I won't be taking the odds for Fiji this time. While I think Tonga are a live chance to get over England, the bookies are too stingy. Should be a cracker of a game.
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What I don't get about this tournament is the lack of midweek games. It's duration is nearly the length of the RWC but with a lot less matches. People complained at the start of the tournament over the lack of finances that players from the smaller nations particularly for those playing for the teams like the US receive for the tournament and the running costs of fielding a team. Midweek games would reduce the accommodation costs significantly as the smaller nations will be home a lot earlier.
Won't happen Fijians have got wingers come out of their ears and you only to have look at the Drua to see the play making talent coming through. Nations like PNG who have great potential as a 7s nation are competing against the likes of Tonga and Samoa if those two nations don't qualify for the Olympics through the World 7s series.Quote:
Also reckon some of these smaller nations should open up Olympic eligibility to the RL guys and make a play for the gold.
Nations like the US have a far bigger pool of Rugby players and College athletes to select from then US League does (which is why I don't get the talk of a US team in the English league system).
Will be an interesting season ahead for them, after promotion. Will be very interested to see the first clash of a Canadian vs French club when they take on Toulouse.
On a side note, there's something amiss about the fact that in a few years time, Toronto could potentially win a RL World Club Championship, while Western Australia cannot. One wonders where we'd be by now if the Reds were still around? That's why I really hope this IPRC thing takes off, I think it'll be a damn shame if I'm having the same lamentation over rugby union in 20 years time.
Rugby union will want to get its house in order quicksmart in North America. Rugby union obviously swamps rugby league with regards to participation and crowds up there (30,000 recently attending Canada v the Maori) and likely always will at grassroots level. However with the Toronto Wolfpack heading towards Super League status, its owner looking to set up a 2nd Canadian side in 2019, the potential NY bid, the RLIF tentatively planning to hold the 2025 Rugby League World Cup in North America, and the wholesale recruitment of high level Canadian women's players for this year's tournament, rugby league could easily get the jump on establishing itself at the pro level with knock-on effects for rugby union's national teams and competitions.
Americas, Indo Pacific and Afro-European leagues all in their own time zones. Just screams good sense really.
The massive thing that Rugby has over League in the US and Canada is grassroots competitions, schools, colleges and of course Olympic funding. They can set up teams with mostly locals topped up with foreign marquee players. Players like Ngwenya, Chris Wyles, Tyler Arden, AJ McGinty can play professionally at home. The likes of Mils Muiliana and Pedrie Wannenburg played in the previous competition there.
I see that former WWE wrestler John Layfield aka Bradshaw is looking at backing one of the sides. Conor McGregor is a rumoured investor for a potential side in New York. These guys do PR and promos as part of their jobs which is what the new comp needs.
TV rights have already been sold to CBS. The Vegas 7s is televised by NBC.
Fiji +25.5 into Tonga to win = $5.25
Well it was sorta Rugby is the international thing for me and League is the tribal game of my Sydney roots. No preference for one over the other. Recent events have taken the shine off Rugby for the time being.
PS. NickNat singing the Fiji anthem pre game was a good look.
please rephase
Que?
Ill admit im trying to get into league but the speed in which they recycle the ball is slower than the underrage 8's playing at Larkhill stadium.