4 Nations

[Druzik]

Nov 23, 2009 16:20:36 GMT 10 arh21980 said:

Nov 23, 2009 11:09:14 GMT 10 Druzik said:

Its very true,

But the point about having it in PM, is that you have fanatical locals and the fact that Australia have annual matches there with no issues and tha Pac Nations Cup was there with no hitches then shows that a game could be played there.

Look By all accounts it wont happen. Hamiltonh will get the NZ v PNG match and Sydney the Aus v PNG match.

I know that Sydney hasn't got a match but I would seriously have that game at North Qld that way you know a crowd will turn up for it

Well they never turned up for the WC game, what makes you think they would for this one?

[jim]

Nov 24, 2009 10:42:06 GMT 10 Druzik said:

Nov 23, 2009 16:20:36 GMT 10 arh21980 said:

I know that Sydney hasn't got a match but I would seriously have that game at North Qld that way you know a crowd will turn up for it

Well they never turned up for the WC game, what makes you think they would for this one?

I wouldn't take it Townsville either, I would be very tempted to send it to either Perth or Canberra though. I like the schedule how it is now, Melbourne only get two games because it's ideal to have a big test to open their stadium and one in the 4N. Perth would be number one choice IMO, a sell out MES for a game V PNG would be great for the game IMO, Sydney got less than an MES sell out would for a WC semi-final.

[Druzik]

I am just thinking that what we should have in Australia/New Zealand is something similar to what the Cricketers have. Have set test in set venues through the year.

So when there is a 4 Nations in the anti-podes there are 8 test played.
Venues would be, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch.

In cricket you always have like the 1st test in Brisie, Boxingday test in Melbourne, New year test in Sydney. and the other 3 test are in and around the other cities, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth.

[arh21980]

Dan you might know about this. Read (not sure where) that after the next world cup that the 4 Nations might grow again to 5 Nations.
From memory it was Australia, New Zealand, England, Euro Cup Winner and the Pacific Cup Winner.
Has anybody else heard anything of this?

[sportsmad]

i can only dream this is the case

[jim]

Dec 5, 2009 18:02:13 GMT 10 arh21980 said:

Dan you might know about this. Read (not sure where) that after the next world cup that the 4 Nations might grow again to 5 Nations.
From memory it was Australia, New Zealand, England, Euro Cup Winner and the Pacific Cup Winner.
Has anybody else heard anything of this?

I like ti better than having a team in then out year in year out.

I wouldn't mind just making France permanent and the winner of Pacifc and Euro Cup join in... but 6 teams might be getting a bit much, comparable to a WC every year. Maybe once we are in a situation where we can enter end of season internationals and there is a likelyhood of Wales, France and PNG beating one of the top 3 teams then we could go with regional splits like Union.

Southern Tri Nations - Australia, NZ, PNG
Northern Tri Nations - England, France, Wales

At the end of each year last place can play first in their regions 2nd tier cup for a spot in next year's. So if Wales come last in The Northern Tri Nations and Ireland win the Euro Cup then it's Wales V Ireland in a qualifying game for next years tournament

[Druzik]

Dec 5, 2009 18:02:13 GMT 10 arh21980 said:

Dan you might know about this. Read (not sure where) that after the next world cup that the 4 Nations might grow again to 5 Nations.
From memory it was Australia, New Zealand, England, Euro Cup Winner and the Pacific Cup Winner.
Has anybody else heard anything of this?

No I have not heard about this at all... whre id you hear about it?

I agree with the rest of you It would be a much better... ultimately I would rather a 6N in a 4 year cycle where the Atlantic champions can have a shot at qualification for it as well.

[sportsmad]

a side point to this article is that warriors will play roosters in CC this year

Auckland blackout threatens to deny fans

Auckland could miss out entirely on genuine international rugby league next year despite the Four Nations being hosted down under, NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle has admitted.

Plans for a double-header pitting the Kiwis against the Kangaroos and England against Papua New Guinea at Eden Park may be stymied by a competing bid from AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

And the Sunday Star-Times understands issues over Eden Park's resource consent for floodlighting late-night matches won't help its case to host the November double-header – which shapes as an attractive debut fixture for the remodelled venue.

Eden Park may instead get the consolation prize of hosting the 2011 Anzac test between New Zealand and Australia, which could return to New Zealand for the first time in 14 years.

Doyle said the double-header was not "definitely" set for Christchurch, but admitted that AMI Stadium bosses – who have just successfully bid for the Roosters-Warriors NRL game – had tabled an "extremely good" bid.

He conceded Eden Park's resource consent had been an issue.

Eden Park is permitted to turn on the floodlights for only a fixed number of nights per year.

With Australian TV not wanting the telecast to start before its evening news had finished, the earliest kickoff time for the late game of the double-header was 8pm.

"In discussions we had more recently with Eden Park, that seems to have been resolved, they are working with the council on that," said Doyle.

"[Originally], as soon as we had finished, they would have switched the lights off and people would have found it hard to get out of the place. They know it is an issue they have to address going forward as part of the [rugby] world cup campaign."

With New Zealand's game against England likely to go to Westpac Stadium in Wellington, and Waikato Stadium and Rotorua the frontrunners to host the final Kiwis pool game against PNG, Auckland may be left with only a Kiwis warm-up game against Pacific Island opposition. A New Zealand-Samoa game would not be a big ratings winner with Auckland fans: barely 5000 fronted for a similar friendly with Tonga two years ago.

Doyle couldn't confirm the venues because he and the bidding stadia were waiting on the NZRU's decision on whether to cut next year's Air NZ Cup from 14 teams to 10. Some grounds have said that rugby final bookings could take precedence, but because of the demands of English and Australian TV audiences, league bosses want guaranteed Saturday night slots.

"We are still working with the venue holders and the Australians and we certainly can't finalise anything – the spanner in the works is the [Air NZ Cup]," Doyle told the Star-Times.

Ad Feedback "The NPC never know where the final is going to be until the competing teams are known and that means some stadia can't guarantee a game on the Saturday night."

The Star-Times can reveal the tournament dates are October 23 for New Zealand v England, October 30 for New Zealand v PNG, October 6 for the double-header and October 13 for the final in Australia.

KIWIS SKIPPER Benji Marshall flew in to Auckland last night for the funeral of his adoptive father, who died last week. The funeral is to be held in Whakatane.

[arh21980]

Dec 6, 2009 14:09:57 GMT 10 Druzik said:

Dec 5, 2009 18:02:13 GMT 10 arh21980 said:

Dan you might know about this. Read (not sure where) that after the next world cup that the 4 Nations might grow again to 5 Nations.
From memory it was Australia, New Zealand, England, Euro Cup Winner and the Pacific Cup Winner.
Has anybody else heard anything of this?

No I have not heard about this at all... whre id you hear about it?

I agree with the rest of you It would be a much better... ultimately I would rather a 6N in a 4 year cycle where the Atlantic champions can have a shot at qualification for it as well.

Still can't find the link hopefully it isn't wishful thinking on the whoever it was who wrote it be half

[Kiwi fan]

I have always thought that there is a big danger with expanding the tri nations too quickly. The tri nations was set up to provide regular competition between the top teams in the world. I think when something is set up it should stay true to the purpose for which it was set up for. That doesn't mean we can't use it to expand the game I just think we have to be careful with it.

I would say that at any one time we can have just one development team in there. People can say what they say about France but their last good 80 minute performance is now over two years ago. The 4 nations currently has quite a bit of respect in Australia, New Zealand and England. Putting in too many lesser teams will just erode that respect already gained.

A 5 nations could also be hard logistically. If you were to play it in the Northern Hemisphere you would get terrible crowds for the games involving the pacific qualifier and New Zealand or Australia. Imagine how bad the crowds would be for an Atlantic qualifier against the pacific qualifier.

Perhaps, we could have a 6 nations every 4 years which falls 2 years before the World Cup. Except I would find a better name for it. Apart from that in the non world cup/6 nations years I would just leave the 4 nations as it is. That is only for the best teams who can compete with each other. Smaller nations can be involved in other ways.

[Druzik]

Dec 11, 2009 17:18:55 GMT 10 Kiwi fan said:

I have always thought that there is a big danger with expanding the tri nations too quickly. The tri nations was set up to provide regular competition between the top teams in the world. I think when something is set up it should stay true to the purpose for which it was set up for. That doesn't mean we can't use it to expand the game I just think we have to be careful with it.

I would say that at any one time we can have just one development team in there. People can say what they say about France but their last good 80 minute performance is now over two years ago. The 4 nations currently has quite a bit of respect in Australia, New Zealand and England. Putting in too many lesser teams will just erode that respect already gained.

A 5 nations could also be hard logistically. If you were to play it in the Northern Hemisphere you would get terrible crowds for the games involving the pacific qualifier and New Zealand or Australia. Imagine how bad the crowds would be for an Atlantic qualifier against the pacific qualifier.

Perhaps, we could have a 6 nations every 4 years which falls 2 years before the World Cup. Except I would find a better name for it. Apart from that in the non world cup/6 nations years I would just leave the 4 nations as it is. That is only for the best teams who can compete with each other. Smaller nations can be involved in other ways.

See my latest blog!

www.rugbyleagueinternationalscores.com/blog/index.php/2009/12/the-simulation-rugby-leagues-international-tournaments-year-1/