In principle I like the idea. The only issue I'd foresee is what motivation the players in this team would have, given that they wouldn't really be representing anyone or anything, and would have been assembled basically as a novelty.

Mind you, it works in RU. If we could get the games to be played with some intensity (which we've never managed with Lancs v Yorks) then the fans would take to it.

It worked with the cricket.

But thats like Australia v South Africa 'B'

If that's the case then.What do you call this sunday's game against England?

the motivation is to play rep RL again.....all aussies know that by coming to super league they are'nt going to get picked for australia or origin again...the kiwis don't pick any SL kiwis for the anzac test...and any samoans/tongans/fijians etc would just be greatful for a meaningful test match...


and if all that does'nt motivate them...bloody pay em'...give em' a win bonus or something

Yeah, I was thinking that after I posted. I like it better the more I think about it.

Getting the clubs to play ball would be a challenge, but I think a series like this would be far preferable to the Magic Weekend and the mid-season international walkover.

Why didn't that work then?

Of all the fixtures you would put money on to succeed it would think it would be Yorks v Lancs at rugby league

Adrian Lam was the Captain of Qld.
Craig Greenhill also played for NZ(another Qld Rep) around the same time

Tonga and Samoa may well have their own origin series in the not too distant future. If this was marketed properly (ie tickets on sale at all club games and amateur club houses) there's no reason why we shouldn't be looking at selling out Wigan, Hull or maybe Elland Road.

The eligibility rules are based on where you first play International Rules (16). But the States are bending the rules for that now i.e Greg Inglis should be playing for NSW and when Anthony Laffrenchi play's he should be for Qld

tonga and samoa will never get their own series....not played at the same time as state of origin anyway...the ARL would never allow any other RL to go up against origin



i assume you mean ENGLAND V ON and not tonga v samoa?..lol

yeah i was thinking hull & wigan for a 2 game series against the Other nationalities.....cheap tickets theirsno reason why we should'nt get what we normally get for tests..ie 20k

I was thinking more Norway v Sweden, Nordic Cup

i'm bored....

A mixture of things really, but two in the main, I think:

1) The lack of depth in SL meant that some pretty substandard players got picked, and the overall standard was poor. This was made worse by the clubs, who never took the idea seriously at all, declaring players unfit to play at the slightest knock. This would be less of an issue now than when we last tried it, as we have more homegrown players playing in SL, but it would still be an issue.

2) I doubt we'd be able to generate the same intensity as the Aussie inter-state rivalry. I noticed when I spent some time in Australia just how distinct each state was from the next, and how much rivalry there was between them (not just in sport either). People just don't identify with their county with the same level of intensity over here. I might get lynched for saying this, but despite all the lip service, Lancashire and Yorkshire are more or less exactly the same. The players certainly didn't seem that bothered about representing their county when we tried it last, which showed in the scorelines - usually something like 42-38. That was reflected in the response from the supporters, which was poor.

At least with an other nationalities game we'd be guaranteed a higher standard of match, and the much maligned overseas presence in SL could be used to help rather than hinder the home international side. Again, though, a lot would depend on whether the clubs would buy into it.

What's the time scale and intended quota target for overseas players in the UK squads?

just been looking through the history books (wikipedia)......and england v ON games regulary drew twice as many fans to games than the corresponding lancs v yorks game those years....

particular during the 50's when the Other nationalities where included in the european cup....and crowds of 17-20k were'nt uncommon

Why not have a England vs Wales test series?

cos it'll be onesided like a series against france would be

During the 1950's????!!!






Welcome to 2010 champ!


It may surprise you that crowds were higher then because it was in the days before you could just wander into your room, switch your LCD telly or your computer on and have access to more sports than you care to think about.


Other breaking news.

Kids seldom play in the street with hoops anymore, Ford now do cars in other colours than black and the Beatles disbanded in 1970

Wales vs France?

and in the 50's bazza sydney used to get massive crowds for tests too..

GB played an Other Nationalities side in the 80s. It was entertaining but not very intense.

BTW, the suggestion about having Aussies/Kiwis in SL qualify for England on residency has merit (although very few would take it up I suspect). As does scouring the NRL for sub-Origin players who qualify on parentage etc (like Heighington). Its not like you'd get hundreds, but a couple of extra bodies available for England (particularly in the backs) couldn't hurt.

Other Nats was a massive team during the 1930s - 1960s period.

The team was arguably the best in the world at the end of 1951 after defeating France at the Boulevard in front of an all ticket 18,000 crowd. The so called Battle of the Boulevard and an all-time great international.

Brian Bevan's try scoring exploits for ON were legendary.

I know a Welsh international RU player who admits he is more proud of playing for the Barbarians than Wales

Do tell.