the same. Having to sit out the internationals because their clubs wouldn't release them won't go down too well and when Wests and Souths put new contracts in front of them they might just decide to sign for someone else.

I have no problem with players not wanting to travel all the way over here for a mid-season game, what I have a problem with is a club pressing the player to make that decision. If Burgess wants to get international caps under his belt then it should be his choice and not the clubs.

As for this doing the international game more harm than good, do you really think England thumping France/Wales/Ireland/Scotland/USA...etc is beneficial? Do the England team not need to be tested against some very good players already playing over here? There should be nothing stopping any of those nationalities getting into the Exciles squad if they want to play in it, just so happens that they are probably not good enough so won't get a chance.

England certainly need the toughest of tests before the end of year competition and in the build up to the World Cup so short of having a mid-season test against the Kiwi's or Australians this is the best and most competative way to prepare a young/new squad.

It's not an international, there will be no caps on offer. It is an exhibition game to give England a run out. I wouldn't release a player for it either. Having said that Widdop needs to get some time with the team as he is going to be our star halfback in years to come imo. He played well again in well beaten side at the weekend.

This thread pretty much sums up the attitude of Rugby League fans and why the game will always be confined to the M62. It's about time the fans started embracing new ideas and stopped bagging everything the RFL try to do. It is a different concept and something that will bring the game more exposure and interest.

Once upon a time a game like this would have been called a trial match and a few would have been play in the lead up to a tour . Sadly now with a selection procedure that says play for one of the top six played international before your in what is the point .

yep...its not a test match so souths and any NRL club are well within their right to hold on to the players...


anyhow...we don't need burgess or ellis...we know what they are capable off, they are the 1st 2 names on the england team sheet,their abilities are'nt in questions.....i'd lobby for widdop though

Personally i would much rather watch Yorkshire V Lancashire or England v Allstars/Exciles than playing france. Both other otions would be more competitive and do more than just thrashing france every June.

I would agree with that

Anyone else remember when Bradford were single handedly destroying RL for refusing to release NZ players?

"The trip home last year had a detrimental effect on Sam which he acknowledged. We agreed he would not go this year and he was part of that decision."

That reads to me like Burgess wouldn't have been released if it was a genuine international.

"It's not an international, it's an invented game, a trumped-up game."



So is State of Origin, Richo.

So Burgess, Ellis and Widdop should just walk in to the side at the end of the season without having the opportunity to impress the coaching staff of their international side? If international rugby is to flourish then the best players should be proud to be selected to play in that shirt no matter how far they have to travel to wear it.

I bet if it was a game against the Aussies being played in Dubai all three players would be more than keen to play in it.

Good thing it's not an international match then.