With the introduction of golf and union 7s at the next Olympics should the RLIF push for RL whether 9s or 13 a side to be at the Olympics?

Surely it would increase participation numbers and SL attendances if we did well in it. It would also be an opportunity to develop the game in new areas!!

International RL isnt a big thing in our sport but if it was part of the Olympics it could be great!

I understand its right in the middle of the SL and NRL season but for it to be competative in the Olympics GB, NZ and Aus would have to have age restrictions as not to disrupt the league too much.

Thoughts?

It's no surprise that the administrators of Union have managed to get their sport included, yet I bet league didn't even try?

We're just lucky there was no Union in this olympics or they would have had a great boost.

It will never happen. The game is not big enough and never will be. The only nations to enter would be, GB, AUS, NZ, France, PNG, Samoa and Tonga. That just wouldn't justify adding another sport.

To be honest I think having Golf and 7's in there is stupid. No sport should be in the Olympics unless that is the ultimate goal in your sport. Football, Tennis etc should be dropped as well.

What about Canada, usa, Norway, the cook islands, Italy and south Africa to name but a few who have plenty of domestic players to choose from and would benefit greatly from Olympic inclusion?

However wasn't there talk of us being in the commonwealths soon?

In order to compete in the olympics a sport has to be played by men in 75 countries or 40 countries by women. Also must be played on 4 continents.

This is just to be considered to be an olympic sport.

75 countries?! Can't see it happening any time soon then.

It doesn't happen for most sports, but it doesn't stop them.

Which sports at this Olympics do you reckon "don't qualifY" under the 75/40 ruling?

It depends what level you consider. If you say for example virtually every country in the world has bicycles, so all forms of cycling is fine. But if you say it's only countries with regulation cycling tracks, bikes and timing systems, you'd be short I reckon.

Take Union for example, there is no way it's played to any decent level in any more than 20 countries. How they get 75 I'll never know.

The Olympics is about taking part......regardless of the standard of the participants.

Union which BTW I tried to avoid discussing by mentioning THIS OLYMPICS, ranks 96 international teams in the 15 man game....the majority of these teams are made up of amateurs/ex pats, but the FACT remains that the game is played and the countries are ranked. Here are some of the international matches planned for the next 12 months in the international game......it is an active sport in the eyes of the IOC.
rlhttps://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/match/fixtures/international.htmlrl

Is there anything to say League players can't be selected for the 7's?

I don't think so, but can you see Super League/ NRL clubs releasing players for the Olympics when it comes to the business end of the season?

No I can't but there's obviously no need for 2 codes of a rugby format at the olympics

Could use a similar concept as swimming and have League 9's and 13's, Yawnion 7's and 15's and every possible combination including the 7/9/13/15 Medley

Probably 25 to 30 medals available and after no more than 2 Olympics we could herald Sam Thomkins and the Greatest Olympian.......