This has potentially serious implications for the game as a whole.
It makes it much harder to sell TV rights for SL if the international game is in turmoil - again.

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/how-soci ... ion-74780/

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/how-soci ... ion-74780/

It's not like French governments to put blocks in the road for RL though is it? Union is all powerful and lobbies media and state to keep it that way.
Mike Rylance's book 'The Forbidden Game' is an eye opener.

French rugby union are a disgrace, it’s not like it’s a massive threat.

The mutual distrust goes back to WW2 when RL was banned and accused of Nazi appeasement as the game was played in the area of France which was controlled by the Vichy government which obeyed German occupancy. Resentment lives long across the channel but I didn't realise how much until I read Mike Rylance's book.
Maybe the cancellation of RLWC 2025 in France is nothing to do with RU but when a change of the governments Sports Minister immediately leads to the cancellation of the competition, it certainly smells to high heaven. Oh and this year's RUWC carries on unaffected.

And now Qatar are interested.

I seriously hope we don't go there.
'Greenwashing at it's finest'.
I'd rather have no tournament that go there and make ourselves look a laughing stock promting an obscene regime.

Too many sports are selling themselves out to middle eastern countries in an attempt to show the country in a good light - motor racing, golf, boxing, football - all because of money. In the latter sports case allegedly there was a large demand for brown paper bags before the FIFA vote - whether that was to stuff certain types of paper products into them beforehand, or for them to be used as sick bags when the vote was announced afterwards I wouldn't like to say......

Quote: fez1 "I seriously hope we don't go there. 'Greenwashing at it's finest'. I'd rather have no tournament that go there and make ourselves look a laughing stock promting an obscene regime. Too many sports are selling themselves out to middle eastern countries in an attempt to show the country in a good light - motor racing, golf, boxing, football - all because of money. In the latter sports case allegedly there was a large demand for brown paper bags before the FIFA vote - whether that was to stuff certain types of paper products into them beforehand, or for them to be used as sick bags when the vote was announced afterwards I wouldn't like to say......'" The UK Government has approved £3Bn of arms exports to Qatar since 2020. https://caat.org.uk/data/exports-uk/ove ... te_from=-3

Quote: fez1 "I seriously hope we don't go there. 'Greenwashing at it's finest'. I'd rather have no tournament that go there and make ourselves look a laughing stock promting an obscene regime. Too many sports are selling themselves out to middle eastern countries in an attempt to show the country in a good light - motor racing, golf, boxing, football - all because of money. In the latter sports case allegedly there was a large demand for brown paper bags before the FIFA vote - whether that was to stuff certain types of paper products into them beforehand, or for them to be used as sick bags when the vote was announced afterwards I wouldn't like to say......'" The UK Government has approved £3Bn of arms exports to Qatar since 2020. https://caat.org.uk/data/exports-uk/ove ... te_from=-3

Britains historic role of selling arms to many 'less than desirable' regimes is a national disgrace. Profit and jobs dictate this will continue.

The game is on it's isn't it

Sadly yes and read somewhere today that our next tv deal will be less again, some clubs can’t manage on what they receive now. Expect at some point Rugby League will only be full time in the NRL

That will please The Spectator no end. This would give Stuart Pike the golden opportunity to pop down the Arabian Peninsular to the UAE to replenish his stock of Toffos.

With regards to the TV deal, what is the game's selling point at this moment in time? Can hardly say it's open and expansive anymore. Perceived naff and inconsistent officiating, same champions 4 years running, same predictable Cup ties almost yearly (yet again we're paired with Wigan). What exactly would broadcasters see to make them shell out? Short of a RL fan with billions and a love of the game... who'd bother?

Well is this not why IMG are onboard to help steer us in the right direction. Well I hope that’s the case but I feel some clubs still have self interest at heart and not what’s good for the game as a whole.

Anyway you are right in that as it stands we have no selling point because all we are producing is same old same old unless we fully get onboard with the IMG proposals