Did it work for you?
What are the benefits?

Pros - Cons

How would you change it ?

worked really well great concept and works great for england and for the overseas players over here watching the videos ect during the week and what the players have said this week has been brilliant and did you see the exiles reaction when carmont went over and what rangi had to say i think that puts to bed any doubts of there comminment. personallly id like a 3 game series kc, saints new stadium and either headingly or stoop

I think the idea has potential and is certainly an improvement over the massive victories England have managed over the French in recent years, but it wasn't a really high quality game. At times, it looked like neither team had played much together before (which in the Exile's case is true) and making this one of a two or three match series would help with this (although maybe only a new coach will help England). The only problem with this is that if there were two or three matches they probably couldn't be played on a free weekend which would be an advantage, both for clubs who wouldn't have the problem of players backing up within 48 hours and for fans who wouldn't have to shell out for two matches per week.

for me the english players that play in the exiles shoudnt be allowed to back up for there clubs on the weekend

why?

to aviod player burnout to our top players that potentially are going to play for england at end of year but im basing that on i would like a 2 or 3 game series, the 1 of game is ok to back up but doing that potenatailly 1 or 2 more times isnt good and weve got to make sure that the player are not playing to much

The conecept is fantastic and it was a good close game. Would love it to grow into a regular event that we all look forward to.

Next year I would give it a weekend of its own and play it at Saints new stadium, it will have class corporate facilities and will have a good atmosphere, it also has Wigan, Warrington, Widnes, Leigh and Salford all nearby. This would be the first international fixture at the new stadium and a full-house is a realistic possibility which would give the game the atmopshere it deserves. 14k was the crowd so an extra 4k is a realistic target instead of aiming too high. Getting 18k for a full-house would create demand for the year after when it could perhaps move to bigger venues and a 2 game series at Wigan and Hull. The event could then move to a 3 game series with a game at Elland Road. The event has great potential for growth. The tickets need to be much cheaper though IMO, demand needs to be created before ticket prices can be so high.

Next year I would like to see a whole set of international fixtures with one being the curtain raiser to the Origin game.... as someone posted on the VT...

France v Wales
Ireland v Scotland
England Knights v ?????

I think the fan pick needs to be dropped and the coach should pick whoever he wants.

Maybe they could each have a warm up game against one of the lesser nations before we take it to having a 2 or 3 game series.

Another thing that needs fixing is not only the fact that it was on a weekend with other fixtures but it was on a friday night, not the best for trying to get the whole RL community to the game. Should have been 4pm on saturday to give fans time to get there and back.

Next year I would make it a two game series with the series winner being decided on aggregate scores and maybe look to increase it to three games if support is great enough.

Games should be played on a Wednesday with all the previous rounds games played on a Friday and the following weekends fixtures to be played on Sunday.

Game one to be played on a Wednesday night in Yorkshire (Huddersfield or Hull) in May, maybe even before a Bank holiday weekend so that Sky can then get a Sunday and Monday live SL game. Game two can then be played on a Wednesday at either the Piedome or Saints new ground in July. Should a third game be added at a later date that could be on a Wednesday in June.

Ultimately it would be great if the public took to the concept and we could have a three game series played in 'Lancashire', Yorkshire and a third game either alternating between the two or maybe in London (as close to a home game for the exiles and feasabley possible).

For once, I agree with you, on all accounts.

THE RUGBY GODS HAVE HAD THEIR WAY!!!!

In secret you have always agreed with me, you just don't want to admit it

why?

they are proffesional sportsmen, they play bank holiday weekends back to back. some of the older players may struggle with this, surely this gives an opertunity for younger players to be blooded, but a blanket ban on playing back to back matches is silly imho.

I will just never accept this argument when there have been men in afgan lasting on just a couple of hours sleep and doing a lot more work than 80mins of rugby.

Pros:

- did its job. Provided a much sterner test of England, allowing better understanding of where the team needs improvement rather than just papering over the cracks by hammering France.

- a better crowd than I expected. If that many people showed up not really knowing what to expect whilst paying what was deemed to be "expensive" pricing, if you played it over this way next year hopefully the attendance would grow again.

- In general, very good concept and branding with the Exiles tag. Catchy name, and very easy to attach gimmicks and concepts to it. Also enjoyed the videos on the site/youtube, Brett Hodgsons vid diary and the interviews.


Cons:

- fan vote. I like the idea, but not sure why they limited the options. I'd like to think it should have more influence on the actual side, but that'd be harsh to lumber a coach with players he may not want.

- Friday night. Just an awkward time if your going to have games still on that weekend. Stand alone fixture, or play it on a Wednesday.

Wednesday just won't work, if people moan about Friday i can't see the numbers on a Wednesday.

3 games all on a Friday when we have a Bank Holiday Monday, there's enough to choose from.

Possibly even a Saturday night game, a Saturday at The Stoop half full of drunken Aussie/Kiwis will be fantastic.

Put it in a 20k+ stadium and make the tickets ridiculously cheap, get all the clubs to push it and offer support and even sell tickets from their club shops.

Imagine if it was £5 a ticket, who wouldn't go then?

Someone with £4.99 or Damo.