Yes, who knows, if only the RFL would put some effort in then maybe we could get Man Utd stars to pose with the World Cup and help sell RLWC2013....


Wait, hang on a minute.....

If they were going to a big game in this country, then yes, I'm sure the could be a use for some good publicity off the back of one of the most recognisable sports brands in the world.

However, they're going to be in Aus and the game of RL over there is in far better shape than it is in this country. I doubt it'll cause that much of a fuss should they show up to a SOO game.

They will be seeing RL at its pinnacle, next year during the World Cup.

But rugby league is still competing with Australian Rules (very close contest) and rugby union in Australia. So RL can benefit from this kind of boost.

It will be a huge impact if the Man U players show up at the SOO game, because they are very big celebrities in Australia (all the general public tickets for their match against the Australian Selection sold out within one hour!). They are probably the greatest foreign sports celebrities to appear in Australia. You can expect the cameras of Australian television to pan to them in their corporate boxes before, during and after the game.

Jean has a fair point here. Damnit if this wouldn't be great publicity for rugby league in Aus.

Most Australians look on at soccer players with a mixture of mirth, disinterest and astonishment that wimpy blokes can get paid so much for a sport where they can't hit a barn door from 10yards and any tap sees them rolling around on the ground like they have been shot.

But soccer seems to have a hard core following in Australia through their A-League. David Beckham, the husband of Victoria Beckham, is even considering going to play in that League next season. Also, Australians seem to like celebrity sportsmen, whatever the sport. How else can you explain the public tickets for the Man U game selling out in one hour?

Sydney likes a hyped event, that's why the tickets sold out. The Sydney a league teams are lucky to draw a 5 figure crowd.

Because JB Down Under is telling porky pies. The sport is much bigger in Australia than some people would lead you to believe.

Manchester United are a big brand in Australia. And the Premier League as a whole is a big deal. You always see EPL results/highligts on the major sports news as an example. I read the other day that of the most Googled sports club in Australia, 4 of the top 10 were football teams, with 3 of them being Liverpool, ManUtd and Chelsea (Liverpool were 2nd overall).

The A-League just recently signed a 4 year TV deal worth 25m quid a year. To put that in perspective, the Super Leagues contract is worth 18m a year. And A-League is an 8 year old competition. Their crowds are rebounding and are averaging 12,500. Their national team also gets widespread coverage, interest and crowds. And as is seemingly the case everywhere, the participation numbers dwarf both rugby league and rugby union.

None of this is to say that soccer is as popular as rugby league or Aussie rules, but its nothing like what JB makes it out. Its arguable that its in a much better position than RL in the UK.

When LA Galaxy played Sydney FC they sold out the 80,000 seat stadium with Beckham coming. Thats a no name American team. Throw in the biggest club in world sport, and youre likely to get people to go.

Like RL in UK

Football is big certainly with the Croatian and East European communities in Aus.

Man it'd are a big brand everywhere, hence why people are going to the game, not to watch football but to see man it'd, same reason people used to go and watch the Harlem globe trotters.

Actually closer to 19mil a year cash and last seasons crowd avg was 10'800.

At least you got the last bit right. You missed out or cricket or RU or sunbathing.

You've gone from trying to convince Jean that its a complete nothing sport, to admitting it has a bigger TV contract than the Super League, and average crowds comparable (and ahead of now) with the Super League. Does that say more about football in Australia, or rugby league in the UK?

Someone sounds a bit bitter about football. Cheer up, its the most popular sport in the world. You can't win every battle.

Would this be the same Ryan Giggs, who's father (Danny Wilson) was the Swinton scrum-half and RL captain of Wales ?

Is it the same Danny Wilson who had an eighties hit with 'Marys prayer' ?

You forgot to mention that there have been 4 teams die in those same eight years.

Do us a favour and post the crowd averages for the last five seasons...