I can't remember a time when it has been attended so well, pretty much everywhere and been so widespread.

We get crowds into the 1000s in the USA and Canada now.

Fiji and PNG sell out their test match.

Australia and NZ sell out their warm up game.

France v England gets 17k for their warm up game.

10k for France v Scotland.

Game growing in places like Italy, Serbia, Jamaica and South Africa

Sell out at Halliwell Jones.

Ground record at Leigh.

Good chance of tournament record at Wembley.

Good stuff!

Steady on. This kind of positive thinking is frowned upon! Can't you find something negative to bang on about!

Has anyone any thoughts as to why International RL is doing so well at the moment?

Are teams like Catalan and Crusaders helping spread the word domestically and in turn helping a resurgence internationally?

Or is credit due to the Admin guys? Good stadium selection and improved marketing?

It's excellent progress.

I think there has been a rejuvination of the four nations with the Wembley double header. It has just made it seem like a big event, and it shows as the RFL have released another batch of tickets to go on sale in the middle tier. The fact that Rugby League will command sky sports one and BBC1 simultaneously this Saturday will also do the game the power of good.

A bit of both to be honest imo. I can't remember rl getting so much advertisng done for it so well done RFL. Even the beeb have been helping by putting the ad for the Wembley double header into every broadcast this season. I think it helps having internationals back on terestrial. Thats 1,ooo,ooo+ seeing the game everytime. (on tv, highlights on beeb website etc)

I think breaking up GB has had the biggest impact. It has brough more attention to Welsh fans been in the 4 nations as well as making the European Cup/ Pacific Cup more important with a place in the 4 nations.

RFL out. Sack Richard Lews. Oh wait.....

Quote: justarugbyfan "RFL out. Sack Richard Lews. Oh wait.....'" Joke! Shambles! Disgrace! *ahem* Have a look at this; superleague.co.uk/article/4ntv-t ... -way/23867 I had a bit of a spine-tingling moment before. Never heard our national side talk with such calm confidence before. International RL is definately on the up and I'm getting the feeling an England victory is coming with it.

Quote: justarugbyfan "RFL out. Sack Richard Lews. Oh wait.....'" Joke! Shambles! Disgrace! *ahem* Have a look at this; superleague.co.uk/article/4ntv-t ... -way/23867 I had a bit of a spine-tingling moment before. Never heard our national side talk with such calm confidence before. International RL is definately on the up and I'm getting the feeling an England victory is coming with it.

Just had a look at the Wembley Double Header ticket page....

Some more blocks in the middle tier have been opened up!!!

I think we're very quick to criticise our game/people, so it's nice to give praise when it's due, good international progress.

It was going well untill you said ground record at Leigh. We shouldn't be having to play England games at such small venues. It should at least be in a 20-25k venue.

Just before the SL war. The game was really breaking through. We are just getting back to where we where then. In the interim Union has gone professional and offers bigger bucks and so over here we're not as strong as we were back then. But, yes, it's great to see progress. We need to start backing that up with a winning England team though to build on developments. Therein lies a difficulty. Given the recession / depression we are entwering maybe it would be a good time to step up the amateur game / player development in the heartlands - if kids can't get jobs the lure of RL could be marketed to them? We will only develop when player supply is increased.

Wales v England crowds:

4 Nations 2011-10377

World Cup Qualifiers '07

Doncaster 11263
Bridgend 3249

European Championships '03

Leeds 2124

World Cup 2000

Wrexham 6373

European Championships '96

Cardiff 5425
Widnes 5154

World Cup '95

Old Trafford 30042

European Championship '94

Cardiff 6252

European Championship '81

Swansea 10243
Ebbw Vale 2111
Cardiff 8102
Hull 4786

European Championships '80

Hull 7557

European Championships '79

Widnes 5099

I could go on, but other than the 95 World Cup at Old Trafford it was 1953 the last time an England v Wales game got near 20k which is what you'd be hoping for in one of the 'bigger grounds' . And it was 19k at St Helens.

I was shocked when International Rugby League was the lead sports story on local radio in Hampshire on Saturday morning.

It's getting quite a bit of coverage now. Really good news for the game. The WC in 2013 could be massive if we build on this.

A win at Wembley or the final is essential to keep the momentum going, the publicity is great but it isn't as good when they reveal we haven't won anything for 40 years