SportEngland still funded them when they were GB. Splitting the national team into the home nations meant that the RFL could try to get an England 'brand' out to the public. Ever notice how England RL teams have been announced on the same day as the England Football squads recently? If you type 'England squad' that day into Google News, the England RL squad will return quite high up on the list of results. Also helps to generate an atmosphere at international matches; it's a lot easier to associate with the Ingerlund football chants, great escape et al than to try to cheer on GB.

I would say it also allows for the other home nations to play with more regularity without facing losing their best players for GB commitments (eg. Wales and Cunningham back in the day), but Ireland have lost Harrison and Danny Brough has defected to England and back to Scotland since the World Cup, so I'm unsure how slack the rules are regarding players dicking about between nations. Would be nice to see Lee Briers play against the big three international teams for Wales next year, although it is more than half a decade too late IMO.

Interesting story in rugby newspaper this week (blue one) about the magic weekend and take that.

Anyway. INgurr-land anyday.

I read in one red top this week that the Magic weekend hotline had crashed under Take That fans ringing the wrong number.