Quote: marvwoodburn "Its more than possible, it must cost a lot of money to put 20+ guys up for 3 weeks, and I know the FFR13 havent got that kind of money. but surely if the Cooks or Tonga make the 4N we would have to put them up as their domestic bodies couldnt afford it either, and its unlikely they would play their games in the islands.'"
The RLIF apparently put $1 million AUS into the Pacific Cup. Profits from World Cups and Four Nations could be put towards such travel costs. However I'd prefer to see that money go into grass roots rugby league.
I'd imagine that a southern hemisphere Four Nations would be based in New Zealand and Australia only.
Quote: marvwoodburn "I completely see your point, and dont think I havent thought about it, but TBH I dont think a team of Heritage players like Tonga should have the right to play in the 4N because nothing as such is going on in Tonga to make that viable. It might make Tonga sit up and take some notice and perhaps develop some real Tongan players. Or a country like the Cooks with 20,000 residents should be in the 4N at the expense of France who maybe have 20,000 people playing the game. I feel that grass roots effort should count for something.'"
When I was in the Cook Islands I noticed people were interested in rugby of both codes and that they didn't really differentiate between the two. I have no idea about the domestic set up in either Tonga or the Cooks, but I agree with you Marv in that a country that ropes in a few heritage players or union players shouldn't be rewarded in any significant way. As you say this would hopefully act as a wake up call and kick start a 100% rugby league domestic programme.
Quote: marvwoodburn "Me too, I feel that those 5 Nations are the only ones with anything like the infrastructure, numbers, juniors, domestic comp that should be the minimum for the 4N, not some poxy 4 team comp with walkover games that is the minimum requirement for entry to the WC.'"
An alternative I thought of this afternoon is that the winners of the European Cup/Pacific Cup get to play Australia, New Zealand or GB on the next tour. It would serve as a warm up for the touring team and provide valuable money for the host nation.