Quite near the bottom of this page: https://gacweb.icann.org/display/gacweb ... y+Warnings the UK government has objected to 2 companies applying for the .rugby name and suggested it should go to the International Rugby Board as they are the only ones with a legitimate use of the word rugby... OK, in fairness the RFL didn't apply for it, but still a little annoying that they just ignore Rugby League entirely and state, and I quote: "One of the applicants is the International Rugby Board (IRB) which is the sole world governing body for the sport of rugby" The problem is, if the IRB are awarded it they could, in theory, refuse to allow and RFL team to register a name.

Quite near the bottom of this page: https://gacweb.icann.org/display/gacweb ... y+Warnings the UK government has objected to 2 companies applying for the .rugby name and suggested it should go to the International Rugby Board as they are the only ones with a legitimate use of the word rugby... OK, in fairness the RFL didn't apply for it, but still a little annoying that they just ignore Rugby League entirely and state, and I quote: "One of the applicants is the International Rugby Board (IRB) which is the sole world governing body for the sport of rugby" The problem is, if the IRB are awarded it they could, in theory, refuse to allow and RFL team to register a name.

This has been done many times on these boards, usually with people frothing at the mouth about the 'rugby' world cup.

They registered the word 'rugby', so have international rights to it or something.

Every time anyone compares the off field activities of the governing bodies of either code of Rugby, one organisation begins to look very marginalised, ineffective, paranoid and amateurly run.......and it's not the IRB.

Did you never notice that Rugby League was a small, regional sport that slightly punches above its weight when you started paying attention to it? You're acting like this is a stunning recent development.

I have spent the last couple of years gettting regular bans from TFC section of league unlimited for pointing out exactly how small and regional the sport is

...them Ockers don't like it when facts are spelt out to them



Back on Topic....

The RFL turn over less than £30 million a year, the RFU, ever so slightly more than that....£136 million last year without the £54,000,000 they earn from the Autumn series.....they swallowed a £6 million + loss with consumate ease.


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Given that the combined TV deals of the NRL and SL are somewhere in the region of £192,000,000 a year and the RFU on their own will turn over very close to £190,000,000 in the 2012/13 year, comparisons between the 2 codes should be banned IMO..

What a pointless comparison. What is the ARLC turnover in comparison to the RFU and ARU television deals?

ARLC stated they wanted revenues to double by 2017 to $300,000,000 a year, which is about 195,000,000 GBP..........in 5 years time.
RFU will turn over 195,000,000 THIS YEAR.........they will take 54,000,000 GBP in Gate receipts and TV cash alone from the 4 autumn internationals...that's the same amount of TV grant money that will be received by 11 of the 16 NRL clubs for an entire season.....for 4 MEANINGLESS INTERNATIONALS!

Don't give me the 'pointless" comparison debate......the OP asked why the IRB owned RUGBY....I explained one of the reasons why.

I get it...you don't like being shown that Union is a bigger sport than League. It's one eyed fans like you who do TGG no favours.....in many places, League is considered local, insular and unwelcoming....your defensive attitude goes a long way to explaining why that is.

OK GF, you have presented some facts, so what now? How can RL progress to the levels RU enjoys, or rather will it ever? What about the long aged political obstacles RL has always faced due to "influences" from its bigger rugby brother?

1. Firstly, dust off both shoulders. Whilst having a chip on them makes most people think you're balanced, the inferiority complex helps nobody.
2. Accept that for now, Union will 'pack'em'in" internationally and it will take a generation or more for International League to get even close/
3. Stop the comparisons........they are 2 different games, with 2 different sets of demographics when it comes to supporters.
4. MARKET the game. The NRL have started to lean on sides to take the game to new audiences.....Perth, unlucky to be overlooked, will get 3 senior games this year and an ANZAC test soon. The RFL need to PAY teams like London and Salford to explore new areas......for too long it's been whippets and ale or Pigeons and pits...RL is an exciting game...Market it properly.
5. Stop playing 2nd fiddle to Media: The BBC are on their ......they pay over the odds for the 6 nations, but a pittance for RL.....yet they only market the Union......make representations NOW.....kick them while they are down.
6. RLWC 2013 is a major event in the development of the game in the UK........the RFL need to be prepared to spend some of their SKY TV warchest to ensure new fans come on board.....because like Euro 96 and the other lot in 2015, a lot of the fans you attend will be newbies.....and newbies sometimes become FANS......
7. Politics my .......there are very rarely political figures prepared to stand in the way of anything. If you refer to the Governements backing of Unions WC and not Leagues.......count the numbers involved....Union fans, 40,000 of them will follow the Lions to Oz next year, the RLWC will attract 10,000 of that to the UK. 2015 Will see 100' of thousands of French, Irish, Italian, American, Canadian, Kiwi, Australian Union fans hit the UK.....and 'business benefits/growth' attracts voters. As I said, lose the chips and get on with it.

For too long RL has been happy to muddle along....enough is enough. The NRL tv deal is bigger than any single current Union deal........if the game is to truly grow on the back of it, then some of that cash needs to be managed back into global grass roots, maybe a SoO at Old Trafford, more internationals, a proper WCC....


....the IRB, for all their faults (there are many) are a governing body that run their game......this is the #1 thing RL needs...a true, powerful governing body that the ARLC/RFL need to adhere to...otherwise, it'll be business as usual and bit by bit, TGG will shrink in the UK.

IMO that is

Agree with every single word, post of the year. The only thing i'd add is all of the governing bodies pulling together with some sort of plan for the game.

with reference back to the word "rugby" we chose as a sport to leave "Rugby" behind when we formed the "Northern Union", so from then on it was always difficult to get any kind of hold onto it and to be honest, it's just not worth the hassle/cost

We need to come up with a plan, the whole world of Rugby League can go forward with, with the ARL/NRL as the leader and that needs to be done sooner than later.