International International Rugby League Thread

[Fire Storm]

Re: PNG and France t.v"?"

Would be good to see the Kumuls go well too. A bunch of tough hard men from the PNG highlands. Love their Rugby League.

 

[LebaneseForces]

Re: PNG and France t.v"?"

anyone know if these two games will be on foxtell or austar?

would love to watch both games, it would be a pity for all Rugby League and "sports" fans to miss these games.

also are these games on the radio anywhere(abc or 2gb)?

PS hope the frogs put on a good show again(shocked the hell out of us)

I doubt it

 

[David Votoupal]

Re: PNG and France t.v"?"

Double whammy with Michael Witt

God knows where Parramatta will be heading next year!

 

[Fire Storm]

Re: PNG and France t.v"?"

Australia win 70-22.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Re: PNG and France t.v"?"

looked at all the news channels today and not 1 of them have mentioned this game, very pathetic.

as for m.witt............dumb move by the eels AGAIN
good on manly for giving the kid a go, i thought the bronco's would of went after him.

oh manly, u came and u poached all my players, now you're winning again oh manly........................

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

Re: PNG and France t.v"?"

The PNG team could be pretty much classed as PNG Invitational aswell because the majority of players were ex-PNG inhabitants now living in Australia and England. The best team was not on the paddock against the Aussies.

 

[Fire Storm]

American Football star switches to Rugby League

NFL star wants to play league
By Dean Ritchie
December 1, 2004

THIS is the all-American athlete who turned his back on a chance to earn $500,000 a season in the NFL because he wanted to be a rugby league player.


Smith ... one of the finest kickers in college football.

It is the extraordinary tale of a man who became passionate about a sport virtually unknown in his home country.

Nate Smith, 22, was among the finest place kickers in US college football during his four-year tenure at the University of Louisville.

His kicking percentages were superior to fellow college kicker David Akers, now a Philadelphia Eagle and rated the NFL's best place kicker.

A first-year contract in the NFL for a college stand-out could have netted Smith between $300,000 and $500,000. But Smith saw rugby league on Fox Sports in the US . . . and NFL was forgotten.

Teammates were staggered when he announced his decision.

"People still look at him funny," said American Rugby League president and former St George halfback David Niu.

Today, Smith will line up for the American Tomahawks on the wing – and he will also switch to fullback – during the international match against the Australian Kangaroos in Philadelphia.

Smith, the Tomahawks' goalkicker in this morning's game, spent several weeks learning rugby league during a fact-finding journey to Parramatta and Canberra in March this year.

"Nate could easily have gone into the NFL and probably still could," said Niu.

"He had better percentages at college than David Akers.

"But one day he called me and said he wanted to play rugby league and not NFL.

"Nate can run, he can really fly.

"He also has great hands and is willing to tackle.

"He's a real student of the game now."

A US sporting website says of Smith: "Former University of Louisville kicker Nate Smith has given up his shoulder pads and helmet to play a little football without equipment. So perhaps former Louisville head coach John L Smith actually did know what he was doing two years ago by asking Smith to repeatedly perform those rugby punts (at training).

"At last we've figured it out. He was preparing Nate for his future career as a professional rugby (league)player."

Smith also excelled in college baseball, soccer, basketball and athletics.

Grant Jones, Parramatta's recruitment co-ordinator, watched Smith train with the Eels earlier this year.

"He was very enthusiastic and very willing to listen," Jones said.

"But like everyone not brought up on rugby league, he had a problem in anticipating play but he was very quick.

"Nate was a great kicker but actually struggled with the shape of our footballs."

The weather is cold in Philadelphia and organisers are still uncertain how many spectactors will turn out at Franklin Field for today's game.

The game has received enormous exposure through American television, newspapers and radio.

Australian coach Wayne Bennett will name a 20-man squad which allows for a nine-man bench and unlimited interchange. Craig Gower, Craig Wing, Jason Ryles and Shane Webcke will be unavailable through injury.

TV: Fox Sports 11.30am




http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,11553693-23214,00.html












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I thought he had a great game.

 

[Fire Storm]

PNG RL update

Rugby league coup

Inter-City Cup concept gets greenlight

IT IS now official — the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) Board has officially approved the re-introduction of the SP Cup competition next year.

In its board meeting held in Lae over the weekend, the PNGRFL Board approved the competition to be known as SP Cup, to be contested under PNG’s own National Rugby League (PNGNRL).

The tournament will included in the league’ national calendar, subject to finalising franchise deals for all teams.

While SP Brewery is again the major sponsor with naming rights to the Cup, the PNGRFL has invited businesses to become sponsors or owners of the approved teams, members on the Board of Directors.

The board has tasked both acting Board chairman Sir Bob Sinclair and SP marketing manager Albert Veratau to conduct a roadshow for potential team franchise owners throughout the country.

Six companies have already indicated their interests in three-year franchise deals while two are still considering.

These commitments are expected to be formalised by mid December 2004.

Veratau, speaking on behalf of the Board said his company, said the level of commitment from the SP Brewery will be announced later, and will most likely be a six-digit figure.

Nine centers have expressed their interest to participate in the competition, including Port Moresby with two teams, Lae, Rabaul, Goroka, Kundiawa, Mount Hagen, Wabag and Mendi.

Kundiawa is the latest center bidding to rejoin the tough semi-professional rugby league competition.

It is understood that Lae, Rabaul and Mount Hagen have secured sponsorship to participate in the new-look competition.

Veratau said ideally, the board would like to have an even number of teams participating to limit it to a 17-week competition and avoid byes.
At this stage, the competition will only be played in Port Moresby, Lae, Kokopo and Goroka who have their own grounds.

EMTV have expressed their willingness to televise the games in Port Moresby on Monday nights next year with the option to cover several centers in 2006 onwards.

Australians to pay K250,000 salary for PNGRFL boss

By HENRY MORABANG

THE Australian Rugby League (ARL) has agreed to fund a K250,000 employment package over two years for a national administrator of the PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL).ARL representative Peter Bevan who was commissioned to review the operation of PNGRFL over the last 12 months announced this at the PNGRFL Board meeting in Lae over the weekend.

The PNGRFL Board approved the new structure at the meeting as recommended by Bevan

The PNGRFL has been financially handicapped to appoint a national administrator.

Bevan also told the meeting that ARL would also commit personnel and materials to help lift the standard of refereeing, coaching, club and league administration, team management, nutrition and strategy development.
Junior and Schoolboys Rugby League will be given a lot more attention in the next three to five years, he said.

The new structure will be headed by a national administrator working with a local general manager and four regional development officers based in the four regions.

The meeting was told that the main focus of the regional development officers would be to upgrade the standard of administration at all levels of the game and improve communication with the national body.

The other aspect of their focus will be to ensure the game is developed at the schoolboys and junior levels through coaching, refereeing, and administration.

It was acknowledged that this was easier said then done, but the body has the support of the PNGRFL and ARL to ensure the biggest game in the country is taken to the next level.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

Re: American Football star switches to Rugby League

NFL star wants to play league
By Dean Ritchie
December 1, 2004

THIS is the all-American athlete who turned his back on a chance to earn $500,000 a season in the NFL because he wanted to be a rugby league player.


Smith ... one of the finest kickers in college football.

It is the extraordinary tale of a man who became passionate about a sport virtually unknown in his home country.

Nate Smith, 22, was among the finest place kickers in US college football during his four-year tenure at the University of Louisville.

His kicking percentages were superior to fellow college kicker David Akers, now a Philadelphia Eagle and rated the NFL's best place kicker.

A first-year contract in the NFL for a college stand-out could have netted Smith between $300,000 and $500,000. But Smith saw rugby league on Fox Sports in the US . . . and NFL was forgotten.

Teammates were staggered when he announced his decision.

"People still look at him funny," said American Rugby League president and former St George halfback David Niu.

Today, Smith will line up for the American Tomahawks on the wing – and he will also switch to fullback – during the international match against the Australian Kangaroos in Philadelphia.

Smith, the Tomahawks' goalkicker in this morning's game, spent several weeks learning rugby league during a fact-finding journey to Parramatta and Canberra in March this year.

"Nate could easily have gone into the NFL and probably still could," said Niu.

"He had better percentages at college than David Akers.

"But one day he called me and said he wanted to play rugby league and not NFL.

"Nate can run, he can really fly.

"He also has great hands and is willing to tackle.

"He's a real student of the game now."

A US sporting website says of Smith: "Former University of Louisville kicker Nate Smith has given up his shoulder pads and helmet to play a little football without equipment. So perhaps former Louisville head coach John L Smith actually did know what he was doing two years ago by asking Smith to repeatedly perform those rugby punts (at training).

"At last we've figured it out. He was preparing Nate for his future career as a professional rugby (league)player."

Smith also excelled in college baseball, soccer, basketball and athletics.

Grant Jones, Parramatta's recruitment co-ordinator, watched Smith train with the Eels earlier this year.

"He was very enthusiastic and very willing to listen," Jones said.

"But like everyone not brought up on rugby league, he had a problem in anticipating play but he was very quick.

"Nate was a great kicker but actually struggled with the shape of our footballs."

The weather is cold in Philadelphia and organisers are still uncertain how many spectactors will turn out at Franklin Field for today's game.

The game has received enormous exposure through American television, newspapers and radio.

Australian coach Wayne Bennett will name a 20-man squad which allows for a nine-man bench and unlimited interchange. Craig Gower, Craig Wing, Jason Ryles and Shane Webcke will be unavailable through injury.

TV: Fox Sports 11.30am




http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,11553693-23214,00.html












-----------------------------------------------------------



I thought he had a great game.

Now thats commitment, that in all honesty I probably wouldn't have.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

Japanese are happy

Japan still ranked 1 in Asia
Fri Dec 03, 12:41pm (NSW)
Written by: Mardo Gray
Source: JRL NSW office
The Japan Rugby league is happy to have retained its ranking as Asia's number 1 rugby league nation according to rleague,com's Matt Dwyer.

While the Samurais are ranked only 20th in the world, this is still a success for a league which has to compete with rugby union for both players and grounds.

The other main problem facing the JRL is isolation, with any international teams a long haul flight away finding other national teams to play is a major stumbling block.

At present the administration is planning to strengthen the domestic competition with more regular season games and then look for more international competition and exposure.

The JRL would also like to congratulate the AMNRL for their strong performance against the Kangaroos.

In other news.

Soon to be complete

The Eastern Bulldogs web site.

www.candlegravity.com/eastjapanbulldogs/index.htm

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

Wales Vs Australia (Students)

Wales Students v Australia Students
Written by: Ian Golden
3/12/2004 Views: 30

Wales Students hope to be the first side to beat the Australians on their 2004 Academic Ashes tour as the two teams meet in Treorchy this Sunday (kick-off 2pm).

This is after the tourists got off to the perfect start, beating England 18-12 on Wednesday night in London.

Because of this, coach Wayne Williams knows that it will be a difficult task to stop the Australians getting another win.

"It will be a difficult day at the office as a match against the Australians is tough at any level." Williams comments, "But we've got a great squad containing players who have international experience at all levels of the game and it was difficult to select a final 17. The lads are fit and raring to go and despite Wednesday night's result, we all believe we're capable of winning - we're ready for them."

Wales have selected two professionals in their starting line-up, Aled James, who has played in Super League with Widnes Vikings and Pete Moore, who will go on to face the Australians again on December 15th when he joins the Great Britain squad. Both now with Sheffield Eagles, they started their playing careers at Cardiff Demons in the Rugby League Conference.

Wales Students are so-far unbeaten in 2004 with wins over Ireland, Scotland and England, while seven members of the squad also enjoyed 100% success with the Wales Conference side who also did the triple-crown over their home nations counterparts.

This match is the second in a month-long tour for the Student Kangaroos as they attempt to retain the Academic Ashes that they won back from Great Britain in Australia in 2003. Treorchy's Lower Regent Street ground has been chosen to host this match for the second time, after successfully staging on the last Academic Ashes tour in 2001.

The Australians will go on to play against Ireland and Scotland before facing the full Great Britain side on December 15th in Dewsbury and December 19th in Warrington.

Sunday December 5th

Academic Ashes Tour 2004

Wales Students v Australia Students (Treorchy RUFC, 2pm)


WALES

1 Matt Jackson (UWIC)
2 Dan Nelmes (Exeter University / Newport Titans)
3 Olli Green (UWIC)
4 Phil Carleton (UWIC / Aberavon Fighting Irish)
5 Sean O'Brien (Coleg Glan Hafron / Aberavon Fighting Irish)
6 Aled James (UWIC / Sheffield Eagles)
7 Pete Moore (Leeds Met / Sheffield Eagles)
8 Gareth Morgan Gareth Morgan (UWIC / Cardiff Demons)
9 Joel Keen (UWIC)
10 Dewi Scourfield (Cardiff University)
11 Mark Dando (UWIC / Cardiff Demons)
12 Matt Drew **(UCE / Aberavon Fighting Irish)
13 Neil Davies (UWIC / Aberavon Fighting Irish, Capt)

14 Dennis Pugh (Glamorgan University)
15 Gavin Curry (UWIC)
16 Geraint Davies (Swansea University / Aberavon Fighting Irish)
17 Dan ap Dafydd (Brunel University / Aberavon Fighting Irish )



Legends Sport | Front Row Forums | Club League | SportOdds

 

[LebaneseForces]

Rugby league PNG Saviour???

PNG at risk of disintegration
December 14, 2004

PAPUA New Guinea is at risk of disintegration into a collection of lawless states, a new report warns.

The report released today by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) recommends Australia consider taking over PNG's customs and transport security services.

The ASPI report said PNG's basic weakness was the absence of a sense of nationhood - underlying such problems as law and order, weak infrastructure and corruption.

And it warned the country could fragment into a series of non-viable mini-states.

ASPI urged Australia to consider a new policy approach, requiring deeper engagement and also greater commitment than the $15.5 billion in aid to PNG in the three decades since the country gained independence.

But the study also said rugby league could prove an unlikely saviour for football-mad PNG because it united Australia's nearest neighbour in a common love of the sport.

ASPI acting director Peter Jennings stressed the importance of sport's capacity to "act as a nation builder".

"In Iraq soccer is being promoted to achieve exactly the same thing. It is the one thing the different groups actually have in common," he said.

"If this can be used in PNG it achieves that nation-building goal."

Report co-author, ASPI's director of strategy Elsina Wainwright, noted that PNG people were passionate about rugby league and the State of Origin series.

"It makes a great deal of sense to build up Papua New Guineans' sense of national identity, sense of nationhood, by encouraging funding and support for rugby league at community level but also at national level," she said.

"We think there is scope to support a national PNG rugby league training centre. There is also scope perhaps for a PNG team or two in Australia's NRL competition."

The report warned PNG was facing a vicious cycle of failing services, falling revenues and national fragmentation with the increasing fragility of government institutions, poor economic performance and lack of legitimacy of the government in the eyes of the people.

But report co-author, former ASPI director Hugh White, said PNG was in no sense a failed state.

"It is a state whose endemic weaknesses drive a whole lot of negative trajectories which, if allowed to continue - and perhaps not for very much longer - could push PNG off a cliff into fullscale state failure," he said.

Professor White said there had been economic growth in the past year but the outlook was bleak.

"In demographic terms the population is big and growing fast. By 2020 on present rate of growth it will be 10 million people - half the size of Australia," he said.

"AIDS is a real problem. The infection trajectory in PNG is comparable to the worst of the East African states. That would push the economy even further backwards.

"There has been a very steady pattern in recent (times) of increased activity by organised trans-national crime. There is at least a risk that this starts to infect politics."

Prof White said PNG would be extremely susceptible to another crisis such as Sandline or Bougainville and there was nothing to inspire confidence that such shocks could be resisted.

"As Sir Mekere Morauta said a few years ago, the doomsdays scenario is not implausible," he said.

"If we face in PNG the same scale of state failure that we faced in the Solomons, we would have a much bigger problem. PNG is 10 times the size, 10 times the population and much more than 10 times the problems."


WELL I heard that plans are underway too get a PNG team in the NRL in about 10 years time With the Australian Government too fund it... I really hope we throw MONEY towards RL in PNG they can match it with the Top 3 easily if we back them!

 

[littleduck]

Re: Rugby league PNG Saviour???

WELL I heard that plans are underway too get a PNG team in the NRL in about 10 years time With the Australian Government too fund it... I really hope we throw MONEY towards RL in PNG they can match it with the Top 3 easily if we back them!

What an excellent initiative of the Federal Government.... use the PNG national game (Rugby League) as a unifying force for the PNG community and maybe even contribute to growing its economy.

 

[LebaneseForces]

Re: Rugby league PNG Saviour???

What an excellent initiative of the Federal Government.... use the PNG national game (Rugby League) as a unifying force for the PNG community and maybe even contribute to growing its economy.

It would be a great move... Imagine they get a state of the art 30-40 thousand seat stadium... They would pack it out easily for test matches and most NRL games FOR SURE...

 

[MightyFighting]

Re: Rugby league PNG Saviour???

When the NRL wouldn't put a team in Gosford or the Gold Coast, what makes you think they'd consider putting a team in PNG?

The ticket prices would be worth nothing once the exchange rate was factored in, and the TV rights there would also be a pittance.


Also, how are the hospitals in PNG? What happens when players get injured?

 

[littleduck]

Re: Rugby league PNG Saviour???

When the NRL wouldn't put a team in Gosford or the Gold Coast, what makes you think they'd consider putting a team in PNG?

The ticket prices would be worth nothing once the exchange rate was factored in, and the TV rights there would also be a pittance.

Yeah, but the idea still has merit, ie use the national game of PNG as a driver of economic progress. Certainly wouldn't happen in a few years, nearly a decade probably, if at all.

Also, how are the hospitals in PNG? What happens when players get injured?

Excellent questions.

 

[Pantsless]

Re: Rugby league PNG Saviour???

Have any of you been to Port Moresby?

One of the poorest and most dangerous cities in the world.

The place has gone downhill ever since they got independence.

And you clowns are putting a team there in 10 years. It won't happen.

Stop living in fantasy land.

 

[littleduck]

Re: Rugby league PNG Saviour???

Have any of you been to Port Moresby?

One of the poorest and most dangerous cities in the world.

The place has gone downhill ever since they got independence.

And you clowns are putting a team there in 10 years. It won't happen.

Stop living in fantasy land.

Port Moresby had a team in the QRL for quite a few years. I was simply saying that could have been a good springboard for PNG to make it into the NRL. However, the QRL dropped Port Moresby a couple of years ago due to the extra travel costs involved.

 

[Crooked Rain]

Re: Rugby league PNG Saviour???

Port Moresby had a team in the QRL for quite a few years. I was simply saying that could have been a good springboard for PNG to make it into the NRL. However, the QRL dropped Port Moresby a couple of years ago due to the extra travel costs involved.

I think Port Moresby should be re-admitted to the QRL, but to move into the NRL would be ridiculous.

 

[littleduck]

Re: Rugby league PNG Saviour???

I think Port Moresby should be re-admitted to the QRL, but to move into the NRL would be ridiculous.

Yeah. But if the Govt was seeking to use League to unite the ppl of PNG, build some needed infrastructure, give them a sense of identity, and make an investment to achieve that... then its a good idea worth serious consideration.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Hey hey USA!

How good is this

http://www.amnrl.com/

 

[hustler85]

Re: Hey hey USA!

pretty impressive

 

[Hicham]

Re: Hey hey USA!

Bring on the next Liberty Cup game. Maybe they should play the next game on our home turf and we can paint the ball in our colours

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Re: Hey hey USA!

I liked these parts

With each AMNRL club developing youth programs in their own regions, Season 2005 will feature matches for kids from 7 years of age to 18 years of age at not only club fixtures but also international matches, the Kevin Coleman Memorial Sevens Tournament, War at the Shore and during the 2005 Playoff series.

and

The American National Rugby League is excited to announce and welcome the Boston Irish Wolfhounds to Rugby League in the USA. The Wolfhounds have been Division One USA Rugby Union Champions for the past two years and have a wealth of talent both on and off the field, and their commitment to developing Rugby League in Boston is a tremendous opportunity for the AMNRL, the BIWRFC, and for rugby players in the Boston region.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

Wales defeat Ireland to advance to Shield Decider

Wales put on fine second-half performance to qualify for Student World Cup Shield Final
Tue Jul 12, 11:25pm (NSW)
Written by: Ian Golden
Wales qualified for the World Shield Final following an excellent second half performance in their 25-10 win over Ireland in Brisbane on Tuesday night. Both sides were able to name as many substitutes as they wanted to enable the full squads to have run out.

The match was littered with handling errors by both teams due to the slippery pitch conditions following an hour’s worth of rain beforehand. Completed sets of six were at a minimum, especially in the first half.

Ireland had the better of the first 15 minutes, throwing their all at the solid Welsh defence but were unable to find a way through.

It was Wales who took the lead slightly against the run of play in the 13th minute as Andrew Bond finished off a good passing move that involved Neil Davies and Gavin Curry.

Shaun Quinn leveled things up at 4-4 in the 21st minute after he broke through on the final tackle but Wales went into the break with an 11-4 lead after Jason Massey stormed in under the posts following another good passing move. Dean Scully converted the try then kicked a tactical fieldgoal just minutes before the hooter.

In the 44th minute, man-of-the-match, Matt Jackson set Dewi Scourfield up with a try under the posts while Jackson could have had one himself just minutes later but his 60 metre run was brought to a halt just metres from the line.

Wales wrapped up the match with two tries in five minutes. The first, the try of the match in the 58th minute was by Ben Smith after Dan ap Dafydd had skillfully knocked down Dean Scully’s pass.

Then after Jackson was tackled following an excellent weaving run, Pete Moore brilliantly ran through the defence at dummy half.

However, Ireland had the last word after strong pressure in the last ten minutes. Paul O’Connor was unlucky knocked to score after he was beaten to the ball following a Gaz Simpson grubber, but Ireland finally got a second half score with five minutes left on the clock after Adam Walsh converted his own try – a 70-metre run to the line.

But it was too little too late as Wales qualified to meet the Pacific Islands on Friday.

WALES 25 IRELAND 10

WALES: Matt Jackson, Andrew Bond, Geraint Davies, Austin Saunders, Ben Smith, Phil Carleton, Mark Dando, Gavin Curry, Dan ap Dafydd, Jason Massey, Gareth Thirsk, Neil Davies, Dennis Pugh. Subs (all used): Dean Scully, Pete Moore, Dewi Scourfield, Matt Drew, Gareth Morgan, Mark Burke, Neil Hesketh, Jonathan Brinkworth, Dave Roberson, Ross Olney.

Tries: Bond (13), Massey (30), Scourfield (44), Smith (58), Moore (62).
Goals: Scully 2/5. Fieldgoal: Scully

IRELAND: Paul O’Connor, Shaun Quinn, Keith Armstrong, Danny Shaw, Ste Smith, Adam Walsh, Jimmy Giblin, Matt Clarke, Phil Wood, Dave Bulmer, Luke Garnett, Paul Lane, Lian Julian. Subs (all used): James Gross, Dave Heathwood, Kieran McTaggart, Mark Molyneux, Ben Toleman, Gaz Simpson, Rich Mulrooney, Jon Clarke, Alex Gross, Dave Hudson, Chris Harwood.

Tries: Quinn (21), Walsh (75)
Goals: Walsh 1 / 2

Gamestar: Matt Jackson who made some excellent runs and was unlucky not to be rewarded with a try.

Gamebreaker: Tries from Ben Smith and Pete Moore in five second-half minutes gave Wales an unbeatable 21-point lead.

Men of the match: Wales - Matt Jackson. Ireland - Jimmy Giblin.
Referee: Matthew Hawkins (Australia). Half-time: 11-4.