Are the France-NZ and England-Australia games sold out? I heard there were some tickets going for ridiculous money and was worried they wouldnt be sold.

As if. France game will get what 6,000 the England game about 19,000?

With the inept way the RFL markets ( of dosen't market ) the games, I'd say 5,000 for the France game and 15,000 for the England game would be more likely.

Sadly, I agree with this

To be fair, they do make an effort, at least with people on their mailing list (i.e. those who have bought tickets for other games and who are the most likely to buy tickets again). I have had several emails and at least three letters sent to my home address with details of the games, venues and ticket prices. This sort of targeted advertising must be more cost-effective than paying for adverts in the national press (though some effort to reach out to the unconverted must be made).

To blame the RFL for not selling out a game in Wigan against Australia at a modestly sized stadium in a match that where the winner will qualify for the final of the tournament is a load of nonesense. It's the can't be bothered pessimistic attitude of fans that is to blame not the RFL.

I tried for tickets last week for DW game but all they had was the back two rows, which is high enough to give me vertigo.
Looks like a near sell out.

Go to www.superleague.co.uk and there are tons of tickets available - you can buy 20 seats all together behind the sticks in row 7 when I looked 30 seconds ago, as well as seats in every other block of the stadium. This game is NOT sold out, far from it. The sight of a half-full stadium live on BBC for such a big game will do more damage to the game than any lack of marketing by the RFL. The fans have the power to make a real difference in this match so get your tickets now.

Go to www.superleague.co.uk and there are tons of tickets available - you can buy 20 seats all together behind the sticks in row 7 when I looked 30 seconds ago, as well as seats in every other block of the stadium. This game is NOT sold out, far from it. The sight of a half-full stadium live on BBC for such a big game will do more damage to the game than any lack of marketing by the RFL. The fans have the power to make a real difference in this match so get your tickets now.

Amen



All RL fans know this game is on and even if just a fraction of fans that normally go to SL games go to this then it will be sold out. That is without even attracting non RL fans. To blame the RFL if it doesnt sell out is a little pathetic imo. I really cant see why anyone wouldnt want to go to this game to see some of the best players in the world. The tickets are cheap for an event like this and the RFL have targeted everyone that has got tickets before. Saying that I love to watch international Rugby League as it is the top level of the game, it is just a pity that more RL fans dont feel the same.

the RFL are not directly to blame necessarily for people not attending - however, they are to blame for the feelings of apathy that many fans have about the games.

The failure of the World Cup, and the subsequent mis-management of the England setup (i.e. not getting rid of Smith) have something to do with it. Along the RFL have to take responsibility for the decision to turn the game into a turgid wrestling competition over the course of the last 12 months, rather than an exciting spectacle of free flowing rugby - which has turned a lot of people off the sport.

Look, The marketing is just an excuse. Rugby league fans know when the internationals are and will attend if they wish. A marketing budget of £3trillion still wouldnt get non rugby league fans through the gates.

What utter tosh.
There isnt anything wrong with Smith whatsoever, just look at his track record. This rubbish about him not being good enough or picking the wrong players is just that, utter rubbish.
Who else do we have?? Smith's produced the goods at three very different clubs. It's not his fault the player pool just isn't good enough and wont be for some time.

In my humble opinion the reason the games will not sell out is due to the general apathy towards the rfl and the sport at the moment.

New clubs from outside the heartlands are fast tracked at the expense of so called traditional clubs and fans and fans just get put off the sport. Ok they will still support their club but they wont do he extra games ie internationals.

How many fans fram say Leigh, Widnes, Oldham, Halifax, Keighley, Sheffield, Featherstone, Barrow, Whitehaven etc would normally go to these games but just arent anymore? Me for one!

Because there is no clear pathway for these clubs anymore they feel slightly detached from the top division and therefore the international team. They will still want us to win and do well but its just not the same anymore.

Just look at the crowds and venues for international games in this country before Super League and now.

There is a clear pathway.

Applying your argument to football would be like saying a Notts County supporter wouldn't support England.

A England v Australia match in the heartlands that doesn't reach near or full capacity is a disaster.

I agree, it is a disaster. But the rfl are relying almost solely on the super league clubs to sell out internationals and its not going to happen.

And if you ask me, the pathway isnt that clear unless you are from the south of france or wales otherwise youve got a long wait for a clear pathway!

That's the point. The path is clear but it takes a long time.

A chance of promotion used to be every year, now its every 6 or so. Is that too long?

But despite the disparity in wages etc that are currently alienating football fans, they are at least seen as representative of the country as a whole rather than the somewhat 'split' world of RL.

That said, I will only miss the Wales game of all the England ones this year, so I'm not one of this affected by RFL-related apathy, but I can understand those that are.

They can get stuff as far as I'm concerned. But that's a personal note. I still don't know how they got my mobile number!

Think the RFL have a very hard job.

After Englands pittiful efforts in last years world cup I'm not suprised the general public arent fussed to shell out more money in the middle of a massive reccession.

Also all the other major internationals in other sports are mostly promoted for them via the national media who completley ignore our sport.

Dont get me wrong I will be making the journey from Leeds to be there, wearing my GB shirt with pride. Plus I have got 4 mates to come with me.

For me its essential that there is a full house + we compete / beat Australia infront of a live BBC audience.

We need a massive crowd to get behind the lads and hopefully Burgess, Peacock, Morley, Ellis and Graham will go out and smash the Aussies out the tournament like the Kiwis did last week!

Come on England!!!!!!!!!

I understand you can pay on the gate for the Scotland v Lebanon game on Sunday...

the fact this game won't sell out is solely down to the shocking performance in last years world cup. I wasted enough money watching england last year so have decided not to bother this time round.

If England showed p well last year this game would sell out no problem at all

No it isn't, it is down to lazy fans in the heartlands who can't get their backsides off the sofa, wrap up warm and go and support their country.

It isn't that long ago we were seeing decent crowds at Wembley, Old Trafford and Elland Road, we had no better chance of winning then as we do now.

I think the the game would be sold out this weekend if it was not on BBC, there are 26 of us going to the Galpharm the week later but with it been on BBC this week it is just to much money to travel and buy a ticket when we can all watch it at home for free.

We quite clearly did though indicated by that fact that in 1990 we very nearly beat them same in 1992. In 1994 we had nearly beaten them in Australia the series before. We had no chance in 1997 and crowds dropped.

Fans of RL are no more lazy than fans of other sports. They just need to be enthused and think their team has a chance of competing never mind winning. The World Cup set us back massively, we were supposed to have a strong squad but got battered.