the brilliant thing about this move is it takes away from australian control of the game

aussie players say they dont want internationals in 2012, england and nz say we do so well carry on without you

thats quite positive for the development of int. rl leaving australia out in the cold like that

england and nz can get some much needed practice in for the world cup plus with nz the number 1 side in the world its not as if it wont have a draw piece

England, Wales, France, NZ in the UK would be a tournament that would at least cover costs, particularly if England or Wales make the final.

If NZ think they can repeat the crowds they got this time round, then NZ, England, PNG + 1 from Wales, France, Samoa, Tonga would also be credible and (at least) pay for itself.

I suppose the alternative would be a 3-match England/NZ series, in either country.

And we could use "best in the world" Aussie neutral refs for every game.

[iMeanwhile, it has emerged that England and New Zealand are considering playing a Four Nations Series without Australia in the lead-up to the 2013 World Cup. There is currently a blank in the international schedule for 2012, when Australian officials want to give the players a summer off after three consecutive Four Nations competitions since the last World Cup in 2008. A Kiwi tour of the UK has been proposed but England and New Zealand believe there could be enough interest to warrant playing a Four Nations without the Kangaroos and may invite Wales and France to make up the numbers. Wales are already assured of a place in the 2011 tournament, courtesy of their victory in this year's European Cup, while France would be confident of drawing big crowds for the visit of England and New Zealand.[/i www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... tlead.html

[iMeanwhile, it has emerged that England and New Zealand are considering playing a Four Nations Series without Australia in the lead-up to the 2013 World Cup. There is currently a blank in the international schedule for 2012, when Australian officials want to give the players a summer off after three consecutive Four Nations competitions since the last World Cup in 2008. A Kiwi tour of the UK has been proposed but England and New Zealand believe there could be enough interest to warrant playing a Four Nations without the Kangaroos and may invite Wales and France to make up the numbers. Wales are already assured of a place in the 2011 tournament, courtesy of their victory in this year's European Cup, while France would be confident of drawing big crowds for the visit of England and New Zealand.[/i www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... tlead.html

Easy. One off Test v PNG in Port Moresby and a 3 Test series v NZ for the Baskerville Shield. Maybe a warm-up game v Tonga or Samoa too.

Why not have a World Series? Have Tonga, Samoa, NZ, England, France and Wales playing each other over 3 weeks at various stadiums, three games per day?

They might want a rest too!

I'd ahve a 3 match series in NZ. Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. 25K at every game, decent earner and toughens both sides u ready for the WC. Have Tonga v Samoa v PNG as an undercard

Why do we worry about Australia & NZ beating the lesser teams. In the other code Scotland have never beaten the All blacks in thier history still the crowds turn up just in case they might. Australia could never beat GB in league untill thirty years ago now its the other way round. At least Union sticks with teams & gives them a go ie Italy & Argentina League should do the same.

from a purely selfish england point of view think we should tour NZ,3 games against NZ and a couple of warm up games against samoa & tonga to prep us for the world cup...

Over what time period roughyed?

5 week..

Week 1 - Samoa vs New Zealand, Tonga vs England
Week 2 - Tonga vs New Zealand, Samoa vs England
Week 3 - Tonga vs Samoa, New Zealand vs England 1st Test
Week 4 - Samoa vs Tonga, New Zealand vs England 2nd Test
Week 5 - New Zealand vs England 3rd Test

Would Fiji, the semi finalists from the World Cup, seriously agree to this?


But if we're going to have a Pacific Island team, then we need clear cut pathways for developing players. This means the following for any Pacific Islander:

Top level: Representing Pacific Island team.
2nd level: Representing home country in 5/6 nation league. (Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands and the rest maybe. Include PNG at a push)
3rd level: Representing club in country's own domestic league pyramid.

The idea stinks of a concept similar to West Indies cricket, and they hold a domestic competition involving Caribbean nations. You cannot expect players to make the jump from Fijian, Tongan or Samoan domestic rugby league and then compete internationally against Australia, New Zealand and England for a PI rep side. They need that stepping stone representing Fiji, Tonga or Samoa etc in order to develop and compete at a much higher level.

But the Pacific Islanders are a passionate lot. Would they take RL seriously when their national team is in a second tier competition, not even taken seriously internationally? With the nations having been granted independence less than 50 years ago, I doubt they like to be forced into a merger with other nations, even on a sporting level.

Overall its a stupid idea. But the head of the RLIF is an Aussie, and allow their media to write the rulebook for them. So please, for the love of God, if this ridiculous idea goes ahead then we need a sustainable development pathway.

we are'nt going to have a pacific team so don't worry about it