The Midlands and the South are not the same thing.

Yes, loads are "in the south". Provided that means the south east then they have an option and quite a good one at that. England games attract in London and it's versus the Aussies, of whom there are large numbers there.

For people in the south west and south Wales the south east is a similar sized journey (if not more in some cases) as people in the RL heartlands have to make. For those traditional rugby areas the Midlands is a much more achievable goal, and it also happens to be slap in the middle of one of the largest clusters of well connected conurbations in western Europe.

That much is strikingly obvious to me. What isn't obvious is how many people from those conurbations have been ticket buyers for large RL events in the past. If it is good numbers the potential for growth, at least for events of this type, could be very good indeed.

My only issue with this choice is the short time to market it. I'd have that issue if they were all on the M62.

Crap venues generally for the other Scots games though. With you there.

Ridiculous set of venues. Workington and Craven Park shouldent be getting international games due to location and too small grounds. Coventry isn't an attractive place for heartland fans to visit so they've got to hope they get the locals in or it'll be a sea of empty seats. Then theyve completely undersold England-NZ by putting it in a 24k ground. Cant beleive it's taken months to pick those.

Only venues im happy with are Anfield as it's a big city not far from the heartlands and the Olympic Stadium.

Do the RFL think Workington is in Scotland?

I would have thought Carlisle would be better for the Scots games, if they have to be in England. Heartlands can all get there and so can the Scots, at least from the two bigger cities.

Very disappointing choice of venues and dates, which fool has planned this? The Olympic stadium was awful last year for the NZ game, Sunday 13th is the wrong date for a game there, if we have to play a game in London having it the same time as October half term would have been a better idea. As for Coventry for the double header words fail me.

As a South-West RL fan, I'm not pleased either. Nothing at the DW! I don't mind Coventry, presumably the success of Wasps there has something to with (although Wasps playing the best rugby in the Premiership is probably more relevant). Don't like the Olympic; horrible stadium, crowd too far from the action. Huddersfield, nice little stadium, but too small. Isn't Anfield like Old Trafford, with a really titchy in-goal?

I was thinking Newcastle rugby's ground, Kingston park is it? Got momentum from magic there plus close to Scotland and a league team already plays there which is owned by the union guy so no problems with that and also only a little bit bigger than Derwent park if that is what is wanted.

No, sadly the SRL do though, no confidence that they can draw a crowd against either the world champs or Aussies, a disgrace.

CP too small? What sort of crowd do you expect Aus v Scotland to pull in?

RFL seek bigger and wider audience, heartland fans discover bus pass doesn't get them there, chaos ensues. Not entirely sure why getting to a game in London on a Sunday is a problem, or getting back from it. Coventry is an interesting choice for the double header but readily accessible, kick off times are more the issue. Workington has already shown that Cumbria will turn out for a game. Anfield I can sort of understand but is wholly dependent on the western area making an effort, similar point for the Hull game.

Some of us are working out which trains to catch to get to the games rather than analysing the

Good luck with getting trains on Sundays - be prepared for the dreaded phrase 'replacement bus service '!

I'm more concerned about being in a confined space with other rugby league fans for an extended period of time.

The reluctance of heartlands fans to spend more than twenty quid on a ticket and wait for discounts at last minute is a big influencer IMHO
Wembley costs shed loads to hire and they take roughly 10% of ticket sales too, the Olympic stadium is a lot cheaper.
A full stadium at Coventry which is likely to be televised will ensure it looks good on tv and an opportunity for fans from all over easy access so demand is likely to be very sharp.

Not putting a penny into Allam's pocket by using the council owned KCom Light stadium across the river is just fine.
The only questionable decision is Anfield for the finaland tthey'd better makr sure the Olympic stadium match is a 2-2:30 kock off

Kcom light stadium? Never heard of it. Oh yeah, cos it doesn't exist

Who cares, that should be a Scotland home game.

I agree with much of that. But England vs Australia should have been at Wembley. Australia vs New Zealand at Olympic Park. Pretty dumb decision to lowball the latter by playing it at Huddersfield. Nothing new though from the ultraconservative, risk averse accountant.

Why on earth have they put the big games on a Sunday. It's inconvenient for most people who have work the next day or kids in school to travel to the otherside of the country. We'll have less people at those games as a result. Just look at magic weekend Saturday attendances compared to Sundays when it's not on a bank holiday weekend.

I really don't get the 'double-header' obsession. It's nice enough in the summer when the sun is shining, but who in their right mind would want to sit in a dark, cold stadium for over three hours in the winter?

And without Mummy to hold your hand, too!

To be fair I somewhat agree. For the WC semi final double header most people disappeared after the England game, I left at half time of the Aus game. I think they dropped a bollock a bit with putting England on first. The magic weekend is great when loads of fans are piling in while a game is on.

There will always be the hardcore, who put our coats on and pack a flask of hot vimto; but, I don't think the concept particularly enthuses the uninitiated.

Does anyone know much about Coventry? I had a quick look at hotels earlier, but is it somewhere I would want to spent a night on the town?

Been for football and from what i remember, there was a shop, some small business and some houses across the road, nothing in the way of pubs etc, might have changed now though.

Why dont we as supporters just do our best to try to sell out everu game. We have our part to play in growing RL.

Agree, this is the right attitude

Stay in Birmingham. Not far on the train.

I will probably go back same day as it's not a long trip by train from London. If I decide to stay over I will stay in Birmingham though.