Fiji has a very exciting team which could really test the English tem in the lead up to the series against New Zealand.

Starting side:

[iKevin Naiqama

Semi Radradra, Sisa Waqa, Waisale Ligoni Naiqama, Marika Koroibete

Darryl Millard
Ryan Millard

Jason Bukuya
Tariq Sims, Korbin Sims
Ashton Sims, Apisai Koroisau, Kane Evans
[/i

This team, especially the outside backs, could create havoc with the England defences. Radaradra and Koroibete are two of the five best wingers in rugby league. (The other three are Brett Morris, Ryan Hall, and Manu Vatuvei).

I take it none of these players play in England so how can we play them has a warm up if the team is not hear

I believe Ashton Sims plays in England.
You could always fly them in if you get stuck.

The only place they're weak is in the halves. Two quality half-backs and they'd be a top side.

Which costs money, as does the accommodation for 35+ people. Plus Fiji RL will want to make something out of it so payments to them for coming. Then the hiring of the ground for what won't be a big crowd.

England v France 3 match series and Yorks v Lancs 3 match series mid-season should be warm up enough for any test series and provide competition for selection for the England side.

Its all part of doing business.
If England can not sell enough tickets to cover the costs then why bother it seems.
What are we talking about around $70k Australian for airfares and a couple of nights accommodation.
Maybe its time to give up.

It's more than a couple of nights. They'd have to be here for around a week. It's airfares, say 5/6 nights accommodation, 6/7 days worth of food, training facilities etc. Payments to players and staff. Plus a "profit" to Fiji RL.

Then the hiring of the stadium. All for what? A 10k crowd? Why don't we just play France and do away with half the costs and, due to top NRL players dropping out, probably get just as competitive a game.

I'd far rather we play Fiji as part of a proper planned fixture rather than as a warm up to a bigger competition.

I can't believe that RL, the greatest game in the world, doesn't have more than 3 decent national teams.
Maybe we should expand ?

I guess it is time for our game to quit

Nrl also paid nrl players to play for Fiji this year. If they were going to fly to England for a game in October you'd be up for
airfares $100k
Accomodation and expenses $40k
Player, coach and staff payment $500k

So how do you think the game will cover this with 10k-15k fans turning out at 20quid a ticket?

Don't believe it!

Oz
NZ
England
Samoa
Fiji
Tonga
Png

All decent national teams. Now if we could raid welsh Union again and Catalans developed players instead of signing antipodes so we might have a couple more competitive sides.

Disappointing that Jean has chosen to be so informal in the use of Semi Radradra Turagasoli Waqavatu's name.

You have massively exaggerated the player and staff payments. Many of these Fijians would go on tour for the chance to see England, and France if a second test match could be organised in Toulouse. In fact the best solution the cost problem would be to have a 3 way series between England, France and Fiji. The profits from two games should easily satisfy the Fijian teams costs.


Furthermore with an array of stars like Semi Radradra and Marika Koroibete, a well promoted game should get at least 20,000 fans into Headingley or John Smith stadiums.
The match up between Ryan Hall and either Semi Radradra or Marika Koroibete would be worth the price of admission by itself.

Lol, they are Ft professionals in the NRL earning $200-700k. You think they are going to give up their ltd time off to train and then travel to other side of the world in winter to play a one off friendly for peanuts? Yeh right!

When did any match not against NZ or oz draw 20k? Probably in the 60's!

Our last game v fiji in the uk got 25k

Not give up Buggo. But your figures are way under what it costs.

Even JB saying players are on 200-700k is over the top for these invididuals.

Getting an airline to sponsor them for example, will save perhaps the greatest cost. Taking only 25 people for a one off test. It's amazing how many people help out other countries staff with their time and facilities and the like.

Can't see it happening, more of a League Freak, head in the clouds story again, but never say never.

[urlhttp://www.rlif.com/rankings[/url
There are plenty of decent international sides and some of them even have non ANZAC players too.

Very similar to what we got against Ireland and France, but we're both kidding ourselves if we think a friendly against either would achieve the same.

Then perhaps we should elevate the contest to a legitimate international non-friendly match.

England and Fiji have met 3 times in England and average 20k a game. If the 'REAL" Fijian Team was to come to the UK as part of a EU tour, I'd see no reason why a one off test wouldn't fill a 20k stadium. They'd certainly get 3 x 15-18k crowds in France.

Hindsight's wonderful, but a NZ V France test and an England v Fiji test week 1, followed by a 3 match Fiji v France and Eng v NZ test series, with all games shown back to back on BBC would have been brilliant for the sport this year.

I'd agree with that. But only if it was planned and marketed well in advance. Which, given the track record of the RLIF, I wouldn't be confident of that happening.

Red Hall would be responsible for marketing many of these proposed events. The problem is that from a business-marketing perspective, the RFL is run by dopes.

But before they can be marketed they need to be planned. Which is down to the RLIF.

The biggest stride forward the sport has made since 1895 was the agreement to have a World Cup guaranteed every 4 years. Now we just need to sort the other 3 years out so that fans and, crucially, sponsors and corporate hospitality can plan too.
Why would a major company sponsor England RL when you don't know who they'll be playing or in which hemisphere.