Those would be 2 of the ways to improve the England team. A 3rd way to improve the team would be to give them a better standard of competition to play against like this concept is bringing.

If it's approached correctly this becomes a real test of our squad. If we seriously want an international RL competition thats competetive fans are just going to have to accept that their players will need to play more international rugby at a competetive level.

how can anyone not think that this is a great idea and spectacle for the fans??

Most sports play internationals throughout the full year not just when the club season finishes..

Yes injuries happen and its disapointing when it does but thats sport! Whats saying that tom briscoe wouldnt get injured in a warm up game against france?

spot on post and for our domestic game its vital we improve our international game because we will just fall even further behind with union just getting bigger

spot on

You are absolutely correct , just some on here cant see past anything that doesnt include a whine and whinge for whining sake...


Like i said earlier it would great to open the season with a exiles match then one mid year and one as a warm up for the nations comp .
Injuries are part and parcel of the game and a player could put his hand through a glass door as a bar b ... oh hang on ....
could you ever imagine the NRL blocking players from SOO, would cause a civil war in oz, if the International set up is to grow in the UK it needs more regular testing at a higher level than france and a series of Exiles games would fit the bill down to a tee.
All other sports play internationals all year round at different times of the year and for different reasons so if RL is to grow it needs these imagination grabbing games to get the buss in the papers and on TV etc thus attracting new kids to the game.
its a strange mentality that wants to closet the game and FC players from injury when injury is part and parcel of a players life ,SOO is one of the mechanics that sets Australia apart from the rest of the world because it gives those considered the top players an intense situation in which to show off their wares to the selectors, same here if handled correctly

you try telling Omeley he cant play in case he twists a sock

in hand with the recap structure we need these things can only improve our game not decline it, and i for one can see a stadium full of kids having a great day out with mum and dad to see a proper full on international in the sun , instead of freezing their nuts off in october

I personally don't care for the international game although I enjoy watching new Zealand and australia, the fact of the matter is I pretty much guarantee England will never win a four nations or anything alike in my time and nothing will change this be it reduced quota better quality opposition etc we won't get near them, so for me it's just a pointless game and not needed IMO. I only care about my team, nothing else matters to me, but that's a personal preference.

Thats the problem with the international game in this sport not many of us really care about it....i want to care about it but i really dont.

I think with england failing to deliver year after year,poor crowds and not enough competiton world wide any new ideas can only be a positive as it cant get much dire than it currently is...

Would be great to see an england team tested by this exiles team,infact looking over the squad i think england will struggle to get a result..theres some dam good players in there!!

Agreed, and looking at the potential exiles team England could be in for a right shellacking.

Oh dear.
What a silly billy.

Former captain of Australia is a good reason as to why.

As esteemed as Fitz?

Yeah he is up there I would say, very well thought of in Aus.

I know he's well thought of in Oz but wouldn't have said he was in the same bracket as Fitz.

Buderus is classed as one of the greatest hookers of all time, he would have captained Newcastle and NSW more if it wasn't for Johns.

I don't know if we've got the room to change it to a three game series tbh, the nrl only has 24 rounds and are able to give clubs byes round origin time.

Great concept though.

Both Buderus and Fitz are club legends at Newcastle and Roosters respectively and probably are of a similar standing in RL circles. What a great concept having these 2 and others of similar ilk lining up against England in June.

It's a very close call i'd say mate.

Oh FFS.

Have you completely lost the meaning of sport?

Its entertainment and competition - and this game will likely be entertaining and competitive and one fans appear to want for that reason.

Injuries happen - they can happen getting into the car to get to the game, especially if your Sean Long (

)

Great idea from the RFL imo. Game on. Looking forward to it.

I would agree both legends in aussie,would like to have seen fitz as at least vice captain though.

Hmmm, would have to respectfully disagree with that statement Paul.

Fitzy and O'Meley have already got my vote, as well as my wifes, sons, daughter (and her family), I have e-mailed over 500 people in my address book to ask them to do the same.

Yeah me too, those two and Menzies are three huge players in the NRL.

Not much between them i'd say but hey it's only my opinion

One from Australia and one from NZ?

And maybe the players McClennan wanted in the side.

The exiles are pretty well stocked for back rowers.