Former Great Britain coach Phil Larder has called for England's mid-season international with France to be replaced by a match against a team of Super League-based Australians. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... arder.html

Former Great Britain coach Phil Larder has called for England's mid-season international with France to be replaced by a match against a team of Super League-based Australians. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... arder.html

I thought the plan was to fill the France team with French-qualified Aussies anyway?

What about a french invitation 13. The french players need the experience with 2 or 3 SL based antiopodeans to bolster the side to make it more competitive and get a bit more interest going.

England vs SL XIII
France vs Wales

A Celtic and frog select side would be good all round

Maybe he has a point, ultimately I would love to see a competitive game between England and France but I still think were a bit off that yet.

Maybe if we did play the SL select it should be in addition to a game against France, France should also be playing Wales on a regular basis, maybe they will in the new euro cup.

Crusaders/Catalans vs England?

I agree with Larder. Plus, if we're playing France in the the Four Nations most years, then why play them twice?

If they can make this into some kind of event, like building a brand around the other team (like they have Barbarians in union, why not Exiles or something?) and playing it in London to tap into the ex-pat population. Could even play it on ANZAC day (isn't that right next to St George's Day anyway, so could work both ways).

Whilst these are playing, that leaves room for France to play Wales in a mid-season test, and maybe even Scotland and Ireland. It would be good to have a proper international weekend.

St George's, Day April 23rd
ANZAC Day, April 25th

An England vs SL XIII match on St George's Day?

Alternate between 23rd and 25th each season?

Call them 'ANZAC Exiles' or something like, gives them more of an identity, but yeah I'd go to that.

Like someone else said, get Ireland v Scotland and France v Wales playing too.

Could be a winner.

England v France
England v Wales
and
France v Wales

Championship select v France would be a better option at the moment

wasnt the point of this game to help aid the development of the game in France?

So a Championship select would be a better option at the moment , at least the French would probably win , and you would be offering a reward to the players in the lower tier

Good idea. I'd definately go and watch that! Can't see it happening though

I would go for France vs Wales.

Better competition than them both being hammered by England.

Plus seeing as it's being played in Leigh. No problem with Leigh it's just the RFL arent exactly making much effort to give the fixture more exposure and make it into the big game it should be.

So perhaps a stand alone weekend with England vs someone. France vs Wales and maybe even Ireland vs Scotland!

Give everyone a go.

Wales not good enough atm and "Exiles" - who would want to play for that side? Who would coach it?
I think it's a definite non issue for SH 4N matches, as England should play France that year. I think it would be harder to market and cost more to set up than an English Origin Series - which might be more useful for English player development tbf. Two match series, double headers with Wales-France as the undercard.
Playing "les blues" as opposed to France (eg France plus French sides' foreign players) would be an option, though I'm not sure that a France coach would want to swap out International players for a few ringers.

we have to get France up to speed and the only way is to give them regular tough games

have france play a ENGLAND 'A' side and have the full england side play the 'ALL GOLDS' made up of SL based kiwis and aussies.....simples,as the advert says.....

Can RL just stick with something for a while and let it build?

In years to come, the French will get a hellava lot better, there's money to be made if it is stuck with.

If Wales can play these two as well during the year, who knows what could happen in 5/10 years time.

Please, you started it a few years ago, stick with it for a while longer, it will pay off soon.

I agree France need to be playing the top 3 teams more often to improve. A second super league team would also make them a lot stronger. I think we should remember in the 4 nations we only won 34-12 with France winning at half time, so they can be competitive.

The question shouldnt be, should we play an all golds/all stars team instead of the french, but should we play them as well as the game against france. Where is this option in the poll.

Top answer

nope was thinking a minor nations and French select team so yea I will be primarily welsh and French but also open to the jocks paddies etc

Has anyone thought how this would be put together?

Firstly, why on earth would our antipodean friends WANT to play in this game? Surely they would love the opportunity for a free week mid-season, and I'm not sure how the RFL would enforce selection - make sure every overseas player has a clause in their contracts? Many of our Aussie "stars" are well past their best and would have no desire to face a full England squad in a meaningless game when they can get their bumps and knocks seen to.

Secondly, if England have an off day and get hammered by the SL-based Aussies, can you imagine the humilation and vitriol in the Ocker press??? They laugh at us as it is, all we need is their aged rejects to beat us on home soil and our fall from grace is complete.

No, forget it. Play France or Wales.

Kick off - 7pm.

England v France, 20 mins each way.
England v SL select, 20 mins each way.
Wales v SL select, 20 mins each way.
France v Wales, 20 mins each way.



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