International World Club Challenge Working Party announced

[storm fan]

Proposals to expand Rugby League World Club Challenge are to be considered by a newly-formed Working Party comprised of representatives of the Stobart Super League and the NRL.

RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood and his counterpart from the Australian Rugby League Commission, David Gallop, discussed the proposals this week at a meeting of the Rugby League International Federation in London and agreed that the initiative is worthy of further investigation.

David Gallop said: “I am a huge supporter of the World Club Challenge concept and am looking to exploring ways in which we can build on the success and popularity of the matches between the respective NRL and Super League champions.

http://www.superleague.co.uk/article/world-club-challenge-working-party-announced/25005

 

[moto748]

Which probably means playing it in Abu Dhabi or some such.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

[robbieando]

Which probably means playing it in Abu Dhabi or some such.

I hope I'm wrong.

Hawaii or LA is what they were saying on insiders.

Seriously, keep the game as it is and play it at the end of the season the week before between the 4 Nations in the Nation that hosts the 4 Nations.

Simples

 

[Northern_Union]

I love the world club challenge and would love to see it expanded. Could easily be a six team contest without the risk of blow outs and the like. Catalans get automatic entry along with the Warriors as the best professional clubs from those countries (until further teams from those countries are added to the NRL and ESL) plus the two grand finalests from the NRL or ESL and if the two clubs mentioned above are GFers then entry goes to the clubs that finished third in the NRL and ESL.

 

[moto748]

robbieando> I was joking, more or less...

NU> I like that idea. Arguably it would attract more interest than a Four Nations, and be more competitive.

At any rate, they need to play in Oz and/or NZ alternately with England.

 

[storm fan]

I love the world club challenge and would love to see it expanded. Could easily be a six team contest without the risk of blow outs and the like. Catalans get automatic entry along with the Warriors as the best professional clubs from those countries (until further teams from those countries are added to the NRL and ESL) plus the two grand finalests from the NRL or ESL and if the two clubs mentioned above are GFers then entry goes to the clubs that finished third in the NRL and ESL.

I disagree with you about the Catalan Dragons and the Warriors. No team should get automatic entry, that would result in blow outs especially if the Dragons or Warriors ever have a extremely poor year. Should be top 3 from both. (premiers, minor premiers and second place ... if any of these positions are held by the same club in either the Super League or the NRL then it should go down the ladder)

 

[Northern_Union]

Then a straight out top 3 from each comp would work just as well.

 

[moto748]

Next year's WCC will be at Headingley again, apaz.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/20348248

A disappointment in some ways; I'd have liked to have seen it played at AAMI Park. But, on the up side, I could go and see it. Went last year to Wigan/Dragons, which was a cracking game.

 

[Northern_Union]

Trouble is that the Australian clubs make a lot of money bringing there share back into Australia with the exchange rate. Thats why the aussie clubs like to go over to England play it.

 

[Northern_Union]

Looking forward to the day that the Warriors play either a French or Wales club in the WCC

 

[moto748]

I hope you're a patient man...

 

[storm fan]

Yes it might be a while before a NZ clubs plays a French or Welsh club in the WCC under this format but it won't be long before the New Zeland Warriors or the Catalan Dragons wins a premiership and makes this competition.

That's if the competition isn't expanded soon.