Fantastic day for the game despite the result.

the game was close and of good quality and contained controversy, vital ingredients to get any neutrals (or TV viewers) coming back. Also the Sunday papers today have far bigger write-ups than for usual RL games, and certainly far more coverage than had we played it in the heartlands.

...seriously....hatred of RL?

It's no wonder the stereotype of flat capped whippet racing pigeon fanciers is rolled out time and again....



Fact....there were about 75,000 tickets available for the games.
Fact.....every RL fan in the country knew that the games were on.
Fact...the RFL offered tickets for a tenner......and other discounts

Fact.....the reason there were more empty seats than full ones has nothing to do with the evil media.....and everything to do with apathetic RL fans.

Fantastic day RL wise! Thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.

Although our return train journey (19:30 from Kings Cross) turned into a night mare as the train broke down just outside Peterborough. Whilst there was a few groups of lads getting a bit rowdy and their songs wernt really appropriate for young ears or non rugby related paying passengers.
It did appear that the buffet carriage was selfishly raided. Leaving other passengers with nothing whilst the train stood stationary.
But the lack of personnel and information from East Coast Mainline staff was beyond a joke.

After waiting for over a hour, 3 coaches eventually tuned up to take people to Doncaster or Taxis were provided for those left wanting to gotp Leeds and further a field.

You might wanna check up on that one...... There was only ever half the stadium made available from the offset.....

Just got back and have to say i had a fantastic weekend and despite the result really did enjoy the day.

Where i was sat on the side there was a really big mix of kiwi's aussies, and even americans behind us, which gave me something interesting to listen in on when they where commenting on the touch downs and field goals... and also a bunch of union fans who we got talking to who loved the fact that it was almost non stop.. they where just a bit annoyed about the scrums....

For me it was a great success. A very good standard competitive match infront on a national tv audience with seemingly a lot of newcommers in the stands. Definitely something to build on. And from what i've read there doesn't seem to be too many complaints coming from people who actually made the effort to go and enjoy the atmosphere. I really hope they do something like this again in the future.

I was on the same train, we eventually got home at around 2am



The day (apart from the journey back) was brilliant though. We met loads of people who were attending their first RL game and saw plenty of RU shirts about. Can't wait for the next international at Wembley.

I was saying they london media could have done more. Do you wanna show me some proof they did promote the double header! They had more previews on aviva premiership RU all damn week.

You give me a solid reason why the evening standard sports journalists decided to ignore the double header even though it was held at wembley?

If it isnt hatred for RL by the evening standard sports writers then I would like to know the valid reason why a big event at wembley was totally ignored?

Do you think they will ignore the Saracens yearly trip to wembley like they did with the 4 nations?

When the NFL rolls into town the London Media have no problem promoting the wembley game. It would have been nice if they would have given the double header some decent coverage.

And yes the heartlands fans should have made more effort. I never once disputed that in my post.

Quote from Andy Wilson this morning:
gary richardson never lets you down. oh, better do rugby league, ask a few questions then move on quickly. disgraceful bbc.

Not quite. There was an interview in Friday's paper with Gareth Ellis about the upcoming match.

Was quite amusing to see George Riley try to defend Richardson by saying he always has a good word for the sport when the talk on a morning. Shame that doesn't come across on-air. "Sorry Steve, we've got to talk to some idiot hack about Terry again. And again."

I now have renewed optimism about international RL. The game brought in big numbers from the south and is an excellent base to work from.

The rfl have grown the grand final into an event and I've no doubt were heading in the right direction for the world cup.

This weekend could be the day the rfl, working closely with the independent commission, stopped the rot and saved Rugby League.

Agreed, but as much as anything it goes to show that performance on the pitch matters so much. People left the stadium proud of their team and itching to support them again. That has not always been the case.

The RFL need to maintain their momentum as far as marketing the game is concerned, but equally the lads on the pitch need to maintain their own momentum.

The Standard is a Monday to Friday paper, they did a bit on Friday before the game, today it isn't news.

[urlhttp://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/article-24007113-peacock-problem-a-worry-for-england.do[/url
I can feel the hatred from here

that isn't in today's paper. They never even had a report on the weekends 4 nations double header!

No surprise to see Aviva premiership given a nice report though.

Jesus wept......it really is no wonder that people in the south have a stereotypical view of northerners......


RL is a minority sport everywhere except along the M62 Corridor. In London, we struggle to get 3,000 to first grade game......whilst the Union clubs in the area, Saracens, London Irish, Wasps and Quins average over 10,000. When the RFL get all 14 clubs in Wales for the weekend, 40,000 roll up for 7 games.....when 4 London clubs start their season at Twickenham 80k+....

.....fancy a bet?
The crowd for the Wembley double header last weekend will be dwarfed by the crowd for what is essentially an exhibition match on November 26th at Twickenham? The barbarians have announced that already, 40,000 tickets have been sold......so I'd hang on to your wallet if I were you.

RL gets a mention in the ES from time to time, but make no mistake, RL is a minority sport in the capital and therefore gets column inches that reflect that fact.

saracens, wasp 10,000 plus

If you want an event promoted in a newspaper you buy advertising space - it's not the business of newspapers to use editorial columns to promote third party's commercial events.

42,000 to see a minority sport in a part of the world where no one cares about it.

Saracens 2010/11 attendance average 10,247
Wasps 16,727.
Yes, double headers and games at Wembley, but they are the averages..both over 10k.



42,000 for 2 games of International RL at Wembley whilst Australia/Barbarians has already sold 40,000 and will be nearer 70,000 I reckon.
That's why the London ES doesn't give much space to RL......simple little facts like Union is more popular in lONDON.
Here's another one......have a look at the TV audience for Wales v France at 9am during the RWC and then compare it to Wales v England on the BBC saturday 29th of October? The Media isn't to blame that fans don't turn up or tune in.........even the evil media



As tb says........spend money in the paper and they may well give you more editorial/advertorial space, but don't expect them to cover it just because it's on.
Catalancs.......42,000 is a great effort from the RFL, but it was still a 54% empty stadium and I hate to break this to you, but even if they had filled it, RL would still be a minority sport in the capital.

You know what, you're right. I don't know why even bother following such a tiny sport like rugby league.
Are some southerners really are that ignorant to genuinely subscribe to stereotypes?
You [iare[/i a card gf

International Rugby League returned to London’s Wembley stadium with a bang on Saturday, and laid important foundations for the future.

[url=http://www.loverugbyleague.com/blogpost_412-bright-lights--bigger-city!.htmlBright Lights, Bigger City![/url

Blog ect...

Seriously Guvner, all norvaners fink we live in council flats wiv del boy and we all fink they are a bunch of monkey 'angers guv.....that's just the way it is and they way it always will be.

Down in the bowels of the t'internet we tend to call gf a different word beginning with C

... but this is the V.T and despite his dodgy use of a different sports even dodgier Att. figures, teh fella does have a point. Whatever differences we (as fans) have with the governing body we need to get out to the games.


Yea, I was hoping for 50k but the response from the fans is more encouraging...judging from reports of the day from ppl who went to the game it would appear the demise of the international game may've been slightly exaggerated.

International Union is more popular in London but I wouldnt say Union is a major sport in London. FFS how many of the 'London' sides actually play in London? I can go in to work tomorrow and ask every male if they watched the 'rugby' on the weekend and the only rugby the majority would of watched would of been the Wembley game. Nobody gives a damn about the Avia premiership and you would get no more people watching that on tv from london than you would watching superleague.

Twickenham games are events which people are attracted too. Why I have no Idea but they are. How many of those that go to those games actually know the rules? My mum and her friends dont watch rugby but for some crazy reason they go to this 'army v navy' game every year @ Twickenham. I dont know why they go as they dont watch the sport but like I said twickenham games are events.

The World cup was similar. Plenty people tuning in and proclaiming interest. Afterwards I can ask those people who I work with if they are still watching the rugby and the answer is no. International Union does capture the interest of the public, something Rugby League hasnt managed to do but I still think the media such as the Standard could of had more column space for the double header.

The tiny column with Ellis has a much larger interview with Danny Care. Somehow I just cant accept that people travelling home care any more about Danny Care and Harlequins than they do about England v Australia RL.

I, on many occasions, have pinged emails to the ES asking why League gets no coverage. I used to do a lot of work for METRO when they were the same company and the only reason we got inches there (and a shirt sponsorship deal) was because we had an ally high up the food chain at the time.
Both Editorial teams, at METRO and the ES said that RL got little or no coverage because it was a minority sport. Union, as you correctly pointed out, is not much bigger at club level, but is MASSIVE at International level. Add to this the annual 6 nations where England WIN more than they lose, the 2003 RWC victory and the fact that Twickenham is in the south and you have another list of reasons why a 1 off double header that only shifted 46% of its tickets gets less column inches than the other lot who fill Twickenham with ease.
Seriously, with 3 weeks to go Australia v The Baa Baas has sold more tickets than 2 games featuring the top 3 teams in RL managed.
You may not be able to accept it.......you may be right, but the 4 Nations and England RL have Gillette........the other lot have a much longer and bigger hitting list.......see the scrolling list at the bottom of the page
[urlhttp://www.rfu.com/[/url and compare it to the "partners" declared by the RFL [urlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/[/url
The Media are not responsible for 50% of the seats at Wembley being empty and neither are they responsible for Twickenham selling out every game, that would be the fans and the respectives governing bodies marketing spend and ability.