Italy’s Carlo Napolitiano and Anthony Minichello were welcomed onto the Old Trafford pitch at half-time during United v Norwich’s Carling Cup game last night as guest of honours.

Look North for north east and Cumbria has been great for coverage of what's happened/happening at Workington.
Interviews with bona fide Scots, never been to a game before, predictably blown away. Magic.

errr, why?

Napolitiano is from Manchester isn't he? I know his mum and dad own a cafe in Swinton so I'm guessing it's down to those Manchester connections.

Sky sports news are completely ignoring this world cup. I would expect breaking news info bar with rlwc results like they do for more or less everything else

They've not got the rights for it so i don't think they give a sh*t.

Yeah i wouldn't take it personally. Before they had rights to F1, it got mentioned with the horse riding and minor sports. Now it's the main headline who was fastest in practice.

They give a sh*t about other sports they don't have the rights to. During the summer every stage winner at the TdF was breaking news (yes, okay there's a team sky)

There isn't even a mention on the sky sports app homepage.

I await Eddie describing the World Cup as a 'distraction' when SL begins.

Was listening to Radio 4 on the drive to work this morning and the sports review came on. After the cricket and the football, they did detailed review of the England RU squad selection for the Autumn internationals. Apparently these internationals are critical because (and I quote) “there are only 23 tests left before the start of the world cup”

No mention of USA and the Cook Islands game

I assume because he is a local lad and the head coach of the Italy team which have beaten England and Wales in their last two games and are currently competing in a World Cup which is playing it's final at Old Trafford.





He's from Salford, grew up around the streets of the Willows.

There was on radio 5. Then Nicky Campbell (I think it was him that said it) said "ah, yes, but I wonder where all their players come from"
Before they started talking then about RU being far bigger in Eastern USA.

To be fair though its the first time I have been annoyed and on the whole coverage on 5 been positive,

By "far bigger" I assume they meant ten more people played Union there...

Eddie Hemmings was on TalkSport saying the World Cup has been good but the coverage doesn't give the games the razzmatazz they would get with Sky.

The man needs to be put in a home.

Did they mention the Mako Vunipola and Billy Vunipola, the two recent England RU debutants (or will be this time)
I guess it's ok for RU to do it. Of course Billy went to Harrow so that's ok.
One born in New Zealand, one born in Australia, with Tongan parents.

Actually it's been a refreshing change not to have to listen to him and stevo prattle on in commentary. They give the sport a bad name and the sooner they are put down, the better.

Absolutely. Them and Neville Smith, who's the one keeping them in work.

I'm not even sure that's true to be honest. Was the 2008 World Cup shown with loads of razzmatazz on Sky?

I'm not a Sky basher, I think they do some things very well, and, of course, rugby league as a sport would not be the same without them. Yes, more people subscribe to Sky than Premier, but, more people have access to the BBC and to have big games, live on free television, is more important than Cook Islands vs. USA (for example) being available to more.

The actual footage is great on SKY, in terms of camera angles/replays etc. The rest of it is truly terrible: presenters, analysis, graphs, magazine shows, highlights shows. Tabloid style and poor.

An actual RLWC story on Sky Sports homepage

The fact is RL still isn't as big as we want it to be, they have no duty to promote it. The BBC do, as they want the viewing figures.

People need to chill, I'm sure in the knockout stages you'll see it a lot more (should England progress.)

James Graham's return to the England squad is currently the lead sports story on the BBC homepage, and the BBC Sport website itself

Maybe he'll go out for a drink to celebrate his recall?

I hope someone over sleeps and takes the majority of the stick for him.

Man United doing their fair share again tweeting about members of the Kangaroos meeting Rio, Carrick and Giggs.

Phew!

So much RL and pretty much all good news , can we cope?

Just been In Abu Dhabi on business and very pleased to see match reports and colour photographs (including the smaller games) in the local paper and the paper for Indian workers. This is particularly good as they've got the F1 Grand Prix this weekend and they're currently hosting the U17 football World Cup.Someone has been putting the word about very well.