Daft decision to pick Coventry, 32,000 capacity stadium ,no credible team ( sorry Bears fans - watch out the RFL might fast track you like they did Celtic Crusaders, and that ended well didn't it?) - 44,000 at Stratford last year for Eng v NZ, add the Aus v Sco game and it would have sold out no problem. Or if West Ham put up too many objections the double header could have got 50-60,000 at Wembley.
Stupid decision from whatever way you look at it. They might well sell out the Ricoh but the double header should be good for a 40,000 capacity minimum. RFL cutting it's nose off to spite it's face for what will probably only be a 'novelty' event. You couldn't make it up!

There's a chance that they picked some of the "smaller" venues to try and change the mindset of RL fans.

i.e. these are likely to sell out so buy your tickets now - larger venues tend to sell slower as there's not the same impetus to buy early or miss out.

I was thinking something similar to this, maybe thinking that a full ground looks better than a half empty one even if there are less people in there. Do agree with others though that Kr and Cumbria are ridiculously small venues and eng v nz could have been in a bigger ground.

Remember though that west ham have chosen to increase capacity of Olympic from original 54,000 stated to 60,000 and anfield will have a capacity of 54,000 when the tournament comes about so there are a couple of big grounds. But yeah as a whole it is ridiculously unambitious once again.

I wonder how many addresses in the RFL database of ticket buyers for big events are in Nottingham, Derby, Brum, Cov', etc. Coventry is right in the middle of them. I have no idea myself, but it may turn out to be a superb choice.

I'm going for the same reason I'm going to Anfield. I've never been and want to get a look.

Loads of the ticket buyers on their database are in London and the South. If the final is going to be at a change from the norm Northern venue, then why the hell isn't the double header in London? Like last time? Like the RLWC semi finals?
Even if Coventry sells out it will still be a financial failure compared to the potential earnings from Stratford or Wembley - presumably the dullards at RFL HQ haven't got the gumption to see this!
Am surprised that there's no Scotland game taking place in Scotland - England v Scotland at somewhere like Tynecastle would have been good. I'm sure the Scots would have turned up to see their boys play against the Auld Enemy - and the ground isn't as big as Murrayfield or as far from the centre of Edinburgh.

The Midlands and the South are not the same thing.

Yes, loads are "in the south". Provided that means the south east then they have an option and quite a good one at that. England games attract in London and it's versus the Aussies, of whom there are large numbers there.

For people in the south west and south Wales the south east is a similar sized journey (if not more in some cases) as people in the RL heartlands have to make. For those traditional rugby areas the Midlands is a much more achievable goal, and it also happens to be slap in the middle of one of the largest clusters of well connected conurbations in western Europe.

That much is strikingly obvious to me. What isn't obvious is how many people from those conurbations have been ticket buyers for large RL events in the past. If it is good numbers the potential for growth, at least for events of this type, could be very good indeed.

My only issue with this choice is the short time to market it. I'd have that issue if they were all on the M62.

Crap venues generally for the other Scots games though. With you there.

Ridiculous set of venues. Workington and Craven Park shouldent be getting international games due to location and too small grounds. Coventry isn't an attractive place for heartland fans to visit so they've got to hope they get the locals in or it'll be a sea of empty seats. Then theyve completely undersold England-NZ by putting it in a 24k ground. Cant beleive it's taken months to pick those.

Only venues im happy with are Anfield as it's a big city not far from the heartlands and the Olympic Stadium.

Do the RFL think Workington is in Scotland?

I would have thought Carlisle would be better for the Scots games, if they have to be in England. Heartlands can all get there and so can the Scots, at least from the two bigger cities.

Very disappointing choice of venues and dates, which fool has planned this? The Olympic stadium was awful last year for the NZ game, Sunday 13th is the wrong date for a game there, if we have to play a game in London having it the same time as October half term would have been a better idea. As for Coventry for the double header words fail me.

As a South-West RL fan, I'm not pleased either. Nothing at the DW! I don't mind Coventry, presumably the success of Wasps there has something to with (although Wasps playing the best rugby in the Premiership is probably more relevant). Don't like the Olympic; horrible stadium, crowd too far from the action. Huddersfield, nice little stadium, but too small. Isn't Anfield like Old Trafford, with a really titchy in-goal?

I was thinking Newcastle rugby's ground, Kingston park is it? Got momentum from magic there plus close to Scotland and a league team already plays there which is owned by the union guy so no problems with that and also only a little bit bigger than Derwent park if that is what is wanted.

No, sadly the SRL do though, no confidence that they can draw a crowd against either the world champs or Aussies, a disgrace.

CP too small? What sort of crowd do you expect Aus v Scotland to pull in?

RFL seek bigger and wider audience, heartland fans discover bus pass doesn't get them there, chaos ensues. Not entirely sure why getting to a game in London on a Sunday is a problem, or getting back from it. Coventry is an interesting choice for the double header but readily accessible, kick off times are more the issue. Workington has already shown that Cumbria will turn out for a game. Anfield I can sort of understand but is wholly dependent on the western area making an effort, similar point for the Hull game.

Some of us are working out which trains to catch to get to the games rather than analysing the