I really don't think it'd make one bit of difference if England RL won the world cup. The media still wouldn't be interested.

November - Atlantic Cup live and FREE on www.wearerugby.com Next Saturday, 2:30pm - France v Wales in the European Cup decider live and FREE at www.direct8.fr/direct

November - Atlantic Cup live and FREE on www.wearerugby.com Next Saturday, 2:30pm - France v Wales in the European Cup decider live and FREE at www.direct8.fr/direct

the fans don't take internationals seriously
the players (it seems in the past) haven't taken them seriously
but most importantly of all the RFL don't take internationals seriously

I'd like to think if we got trounced by the Aussies, the RFL will make Shaun Wane coach and do everything in their power to make the international game strong

I would like to see Maguire as the next England coach. He is probably the best coach in the british game so why not.

I just don't take international Rugby League serious since they split the home nations up.

The amount of players swapping and changing which country they play for is embarrassing. For example, there's an interview on the official Wigan site and Darrell Goulding says ''Well, I was going to play for Ireland before being called up for England....''. Sorry, but that's ridiculous. I can understand why they've split the countries but we're a long, long way off it actually working and maybe I'll treat internationals more serious once it starts to work.

I want England to win and I will pay to watch them but it's club before country for me.

It's something the RLIF really need to look at. Swapping and changing countries is just not acceptable.

Graham is the new skipper.

Let's hope he finds some professionalism and class.

I used to agree with what Rogues posted earlier. When we were winning everything in the 80s / 90s, I used to think I’d much rather sacrifice a CC or league title to see GB win a 3 match series (as was then) against the Aussies. I now realise that I took our success for granted and don’t think that, but would still love for England to win the 4 nations, sadly with McNamara at the helm, plus our lack of strength in depth, I just can’t see it.

Funny how Joel brings a competitive streak and aggression, but Graham brings a lack of professionalism and class.

Same old England . . . . .

I wouldn't want Joel as captain either, they both have the same problem.

Dont think I mentioned Joel....

The trouble is, there are only three (if we include England) top international teams in RL.

Then only a couple of other 'credible' teams - France and PNG - with their own nationals making up most if not all of the team.

I am sorry to say that all the rest is a sham. Hardly any players in the Welsh, Irish, Scottish (and other) international sides actually belong to those countries, and no qualification rules can disguise that fact. That makes it hard for those teams to have a real identity for the fans, however serious and committed their players are.

It is also true that players (as in the Darrell Goulding example mentioned) only play for the minor countries as a second choice, if not picked for one of the big three. So playing standards suffer.

I always found it cringeworthy, for example, to hear a player like Keiron Cunningham described (usually by daft Eddie on Sky) as a "Welshman." Is he eck as like, no matter how proud he may be of his heritage and how keen he may have been to play for Wales.

I know country-hopping occurs in other sports, including soccer, but it's nothing like as bad, or as contrived, as in RL.

Three top teams out of how many that actually play the sport? Compared to some other 'global' sports, that's a decent percentage.


Are you sure about Wales? I agree about the other two, although there are many countries playing with genuine bona fide players.


Agree 100%. It's a real bugbear of mine this. The RLIF need to grow a pair and stop players doing it. Unfortunately until the ARL/NRL show the RLIF some respect and the RLIF becomes THE world authority, it sadly isn't going to happen.

Is teh game going to grow in the Celtic nations by having ecah team as 90% Australian? We moaned and groaned about Fa'asavalu, so no chance the Celts will come out and support them.

Also can't believe we are wasting money on the Celtics, the RFL are slitting money 5 ways - England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France, would it not be better to just have GB and France, and split the money 2 ways??

Also agree in the GB>England debate, as a kid I wanted to play for Wigan and wear the white with a blue and red chevron of Great Britain. England doesn't bring out the same passion.