Quote ="Little Ivor"That right there sums up a big reason why RU has a far bigger national profile than RL. The narrow minded focus on club fortunes to the detriment of the international game does at least to be waning within the playing and coaching staff; but until the fans also start taking the international set-up seriously and supporting it (both away from the pitch and going to games) now that there is a set schedule, we will be marginalised by the media and play our internationals at stadiums the size of LSV, not Twickenham or Wembley.'"
Spot on Little Ivor.
I remember the All Blacks playing Italy in the RU world cup at the Galpharm a few years ago, the result was totally expected, a complete flogging of Italy.
But no one said "its meaningless, why play it." They knew what it meant to have these team playing and getting the exposure.
Now italy play in the 6 Nations, and dont always come bottom, though they are the weakest team.
More to the point they pull in bigger crowds for their internationals than the England RL team ever hope to do.
Why?
Because they take it seriously, their fans take it seriously and the media takes it seriously.
If RL wants to continue to exist in any form other than a nice interest in the north of England the fans first of all have to take the international game seriously.
