instead of 2 games against the exiles (wholesale england changes rendered it a very hard sell) i'd like to see this

England v England knights.........then England v Exiles





and drop the "international origin" name for christ sake

'International All Stars' please

England v Knights?

Awful idea.

If we lose to England Knights can we finally sack McNamara?

only bright point of that match last night was ratchford he had an outstanding game pity he shares a position with tomkins! but ratch's favoured position is scrum half but i think he is better at fb

How about a real international and real challenge.

Tour New Zealand!! Wait a minute, that was offered but England turned it down.

NZRL offered us 1 game.......maybe.......dependent on whether the players union allowed it.....but hey don't let the truth get in the way of a good whinge eh?

errr isn't it the world cup next year................................nice to see people have noticed

I think he means mid season internationals.

i do..sorry

Just don't bother and give the selected England squad an extra week together at the end of the season. No point giving them a match in June when the WC squad will be completely different.

I think this would be a far better option than wasting everyone's time by playing a meaningless game against another made up side.

McBanana has apparently said he is going to push for another 2 Exiles games next seasons, which is ludicrous IMO.

Yorkshire vs lancashire - 3 game series throughout season at neutral grounds.
England vs exiles at end of season for one game.
England and england knights then go on tours to places like new zealand and australia

I'd have one England vs Exiles game and go to France for a game as well. It's all well and good wanting us to have a real test via the Exiles match but we also need to keep trying to grow the game on this side of the world and the French are our best hope. They're developing some decent players, there's a good fan base and a trip to France would be a good bonding exercise for a young-ish side ahead of the world cup.

I'd do it all at the same time then, Knights to play France as a curtain raiser. If there are no changes to the RL calendar next year then there simply isn't enough time for 2 games. We should have one free weekend dedicated to an international game like this year but without the stupid cramming of a 2nd fixture in midweek.

One Saturday afternoon in June at a reasonably-sized stadium (Langtree/Halliwell maybe Hudds/KC/DW):

3 pm England Knights v France
5.30 pm England v Exiles

We need the game to have its own sponsor, a decent incentive for playing in it (ie prize money) and if possible we should be looking for the release of the NRL-based players so the squads are as strong as possible. If it is marketed well and sensibly priced, together with 2 strong playing squads then the concept will grow. The RFL got greedy trying to add a 2nd fixture this year and it backfired massively.

Not a bad idea but I wouldn't have the exiles game at the end of the season, i'd leave that for the wcc.

Explain?

One Exiles game. One game against France and one game against Wales.

Or...

Two week break. Fly down to NZ for three test series. Friday night, Weds Night, Sunday night. Could help the NZ/SoO situation also.

For once I concur

England Knights should not and hopefully will not be playing against France, or any other international team in the future. Get a grip.

I'd have 2 war of the roses and then england v exiles in the season, 2 weeks after the sl grand final i'd have the wcc.

You seriously think the Aussies would spoil their holidays to fly over here after they have just won their GF? And how do you fit in a 4 nations tournament or WC which would normally start then?

I'd have a European 3 nations with England, Wales, and France every year during the season. Winner plays Exiles....
And also have a 2 match test series with Great Britain and France and a Emerging European Cup with Ireland, Scotland and Russia or Italy

England V Wales, Wigan
France V England, Montpellier (on Bastille Day)
Wales V France, Wrexham

European Champions V Exiles

Great Britain V France (City of Manchester Stadium)
France V Great Britain (Toulouse Stade Ernest-Wallon)

One player could represent 5 times during the season in all 3 comps... Virtually the same amount for NRL players with State of Origin series, Anzac test, All Satrs Game and Country V City

Would they prefer it to pre season?

International games start a month after the season finishes.