Whilst I'm actually looking forward to World Cup 2013, this year's international program leaves a lot to be desired.
England, Wales and France will contest the three team (obviously) Triangular Tournament. Expect a series of one-sided scorelines, weakened teams, and crowds that make the HJ last Saturday look like La Bombonera.
The fact that it has only just been announced 3 weeks before the tournament is due to start comes as no surprise, and the list of UK venues sounds like the top 3 of one of those 'Least Liveable Cities' polls: Wrexham, Hull, Salford. Casual viewers used to seeing England v France in front of 80,000 will instead be treated to a few thousand hardy souls in a 2-sided Craven Park, and the final at Sale City Stadium is hardly a worthy setting either. At least France v Wales in Lens might attract a decent attendance.
What's worse is that all this will be broadcast on the BBC, hardly creating the best impression of the game ahead of the sports showpiece event next autumn. They should have kept it as low-key as possible IMO, or alternatively organised some sort of tour Down Under even if it was just a game against NZ and some of the Pacific sides.
On the bright side tickets are competitively priced at £12 for adults and £6 for kids, although some will still moan about them not being covered by this year's season ticket. Fortunately I'll be out of the country for the duration of the tournament, so have a ready made excuse not to attend any of the games. Any RL fanatics off here planning on going to any matches?
Expect the RFL to give away the naming rights to the Triangular Tournament in exchange for a small advert on the side of 1 in every 50 Toblerone bars.
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