Celtic Crusaders have dropped the 'Celtic' from their name and renamed themselves Crusaders RL. It was part of a rebranding exersise that has ended up with the club moving away from Bridgend, moving away from Newport and finally they are settled in Wrexham. Wrexham just so happens to be on the other side of Wales nearer to Rhyl and Colwyn Bay for those who don't know. Its much further away from Cardiff and Swansea in between which the club was originally formed and based.
So why has the club been relocated? Money!
Leighton Samuel has screwed over the town of Bridgend twice now, having owned the original rugby union club until it went bust and Samuel switched codes. But while crys of outrage are heard from Widnes to Halifax and the RFL is slammed for not stepping in and saving the club from embraressment, (which if they had done, the flat-cappers against expansion would be waving their whippets and setting the dogs loose on Red Hall) the deal brokered between Wrexham FC and Mr Samuel has seen the club based in another area of untapped talent and is still classed as an expansion club despite only being 30 miles away from Widnes.
But the club wasn't bought by its new owners to spread the gospel of RL. It was bought to save the struggling Wrexham FC. The statement from the Wrexham chairman went something along the lines of, they couldn't afford to run the football club with only a few thousand turning up each week. He was talking of figures similar to when Celtic were based in Bridgend, averaging 3,000. In fact if you want to be more specific, in Bridgend last season Celtic averaged 3,500. Wrexham have so far in the 2009/10 season averaged 3,200. Considering it would take less time for the majority of teams and fans to travel toWrexham than Bridgend, the new owners must be banking on a lot of away support to raise revenue. I dread to think if the likes of Saints, Wigan and Warrington were to outnumber the home fans whilst invading Wrexham.
But South Wales has not been forgotten in all this. While Super League may be moving up north in the valleys, South Wales RLFC will step into Celtic's old shoes and be based in Neath. The newly formed club will be overseen by a Welsh businessmen, but will consist of board members from Wales Rugby League governing body. They have been admitted into the Championship 1 for the 2010 season, but will not compete in either the Challenge Cup or Northern Rail Cup for this season at least.
It appears they will act as a feeder club to the Crusaders Super League team for the time being, and in my opinion they should not be rushed into applying for a Super league lisence. While it would be nice to see a south Wales side in SL again, they need to develop a bigger fan base than what Celtic did for them not to be forced from their home or go financially broke. An increase in amateur players in the RLC and schools competing in the Champion Schools proves there is an appetite for rugby league in south Wales, and if Crusaders can spread the game like they did in Bridgend and the rest of south Wales then I'm sure Wales can eventually become familiar with rugby league in the end.
Friday, 18 December 2009
Friday, 20 November 2009
A Tap on the Twenty awards 2009.
And so once again another season comes to a close. 2009 has seen us witness some great rugby league, although I feel us pommies were let down by Setanta Sports with the lack of NRL coverage resulting in the Irish company's demise in the UK. However, Super League has provided some wonderful talking points, a few of which will be discussed and reviewd at a later date.
So for now it is time for the second annual A Tap on the Twenty awards. These awards range from the absurd to praising the achievements to these hardened warriors in our own special way. Either way, they still have more credability than the Golden Boot award.
Below are the official awards for 2009.
The unofficial 'Stuard Fielden Award in Extreme Incompetence': Setanta Sports
Chocker of the Year: St George Illawarra
Try of the Year: Cameron Smith V England (Novemeber 2009)
Match of the Year: Australia V New Zealand (Four Nations, week one)
Special Mention Award: Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta, New South Wales & Australia)
Team of the Year: Parramatta
Player of the Year: Brett Hodgson (Huddersfield)
So for now it is time for the second annual A Tap on the Twenty awards. These awards range from the absurd to praising the achievements to these hardened warriors in our own special way. Either way, they still have more credability than the Golden Boot award.
Below are the official awards for 2009.
The unofficial 'Stuard Fielden Award in Extreme Incompetence': Setanta Sports
Chocker of the Year: St George Illawarra
Try of the Year: Cameron Smith V England (Novemeber 2009)
Match of the Year: Australia V New Zealand (Four Nations, week one)
Special Mention Award: Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta, New South Wales & Australia)
Team of the Year: Parramatta
Player of the Year: Brett Hodgson (Huddersfield)
News on the Challenge Cup.
A lot has been made so far of the removal and inclusion of certain sporting events that have been reccommended to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. England cricket home tests have been included on the recommended list of protected sports for free-to-air viewing, while The Derby and our own Challenge Cup final have been removed.
If this list is approved, then that does not mean that the BBC will drop its coverage, it simply means that when the next TV deal is negociated, Sky, ESPN or any other cable or sattillite broadcaster can bid for live coverage of the final. The other preceding rounds are not already protected anyway.
The inclusion of the Ashes and other home tests has infuriated the England and Wales Cricket Board, and they have spoken against the proposed list. Their reason is that they will lose a lot of money they are relying of Sky for their money from broadcast rights. If Channel 4 or the BBC for example, bid for the rights they are afraid they will not get enough money to fund their grassroots programmes.
from a rugby league point of view, Sky don't need to bid for the Challenge Cup rights. Thery are a profit making organisation and make most of their money from selling TV boxsets. In purchasing exclusive TV rights for Super League and Championship games, they already have every rugby league supporter who can afford Sky or cable television. As an expansionist myself, its important to have the Challenge Cup on free-to-air TV to show the rest of the country what a wonderful game rugby league is. We have the best of both worlds currently in that the BBC will show the Challenge Cup nationally and spreading the game nationawide, and we get Sky's money for Super League.
Anybody who says that Sky must have the Challenge Cup broadcast rights is dillusional.
If this list is approved, then that does not mean that the BBC will drop its coverage, it simply means that when the next TV deal is negociated, Sky, ESPN or any other cable or sattillite broadcaster can bid for live coverage of the final. The other preceding rounds are not already protected anyway.
The inclusion of the Ashes and other home tests has infuriated the England and Wales Cricket Board, and they have spoken against the proposed list. Their reason is that they will lose a lot of money they are relying of Sky for their money from broadcast rights. If Channel 4 or the BBC for example, bid for the rights they are afraid they will not get enough money to fund their grassroots programmes.
from a rugby league point of view, Sky don't need to bid for the Challenge Cup rights. Thery are a profit making organisation and make most of their money from selling TV boxsets. In purchasing exclusive TV rights for Super League and Championship games, they already have every rugby league supporter who can afford Sky or cable television. As an expansionist myself, its important to have the Challenge Cup on free-to-air TV to show the rest of the country what a wonderful game rugby league is. We have the best of both worlds currently in that the BBC will show the Challenge Cup nationally and spreading the game nationawide, and we get Sky's money for Super League.
Anybody who says that Sky must have the Challenge Cup broadcast rights is dillusional.
Sunday, 15 November 2009
England 16-46 Australia - Four Nations final.
It has been 37 years since an English/Great Britain side defeated Australia in a test series. After last Saturday's defeat in Leeds, England will have to wait another year at least until they can have another chance to defeat the old enemy from down under.
Leaving Leeds there was a mixed feeling of emotion. On the one hand, for 60 minutes we played like marines. We were able to match Australia in every department. Our backs looked capable of handing the 'superstars' of Greg Inglis, Jarryd Hayne and Darren Lockyer. Even Kyle Eastmond's kicking game made Billy Slater look average at fullback. Then the tide turned against us.
Both teams were constantly trading scores and handing each other the lead for an hour. Sam Burgess' first try showed why South Sydney are signing him up. He was able to dummy both Petro Civoniceva and BILLY SLATER! Even with Eastmond on his side, it was a brilliant try worthy of any future star in the NRL. England piled on the pressure in the ten minutes. When England were on the Australian line again, James Graham's offload found Jonathan Thurston who immediately started the counter attack. Brett Morris finished off the resulting set in the corner.
Peter Fox scored a sensational try from Eastmond's kick which was expected to fall straight into the hands of Jarryd Hayne. Fantastic Mr. Fox outjumped the Dally M Medal winner, who has had an extremely quiet tournament not really living up to the hype generated in Australia.
Australia scored a again with arguably a very contencious try while Jonathan Thurston added a penalty goal just befire half time to take the game into half time 14-10 to the Australians. England were not out of this game yet. They had matched the Australian pack and threatened to tear apart their superstar back line. And things looked promising when Sam Burgess crossed for his second try to edge the hosts into the lead. But then the floodgates opened and Austrlian showed what they have been threatening to do all tournament, but had never achieved. They started to play to their real potential. And boy was it a pleasure to watch.
It was disappointing that England couldn't match the Australian level of fitness and skill. They had tried so hard for 60 minutes and done so well over the past 180 minutes leading up to the Aussie torchure that you couldn't help feel sorry for Burgess, Peacock and Smith at the end of the day.
Australia dominated with a couple of spectacular tries, and some shockers that england should have dealt with. Cameron Smith's try stands out when Billy Slater knocked the ball back allowing Smith to pounce on it. Slater's own try in the corner was demoralising. After some superb scrambling defence on England's line to prevent one try, Slater dived in over from dummy half less than one metre out for a disappointing try to concede.
But at the end of the day, Australia have redeemed themselves after losing the World Cup. They have been the best side in the tournament on the basis they didn't lose a match in the tournament. But they will know themselves that they could have performed better over the course of the four games. They didn't really get out of second gear for a large proportion of the tournament, excelling against England for a grand total of 60 minutes over the two games, and they got out of jail against New Zealand in London during their first game of the tournament. Against France, they were outperformed in the first half, despite fielding a weakened side. But in the second half they stepped up several levels and put France to the sword.
Like I said, deserving winners, but an Australian side at full strength and in top gear will be one that can enilate any team on the planet.
Leaving Leeds there was a mixed feeling of emotion. On the one hand, for 60 minutes we played like marines. We were able to match Australia in every department. Our backs looked capable of handing the 'superstars' of Greg Inglis, Jarryd Hayne and Darren Lockyer. Even Kyle Eastmond's kicking game made Billy Slater look average at fullback. Then the tide turned against us.
Both teams were constantly trading scores and handing each other the lead for an hour. Sam Burgess' first try showed why South Sydney are signing him up. He was able to dummy both Petro Civoniceva and BILLY SLATER! Even with Eastmond on his side, it was a brilliant try worthy of any future star in the NRL. England piled on the pressure in the ten minutes. When England were on the Australian line again, James Graham's offload found Jonathan Thurston who immediately started the counter attack. Brett Morris finished off the resulting set in the corner.
Peter Fox scored a sensational try from Eastmond's kick which was expected to fall straight into the hands of Jarryd Hayne. Fantastic Mr. Fox outjumped the Dally M Medal winner, who has had an extremely quiet tournament not really living up to the hype generated in Australia.
Australia scored a again with arguably a very contencious try while Jonathan Thurston added a penalty goal just befire half time to take the game into half time 14-10 to the Australians. England were not out of this game yet. They had matched the Australian pack and threatened to tear apart their superstar back line. And things looked promising when Sam Burgess crossed for his second try to edge the hosts into the lead. But then the floodgates opened and Austrlian showed what they have been threatening to do all tournament, but had never achieved. They started to play to their real potential. And boy was it a pleasure to watch.
It was disappointing that England couldn't match the Australian level of fitness and skill. They had tried so hard for 60 minutes and done so well over the past 180 minutes leading up to the Aussie torchure that you couldn't help feel sorry for Burgess, Peacock and Smith at the end of the day.
Australia dominated with a couple of spectacular tries, and some shockers that england should have dealt with. Cameron Smith's try stands out when Billy Slater knocked the ball back allowing Smith to pounce on it. Slater's own try in the corner was demoralising. After some superb scrambling defence on England's line to prevent one try, Slater dived in over from dummy half less than one metre out for a disappointing try to concede.
But at the end of the day, Australia have redeemed themselves after losing the World Cup. They have been the best side in the tournament on the basis they didn't lose a match in the tournament. But they will know themselves that they could have performed better over the course of the four games. They didn't really get out of second gear for a large proportion of the tournament, excelling against England for a grand total of 60 minutes over the two games, and they got out of jail against New Zealand in London during their first game of the tournament. Against France, they were outperformed in the first half, despite fielding a weakened side. But in the second half they stepped up several levels and put France to the sword.
Like I said, deserving winners, but an Australian side at full strength and in top gear will be one that can enilate any team on the planet.
Friday, 13 November 2009
Four Nations final - England V Australia.
"Kyle, who?"That was Jonathan Thurston's reponse when asked by an in-house journalist if he felt intimidated by Sam Thomkins and Kyle Eastmond before the big show down at Elland Road tomorrow evening. After last week's England performance against New Zealand, this comment will only add to the fire burning within the host's camp and bring the squad together as a group. Ultimatly, its a good thing.
In my opinion, tomorrow will see England be provided with their best chance of winning a test series against Australia since Great Britain's chance against a depleated Australian squad in 2003. Australia look a shadow of their former selves and have failed to get out of second gear on a consistant basis throught the tournament. They scraped a draw against the world champions, they sat back in the second half against England at Wigan, and for half an hour France were the better side last week. Its a worry for Tim Sheens who would have been expected to insert some pride into the green and gold jersey after Ricky Stuart lost the world cup last year.
Looking at the team line ups, England remain unchanged from their 20-12 defeat of New Zealand last week, while Australia bring back two familiar names in Billy Slater and Cameron Smith from the France game replacing Kurt Gidley and Robbie Farrah but with the former being named in the 19-man squad. John Morris misses out in favour of Greg Inglis but only the back row has been changed in the starting 13 from the one that faced England two weeks ago. Luke Lewis replaces Anthony Watmough.
And now for the tired old preview that was issued out this time two weeks ago. England CAN beat Australia if the forwards perform. And for forty minutes in Wigan the English forwards did just that. It was the first half which let the side down massivley. With no Lee Smith or Tom Briscoe on an exposed right wing, the figures of Peter Fox and Chris Bridge provide some defensive stability to stop Greg Inglis and that left win threat in green and gold.
With Australia having not convincingly performed on a consistant basis all tournament, England will not have a better chance to beat the old enemy for the first time in 37 years.
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Tuesday, 10 November 2009
England through to Four Nations final with Australia.
England and Australia both qualified for the Four Nations final with successful defeats of both New Zealand and Australia respectivly.
France 4-42 Australia
Australia were pretty much assured of a final apperance despite having still not mathematically qualified beforehand. Only an enormous upset from the French and an unpredicted England win over New Zealand could have stopped them from appering at Leeds. But the Morris twins made sure Australia had the chance to avenge their world cup defeat with two tries apiece along with contributions from hat-traick hero Michael Jennings, and Penrith's Luke Lewis.
But Australia still failed to get out of second gear making their consistancy a real worry for Tim Sheens going into the final showdown. The French showed the same grit and determination they had displayed throughout this tournament in the first half, but eventually collapsing due to the fast paced nature of the Australian's, who lead only 8-0 at half time. It was arguably one of the worst Australian performances I have seen in the first fourty minutes despite the lack of big named Aussies in the starting seventeen.
It wasn't a full strength Australian side that stepped onto the field where Super League began all those years ago, but not many players would have made an impression on the coaching staff as Australia were allowed to be dominated by Bobbie Goulding's French side, who have clearly been given a new breath of fresh air by the former Great Britain scrum half after their dismal apperance in the world cup. France can look forward to a bright future with Goulding at the helm. He has installed some disipline and patriotism into the squad and they look like a future threat to any of the 'big three' in future years.
Australia meanwhile must live up to their pre-tournament hype and become the team that threatened to brush aside the competition.
England 20-12 New Zealand
England were quite good against the current world champions.
Now there's a sentence I didn't think I would be writing this time last week. England looked like a side capable of actually competing with the best in the world. With Kevin Sinfield at hooker and the inclusion of both Peter Fox and Chris Bridge, they looked solid in defence and showed an attacking flair that had been missing up until that point. Even the troublesome half back combinations seemed to work in Sam Thomkins playing in his usual scrum half role, with the usually unimpressive Kyle Eastmond making an impressive performance.
In defence, England prevented New Zealand, and when I say New Zealand I mean Benji Marshall, from making as many yards and closed them down quickly when they looked like creating half a chance. Jamie Peacock still looked unimpressive out of position in the back row, but Morley, Burgess and Graham made up for him in the prop forwards.
England did exactly what they've been doing all tournament. They played no different to how they performed against Australia the week before in the second half, but this time it was done for 80 minutes and the tactics worked. This shows that England can win this tournament if they play in the same manner and style as they have done for the last 120 minutes of rugby.
France 4-42 Australia
Australia were pretty much assured of a final apperance despite having still not mathematically qualified beforehand. Only an enormous upset from the French and an unpredicted England win over New Zealand could have stopped them from appering at Leeds. But the Morris twins made sure Australia had the chance to avenge their world cup defeat with two tries apiece along with contributions from hat-traick hero Michael Jennings, and Penrith's Luke Lewis.
But Australia still failed to get out of second gear making their consistancy a real worry for Tim Sheens going into the final showdown. The French showed the same grit and determination they had displayed throughout this tournament in the first half, but eventually collapsing due to the fast paced nature of the Australian's, who lead only 8-0 at half time. It was arguably one of the worst Australian performances I have seen in the first fourty minutes despite the lack of big named Aussies in the starting seventeen.
It wasn't a full strength Australian side that stepped onto the field where Super League began all those years ago, but not many players would have made an impression on the coaching staff as Australia were allowed to be dominated by Bobbie Goulding's French side, who have clearly been given a new breath of fresh air by the former Great Britain scrum half after their dismal apperance in the world cup. France can look forward to a bright future with Goulding at the helm. He has installed some disipline and patriotism into the squad and they look like a future threat to any of the 'big three' in future years.
Australia meanwhile must live up to their pre-tournament hype and become the team that threatened to brush aside the competition.
England 20-12 New Zealand
England were quite good against the current world champions.
Now there's a sentence I didn't think I would be writing this time last week. England looked like a side capable of actually competing with the best in the world. With Kevin Sinfield at hooker and the inclusion of both Peter Fox and Chris Bridge, they looked solid in defence and showed an attacking flair that had been missing up until that point. Even the troublesome half back combinations seemed to work in Sam Thomkins playing in his usual scrum half role, with the usually unimpressive Kyle Eastmond making an impressive performance.
In defence, England prevented New Zealand, and when I say New Zealand I mean Benji Marshall, from making as many yards and closed them down quickly when they looked like creating half a chance. Jamie Peacock still looked unimpressive out of position in the back row, but Morley, Burgess and Graham made up for him in the prop forwards.
England did exactly what they've been doing all tournament. They played no different to how they performed against Australia the week before in the second half, but this time it was done for 80 minutes and the tactics worked. This shows that England can win this tournament if they play in the same manner and style as they have done for the last 120 minutes of rugby.
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Get Leon Williamson to referee in Super League.
What a refreshing change to the standard of refereeing we have seen during the international season this year.
New Zealand referee, Leon Williamson, has shown that there are consistantly good referees out there in the world. He has shown in his performance that he has the testicles to make the big calls without the need for video technology for every decision. He showed Jean-Phillipe Baile the red card for an awful stiff arm tackle on Richie Myler when England hosted France in this year's Four Nations opener. He sin binned four players in Scotland's European Cup game against Lebanon. Two players were sent to the sideline for persistant lying on at the play the ball after several warnings, and two for violent conduct.
We have also seen that he can use the 'on report' system the way it was meant to be used, and not as a cop out so the referee can't be blamed for changing the game. David Ferriol was placed on report and eventually banned for a sly elbow to Kevin Sinfield's face away from the view of the referee and Liam Ayoub of Lebanon was put on report for the same offence.
He has the ability to control the big international teams, having refereed both Australia and England despite having never been a senior ref in either Super League or the NRL. His performance yesterday during the France V Australia game showed he is not out of his depth, and as a neutral neutral referee would be the perfect candidate to control the Four Nations final next week.
However, Australia refused both his and French referee Thiery Alibert's services for the England game in Wigan on the grounds that "neither are full-time referees." Englishman Steve Ganson stepped in, but I can't help but assume that this time Shane Hayne will step out onto Elland Road regardless of the fact he is Australian. Its a kick in the teeth for those who believe in the international game and want to see it expand. One factor is the use of neutral referees in all international games that will give the game credability internationally, but this is being handicapped by Australian officials who insist on using referees who they claim to be full-time.
Which is why, if its possible, the RFL should bring Leon Williamson to Super League and become a full-time official. He could fill the remaining gap left after Ashley Klein's departure from this country and the increase of Super League teams from 12 to 14. He would arguably be the most consistent in Super League based on his performance in the Four Nations.
New Zealand referee, Leon Williamson, has shown that there are consistantly good referees out there in the world. He has shown in his performance that he has the testicles to make the big calls without the need for video technology for every decision. He showed Jean-Phillipe Baile the red card for an awful stiff arm tackle on Richie Myler when England hosted France in this year's Four Nations opener. He sin binned four players in Scotland's European Cup game against Lebanon. Two players were sent to the sideline for persistant lying on at the play the ball after several warnings, and two for violent conduct.
We have also seen that he can use the 'on report' system the way it was meant to be used, and not as a cop out so the referee can't be blamed for changing the game. David Ferriol was placed on report and eventually banned for a sly elbow to Kevin Sinfield's face away from the view of the referee and Liam Ayoub of Lebanon was put on report for the same offence.
He has the ability to control the big international teams, having refereed both Australia and England despite having never been a senior ref in either Super League or the NRL. His performance yesterday during the France V Australia game showed he is not out of his depth, and as a neutral neutral referee would be the perfect candidate to control the Four Nations final next week.
However, Australia refused both his and French referee Thiery Alibert's services for the England game in Wigan on the grounds that "neither are full-time referees." Englishman Steve Ganson stepped in, but I can't help but assume that this time Shane Hayne will step out onto Elland Road regardless of the fact he is Australian. Its a kick in the teeth for those who believe in the international game and want to see it expand. One factor is the use of neutral referees in all international games that will give the game credability internationally, but this is being handicapped by Australian officials who insist on using referees who they claim to be full-time.
Which is why, if its possible, the RFL should bring Leon Williamson to Super League and become a full-time official. He could fill the remaining gap left after Ashley Klein's departure from this country and the increase of Super League teams from 12 to 14. He would arguably be the most consistent in Super League based on his performance in the Four Nations.
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