Could we test drive the gauge for interest in RL with an England game in Bristol in 2012? England v Wales would be a good idea, obviously with Wales just over the border.

The only problem being that South Walians don't like RL.

If you so obviously hate RL and want it to fail at everything it tries, why bother putting so much effort in to posting on a RUGBY LEAGUE FANS board?

Sod off once and for all won't you.

Far from it.

I want RL to succeed. Thats why the sport should get stronger in the areas that matter before wasting time with playing places like Bristol.

"Areas that matter"?? Listen to yourself man.

As far as gauging the potential in the South West, I'd have thought the rumoured Wembley international double-header at the end of the season would be good way to do this. Yes, there's a fair distance from the South West to London, but arguably easier to get to than Old Trafford and should have more of a pull than Magic weekend. Its a chance for South West RL to galvanise the support and use the support channels available to them. If they can prove a sizeable group of folk are willing to travel to London to watch some Rugby League then we can assume that having a match in Bristol would be a success. It would also road test their model for attracting supporters and using the network around them.

I don't see there being an issue with a clash between two minnow nations being held there if the right marketing is in place. The likelihood is that there will be two fixtures at Wembley (or one would hope so), there could well be a match or two at Millenium Stadium and the possibility of another at Cardiff City Stadium.

Some of the bigger profile matches can be played within fairly easy reach of Bristol, which can be used to raise the profile of the match or matches held in Bristol. If anything I would imagine that there is more probability of getting more folk down to a match between two minnows in Bristol than having the match in the heartlands because they don't get any professional rugby and because of the intrigue. There's also a certain apathy held by heartland fans when it comes to internationals. On the other hand, the higher profle matches are the ones that should sell out in larger stadiums in the heartlands, so they shouldn't be taken down there.

Thats going on my signature.

and about 20,000 more than that if held in London.

And you know this how?

As I said previously, England v Wales is an intirely different proposition for generating Welsh interest in the sport, than a Crusaders or Scorpions game.

Because it's one of the most incredible things I've ever read on this board.

How on earth you think a game held in London could be any sort of a judge of the popularity of the sport in an area that covers Gloucester to Penzance is beyond comprehension.

Because he/she/it is desperate for attention. Sadly nobody taught Barry/Katie/phipps the difference between people paying him/her/it attention for good reasons and people paying them attention for bad reasons.

Let him stick at it, it helps to keeps our thread at the top of the forum and most folk seem very supportive!

What do you reckon about what I said about Wembley then? Do you think that would work or do you think it would be better to play a high profile match down there before the WC? If so which?