The RFL's decision not to hold the WCC in Dubai. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... ml&BID=480 I think it is. Mighty oaks from little acorns grow, as they say. At a time when the game is struggling for money and publicity. I think it could have been a real shot in the arm. It might be a little to speculative to say we'd attract a rich oil Sheikh to our game or a major sponsor. But the success other sports have had by playing their premier games in places such as Dubai and Hong Kong shouldn't be underestimated.

The RFL's decision not to hold the WCC in Dubai. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... ml&BID=480 I think it is. Mighty oaks from little acorns grow, as they say. At a time when the game is struggling for money and publicity. I think it could have been a real shot in the arm. It might be a little to speculative to say we'd attract a rich oil Sheikh to our game or a major sponsor. But the success other sports have had by playing their premier games in places such as Dubai and Hong Kong shouldn't be underestimated.

Dubai? In a recession? No its not lack of ambition, its common sense, nobody would go.

I doubt many would have gone with no recession in place to be honest.

Maybe it's just me, but I can't help but feel it's opportunity spurned to broaden the game not at a playing, participation level. But rather a showcase of what the game has to offer in one of the most affluent country's in the world.

It's all guesswork, but I presume the RFL and SL are still struggling for a sponsor for next year. Well an event like this marketed to the right people could open up some doors on that front.

Maybe it was to short notice this year. But it's something I'd love to see happen.

well you can see my opinion on the vt terrace, Maybe i read it wrong but but manly was suggesting future not present anyway? and it would take at least a year prep to get the adds over here to generate the intrest so maybe it should be for the future. In the same breat of saying that it should not be a clubs owner who has the final rule over the place of venue it should be a joint decision on nrl and rfl a owner will allways think about hes pocket before the good of the game.

to get a sheikh intrested is unrealistic more likely would be the major companies here such as etislate, Du and emirates airlines they have a huge sponsorship buget for sports.

in same way it wouldn't get traveling fans it would get alot of ex pats here intersted boosting viewing figures in the long run.

I'd rather host games in our country than Dubai, we need to develop interest in Rugby League in England rather than recruiting corrupt oil companies and their blood money.

Well you better ban the US from playing in the world cup if you dont want corrupt oil companies joyning in rugby...

What aspect of the US Rugby League team in funded by oil money?

nothing at all could say the same what aspect would playing the wcc over in dubai have to do with the oil companies? i doubt it would benifit them in anyway shape or form? and seeing as dubai doesnt produce much oil if at all any?

One of the points I read for staging the game in Dubai was to get possible oil rich investor's ob board although Dubai has hardly any oil left the country's economy was built on oil. I'd rather have British investors who care about clubs heritage and history with ethical companies than owner's made rich by a corrupt industry.

well the qoute you read was abit silly as i dont know any sports in the uae who have major sponsors from oil companies,, more realistic prospect would be emirates airlines they have a huge sports budget and own the intended venue...

The big target for dubai is to generate money from being known as a tourist destination and events like this would only help that not hinder it.

Manchester City is funded by UAE's oil, the WCC should always be played in either Australia or the UK in my opinion. A game of the state of origin series was played in America and it was widely considered a failure.

In RU Australia played New Zealand in Hong Kong not to long ago, and that was a rip roaring success from what I remember reading at the time.

I've read your posts on the VT, and I'm in full agreement.

My mistake if it wasn't planned for next year. But it's something that should be strongly looked at.

Alternate it between England and Australia and play it at the end of the season

this has been tried and tested and isn't doing nothing other than get most other fans supporting the aussie team to win, if this was a raving success then id be in full agreement it shouldn't be tampered with.

Personally i'd have a 3 year cycle of UK, Aus & USA
USA played on the West coast, I'm sure the big bucks of Oz could help market it.

With regards to the WCC Final, I'm sure Russell Crowe was shouting 'Vegas Babyyy' from the rooftops about 12 months ago.

Now THAT would be messy!

As far as I'm aware, the East coast is becoming a bit of a hot bed of RL, with the AMNRL being staged over there for the past 10 years or so. Teams like the Jacksonville Axemen and the New York Knights doing really well in their local community.

Also, Hawaii have started to get an RL comp going as well

I was alluding to what Matt said when i said West coast, Vegas.

RL in stupid temperatures?

Yes you're right how do those Australians manage it in such low temperatures of 16-25c AVERAGE through the year.

Its those type of area's in USA where it is actually growing popular that the RFL & NRL should be looking at staging it, I'm sorry but Elland Road doesn't cut it for me for such a "prestigious" (as Eddie and Stevo call it) trophy.

Why not take it to America? Where the game is growing, show people professional high level rugby league. The best two club teams in world RL (allegedly)? In an area where RL is popular and growing? No brainer to me.

The thing that the RFL hasn't ever lacked is guts to try something new, might not work everytime but at least it tries. IMHO this would be definately worth a shot for the WCC 2013. Places such as Dubai, as exciting as it may sound, just doesn't ring right for me.

RU is high profile in Hong Kong mainly on the back of the HK sevens that paved the way for the world sevens series. There are local RU clubs in HK with lots of ex pats from Aus/NZ/UK involved. You have strong RU support in parts of Japan with marquee players getting big contracts so any RU event involving Aus v NZ in this part of Asia is big business.

thats the exact same here in uae,, trevor leota former wasps player created hes own union club out here and there is alot more mainly because of the events of dubai sevens and the odd off game over here, i would bearly say the schools out here drill union in to them so its more of a untapped youth to get interested also, as far as national team here it would never happen arabs are like a christiano ronaldo kind of character mainly.

Rugby in the Arabian Gulf is Union and was established there back in the 60s and 70s during the development of the region. It was predominantly the expats who played with occasionally a local (who had played rugby at boarding school) joining in. It was the affluent nature of life in the Gulf that allowed teams from the different countries to fly to away matches and it was from the Arabian Gulf competition that sub competitions like the Dubai 7s and Bahrain 15s (actually a more popular competition back in the 80s) came about.

The Irish Gaelic Athletics Association has established their football and hurling in the gulf quite successfully, holding a Dubai based tournament along the lines of the rugby version. Staging a one off league match would be an attraction and correctly marketed, could get a decent crowd from expats and visitors alike.