Now if France RU would just give RL its assets back they may well just be competitive.

Quote The Ghost of '99="The Ghost of '99"Agree as I do with the idea that the RFL have been incredibly disrespectful of France in the build up to today's game, it is worth pointing out that today's crowd was larger than any GB vs France game in your 80s/90s golden era. Meanwhile the tickets sold for the Kiwi test series are already greater than the aggregate attendance for either of the 1989 or 1993 GB vs New Zealand test series as well as the most recent series in 2007. There is every chance, particularly if the third test isn't a dead rubber, that the combined attendances will exceed the second-best ever 1951 series although the 100k record of 1947 is probably beyond reach.'" I must admit there was never much interest in the GB vs France games in the 80's and later. Scores like yesterday will do nothing to improve that. Decent article here in the ineptitude of the RL administration. www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2 ... pectacular "Rugby league would struggle to organise a barbecue in a butcher’s shop and it is the international game that has paid the biggest price for the code’s administrative ineptitude and inertia" So are you arguing that the international game was not stronger in the 80s/90s?

Quote The Ghost of '99="The Ghost of '99"Agree as I do with the idea that the RFL have been incredibly disrespectful of France in the build up to today's game, it is worth pointing out that today's crowd was larger than any GB vs France game in your 80s/90s golden era. Meanwhile the tickets sold for the Kiwi test series are already greater than the aggregate attendance for either of the 1989 or 1993 GB vs New Zealand test series as well as the most recent series in 2007. There is every chance, particularly if the third test isn't a dead rubber, that the combined attendances will exceed the second-best ever 1951 series although the 100k record of 1947 is probably beyond reach.'" I must admit there was never much interest in the GB vs France games in the 80's and later. Scores like yesterday will do nothing to improve that. Decent article here in the ineptitude of the RL administration. www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2 ... pectacular "Rugby league would struggle to organise a barbecue in a butcher’s shop and it is the international game that has paid the biggest price for the code’s administrative ineptitude and inertia" So are you arguing that the international game was not stronger in the 80s/90s?

If Australia or NZ beat anyone by 80 pts it would be reported as a show of their ruthlessness and overwhelming superiority.

Meanwhile when England do so its put down to the opposition being crap.

I went to the game complete no contest but there were some good signs for England, I think we look in decent shape for the test series. I have tickets for the Olympic stadium and will probably go to the Wigan one also.
One slight gripe, I and 5 others were seated in the West stand of the LSV on arrival we found people sitting in our seats obviously we told them this ,but it turned out they had the same problem (people were sat in their seats).
We spoke the the stewarding supervisor who just laughed and said "Everyone is doing it just find a seat" pretty poor really.. If you can't handle the crowd it's probably best to print unreserved on the ticket.

I think there is far too much dewey-eyed reminiscing here. You cited 54,000 vs the Kangaroos at Wembley in 1990 as evidence of how strong the international game was back then. Will you allow 50,000 at the Olympic Stadium in two weeks, historically completely unprecedented for a GB/Eng-NZ test match, similar praise?

The RFL are not perfect, but they have to deal with the world as it is, not the world as we would dream it to be. Rugby League should be assessed in its own context first, not against mythical pasts or against sports which have completely different defining characteristics to ours.

If there were 50,000 spectators with paid for (not free) tickets at the Olympic stadium that would be a very good achievement. If there was 133,684 across all 3 test series then that would be amazing.

Nothing mythical about the 1990 tour, they are hard facts.

Nevermind internationals, the RFL have a dismal track record of achieving results in both promoting our game up the sporting news agenda, raising awareness and widening the geographical area in which is is played at the top flight nationally also. The game in the heart land is struggling with falling attendances (2014 on 2013*) awaiting data for 2015. I suspect the "every minute matters" white elephant didn't help much in that regard.

So long as Sky dictate the terms to suit their broadcasting agenda, the RFL will always have an uphill battle in doing what is right for the sport.


*www.totalrl.com/opinion-super-league-attendance-drop-cause-concern/

Not many countries play RL to any sort of level. That's why the international game is rubbish. That's not the RFL's fault, it's just the way it is.

The international game picking up a bit won't make any difference to Warrington's chances of winning the Grand Final anytime soon. That's why I couldn't care less if it does or not.

Simple really. If you like the games and want to go to them (and I have been to a few internationals over the years) then great. If not then don't. Either way, it's no one else's problem really.

That may be true? but if the international game did pick up, that would have a knock on effect for the club game. That in turn would bring more money and fans into the sport, and if Warrington were lucky enough to be in a Challenge cup final or Grand final they would more likely be real sell outs, with not a single seat left to be had ... and people like you wouldn't be so ing blasé about the sport.

If more games sold out then ticket prices would go up, they would become harder to obtain, and Warrington wouldn't be affected more or less than any other club so our chances of success wouldn't suddenly increase.

International sport is fine for casual viewing but doesn't hold a candle to following your real team week in week out.

Back on topic, there's one reason and one reason alone why France got a pasting. Agar.

One could argue that the precise opposite applies in Rugby Union...