Championship License D-Day

Widnes, Barrow and Halifax will learn next Thursday whether they will gain the guaranteed spot in Superleague for a Championship club. The two not choosen will still be eligible to apply for one of the 13 spots alongside the existing Superleague sides in 2012.

Widnes Vikings are the clear favourites having responded well and thoughtfully to missing out last time. They have put in place all the non-playing structures required by the Rugby Football League and have a modern, decent sized stadium.

Halifax are hampered by a perceived lack of support and Barrow do not have the facilities or finance needed to compete. None the less the RL have developed a reputation for not be swayed by popular opinion and may yet spring a surprise.

Hopefully this strengthening of the sport in facilities and financial prudence will allow the re-introduction of promotion and relegation within the context of the proposed new league pyramid. Although not really the dominant culture of rugby league it is popular and creates a whole new host of drama and progression in the sport across the UK and even France.

Rugby League Websites

Some nice ones appearing. All good stuff:
http://www.hurricanesrugbyleague.com/
http://www.rlef.eu.com/index.php
http://www.usarugbyleague.com/

The Warm Bath of History

I'm definitely enjoying the history side of rugby league. Not so many emotional stresses, just a sense of lost opportunities. I know the second world war had more important consequences but still if only... A Short History of Rugby League Between the Wars

Blimey!

It's been awhile but here is some more rugby league goodness for the netizens of the world. Rather than create a seperate entry for all of my new articles, i'll save us all some time and list wot i bin and done. Never fear the witticisms will return to the joy of all.

A guide to National Rugby League teams in Australasia
Rugby League Carnegie World Club Challenge
Rugby Leagues Super League Franchises 2012
Masters Rugby League in the United Kingdom

Bon Appetit!

A New Rugby League Season Beckons

Well it is never an easy ride in Rugby League. The Crusaders have moved to Wrexham amongst much controversy, the Rugby League International Federation (which resembles one of those old Soviet Union front groups - all title, no content or real authority) still hasn't released any credible accounts for the 2008 World Cup, we've lost more players to rugby union (who will get declared failures after walking straight into whatever national team they feel like) and yet...

The new season is approaching. There won't be any big coverage and the Rugby Football League still won't work out the importance of a proper all guns blazing season start. But I can't bloody wait.

The World Club Challenge, between Leeds Rhinos and Melbourne Storm, is perhaps the perfect introduction to rugby league. It'll be the third biggest crowd of the season, played with fire and grit and immense skill. It'll raise money for the sport, get decent coverage on the BBC for once and err the fans will moan about it, the Aussies will denigrate it and Richard Lewis will mutter under his breath about this bloody stubborn bunch.

Who the hell doesnt love this sport!

Tally Ho!

Australia Beat England at Rugby League. Nation in shock.

What is it about sport that allows you to deny the pulsating reality of history, ability, player numbers and terrifying big blokes who should not be that nimble on their feet? It is of course the essence of sport otherwise most contests would be over before they started. But bloody hell come on - let us win at least one in a blue moon.

Sorry this post does not impart any great wisdom which is of course unusual for me. Cough. But hey ho, there is always next year. Cheer yourself up by perusing my many other words of wisdom here on my suite101.com article spectacular. The sure cure for those rugby league blues.

My predictions for the future: Wales RL to win the European Cup, the Four Nations and the Rugby League World Cup...all before England beat Australia in a meaningful game.

Bore Da!

Wales Wins Rugby League European Cup: Future Bright for Sport in Wales

A young inexperienced and significantly Welsh side beat Scotland, not so Scottish unfortunately, 28-16 in the final of the European Cup in Bridgend on Sunday 8th November 2009. This is a red letter day for the sport for many different reasons. Injuries had reduced the team to a mixture of young Welsh born players and more experienced grandparent rule guys committed to the Welsh cause.

The new management team of Iestyn Harris and Clive Griffiths have instilled a determination and commitment to attacking rugby league, designed to work to the strengths of Welsh rugby playing culture. The players have taken to this and have shown some steel in coming from behind for the second game in a row.

The rugby league authorities have put in place a more structured and long term international programme which if stuck by will see many dividends for the code. This year has been a ranking tournament. Unfortunately it has also seen Serbia relegated to the European Shield by a thrown together 'Italian' side. The Italians have no domestic tournament whilst the Serbs have worked to develop open age and student teams that play a proper season. They deserve better then this.

The Welsh of course have the advantage of a Super League team, Crusaders Rugby League, who have pulled young Welsh men into the orbit of rugby league. This makes them surely second favourites to France who will join the European Cup next year having played in the Four Nations this year. 2010 will be a qualifying tournament, the winners of which will enter the 2011 Four Nations, which will be played in the UK.

The history of rugby league in Wales is long and littered with mistakes and short sightedness. Hopefully we are seeing lessons from the past well learned and a genuine future established.