|
|
Post by Druzik on Sept 25, 2008 18:35:13 GMT 10
OK so matches for next year are starting to trickle through.
Two tentaive matches by the Germans have been set already.
In May Germany vs. Latvia. Date TBC and Venue as well.
~1st August Czech rep vs. Germany - Probably in Prage. This is an annual match these two countries play westher in a tournament or not.
|
|
beez
Reserve Grade
Posts: 250
|
Post by beez on Sept 25, 2008 18:55:33 GMT 10
So do the Czech's and Germany have a good rivalry going on? I see Germany's won the last two pretty comfortably.
|
|
|
|
Post by Druzik on Sept 25, 2008 19:19:29 GMT 10
So do the Czech's and Germany have a good rivalry going on? I see Germany's won the last two pretty comfortably. Yes its something they decided to establish a couple of years ago. Both countries started about the same time and help each other quite a bit in terms of advice and games etc... also very easy to travel between the two nations, so its only natural that they have formed a link playing wise. Weather its going to be a rivalry in the same sense of like Australai-England/GB we'll see, but its at least one annual match both teams will alsways have no matter what. |
|
beez
Reserve Grade
Posts: 250
|
Post by beez on Sept 25, 2008 19:24:39 GMT 10
Sounds like a good idea, it should help both teams and gives them a gauge of how well they're progressing on the field and also off the field in terms of support and interest.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ryan N on Sept 25, 2008 19:24:57 GMT 10
Sounds good. Are the Euro Bowl, Med and Shield going to be annual? Europe is shaping up nicely. I think teams like USA, Japan, South Africa, Cook Islands, Jamaica should tour Europe in off season. May cost money but I'm sure if they asked for donations it would work out. i think that would be a great initiative for international Rugby League.
|
|
beez
Reserve Grade
Posts: 250
|
Post by beez on Sept 25, 2008 19:31:27 GMT 10
Yeah, I don't too much about the scene over there but it does look as though these countries have got themselves organised quite well.
If only the rest of the world was like this.
|
|
|
|
Post by Druzik on Sept 25, 2008 19:39:39 GMT 10
Yeah, I don't too much about the scene over there but it does look as though these countries have got themselves organised quite well. If only the rest of the world was like this. Admin wise, for what little they have they do very well, they have some good sponsors and they don;t try to punch above their weight. Every year its about small expansion and consolidation. The next big task for the teams is to set up a proper domestic season, they have had a few one off matches between teams but nothing solid as a season. The other think I think is to have a larger Junior base. Germany has about 300 kids playing at school around Heidelberg and Simon cooper has started camps this summer in Munich and In Cologne and Karlsruhe the teams there are starting to produce a few 16 year olds. |
|
jim
Marquee Player
Posts: 1,150
|
Post by jim on Sept 25, 2008 19:53:36 GMT 10
So when are you going to do up a 2009 schedule dan? I suppose there's no real rush seeing as there would only be a few games confirmed so far. I guess after the WC we will know more as I am expecting an announcment regarding next year after the final.
|
|
|
|
Post by Druzik on Sept 25, 2008 19:57:14 GMT 10
ahahaha... actually I have one up, just not posting it on the website yet... alll in good time Jim, I still have to update the French and south african draws this weekend, there is still a long way to go in 2008 my friend.
|
|
jim
Marquee Player
Posts: 1,150
|
Post by jim on Sept 25, 2008 20:41:50 GMT 10
ahahaha... actually I have one up, just not posting it on the website yet... alll in good time Jim, I still have to update the French and south african draws this weekend, there is still a long way to go in 2008 my friend. Yeh fair enough, still have a quarter of the year to go don't we. So what do we have for 2009 so far? 4 Nations - Probable Wales tour of South Africa - Probable Pacific/Atlantic 6 nations -  Euro Nation cup, shields, plate, bowl - Probable Decent start I suppose. |
|
|
|
Post by Druzik on Sept 25, 2008 20:54:18 GMT 10
Europe I suspect will end up looking similar to this from what I have gathered.
Tier 1 - 4 nations
England
France
Australia
New Zealand
Tier 2 - ?
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
winner Euro Med 08
Tier 3 - Euro Med Challenge
team 2 08
team 3 08
Italy (promoted from the shield)
Tier 4 - Euro Shield
Germany
Latvia (Promoted from Bowl)
Ukraine (punch obove bowl but need to prove themselves)
Tier 5 - Euro Bowl
Czech Rep (Relegated from shield)
Estonia
Maybe Holland/Greece/Malta
Other
Holland/Greece/Malta
Morocco
Portugal
UAE
Catalonia
Again this is just speculation from what I have seen and heard around on the grapevines of what the RLEF are trying to establish, hopefully by 2010 there will be a clear prom/releg between all the levels.
|
|
jim
Marquee Player
Posts: 1,150
|
Post by jim on Sept 25, 2008 21:07:35 GMT 10
Europe I suspect will end up looking similar to this from what I have gathered. Tier 1 - 4 nationsEngland France AustraliaNew ZealandTier 2 - ?Ireland Scotland Wales winner Euro Med 08 Tier 3 - Euro Med Challengeteam 2 08 team 3 08 Italy (promoted from the shield) Tier 4 - Euro ShieldGermany Latvia (Promoted from Bowl) Ukraine (punch obove bowl but need to prove themselves) Tier 5 - Euro BowlCzech Rep (Relegated from shield) Estonia Maybe Holland/Greece/Malta OtherHolland/Greece/Malta Morocco Portugal UAE Catalonia Again this is just speculation from what I have seen and heard around on the grapevines of what the RLEF are trying to establish, hopefully by 2010 there will be a clear prom/releg between all the levels. Looks about right, I would have Ukraine, Latvia and Czechs play off for the two spots in the Shield. If we are going to work on a P and R basis from now on I don't think it should be a straight swap, I think the winner of tier 3 should have to play the loser of tier 2 and the wiiner is in tier 2 next year. A Promotion game I suppose you would call it. Maybe Austria could go for the bowl, what's going on there? Also Georgia's ban will be finished this year so will they be involved? |
|
|
|
Post by Druzik on Sept 25, 2008 21:11:55 GMT 10
Ukrain would hammer the Czechs and Latvia and Estonia, but you never know. Look there is talk that they are going to try and get a game or two for the Ukies this year still against oponents to guage where they are at properly. They played a GB university academy team two months ago and almost beat them. I know the manager of that team, Gerard Keenan and he said the Ukraninas with a bit more match pracitce will be a ferocious and scary opponent for any team.
|
|
|
|
Post by Druzik on Sept 25, 2008 21:14:07 GMT 10
Looks about right, I would have Ukraine, Latvia and Czechs play off for the two spots in the Shield. If we are going to work on a P and R basis from now on I don't think it should be a straight swap, I think the winner of tier 3 should have to play the loser of tier 2 and the wiiner is in tier 2 next year. A Promotion game I suppose you would call it. Maybe Austria could go for the bowl, what's going on there? Also Georgia's ban will be finished this year so will they be involved? Austria at the moment is non existent, I think leo Berngruber from germany next year will be looking to do a bit of work to help resurect that... Georgia, I think Unions taken over there pretty much now... we'll see. The play off may well happen, like I said this is just what IO have gathered over the year talking with people so nothing si set in stone here, for all I know it could end up looking a whole lot different. |
|
|
|
Post by Druzik on Sept 25, 2008 21:17:51 GMT 10
But I think the encouraging thing with europe is three fold
1. There is a clearly established system of teams where they are ranked and which tier they play.
2. There is a yearly set of tournamnets that teams/players/fans can look forward too and the RLEF can build upon
3. Just the sheer number of teams involved now in Europen competitions is fantastic and they are keen to expand in to asia with teams in UAE, Saudi Arabia and if its to be believed India and Pakisatn
|
|
