Britain plans 2013 World Cup bid

[DIEHARD]

Britain plans 2013 World Cup bid

The Rugby Football League has confirmed Britain has drawn up plans to host the next World Cup and hopes the event will be moved to 2013 to avoid the Olympics.

The RFL lost around ?700,000 the last time it staged the tournament, in 2000, but executive chairman Richard Lewis said lessons have been learnt.

"We've put a bid together. We've got a document that we're going to present during the World Cup," he said.

"We think it's a very strong document - we're very excited about the prospect."

The RFL hopes for the next tournament to be in 2013 to avoid a clash with the Olympics, and envisages a 12-team tournament, rather than the 16 in 2000 and 10 this year.

"We're making a bid with 12 teams, probably with three groups of four, although that is a discussion point," added Lewis.

"If the Australian Rugby League wants to host it again, then that's a good thing because it means this World Cup will have been a success.

"But I think the UK is the right place for it to be and I'll be making that case with confidence."

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk

[rugbyman13]

Is the petition online a good media for the next world Cup 2013 ? http://www.petitiononline.com/rugby21/petition.html

And, what a about the Paul Barri?re Trophy during this Tournament ? Hes looking at the players before the kick off while his "brother" Jacques Chaban Delmas is shaking french players hands.




Thanks




FRANCE VS ENGLAND 1946 in Bordeaux (France) Paul Barri?re wear a hat hes on the left corner. Look at Puig Aubert on the first rank in the middle with the ball under his fingers.

[rugbyman13]

[rugbyman13]

[rugbyman13]

From a french magazine (1971) the title was...."A Trophy called Paul Barri?re"

Marcel Bordenave a journalist was in Biarritz at Casino and asked to Paul Barri?re about his rugby league story. Note that in the article the journalist talk and write about the very important activity of Mister Paul.
Paul was everywhere, he replied on the phone, call another person, talking to the journalist in the same time...a lot of work for a great and fantastic man .
I saw him at his home for the last time on 29th april 2008 in Biarritz. he remember all the french international name of 1939 !!!!
he was almost 88.....what a story ! His best memories was about Australia and the famous tournament. he told me all the story and the travel by ship....28 days of Sea for the come back in M****ille harbour.

[rugbyman13]

At Leeds Headingley this is the end of the game with a very sad Puig Aubert....it was in 1950. Paul told me the end of game without light and Puig Aubert did not see quite the ball kicked by an english player...who take the ball under Puig Aubert and scored the last try of the game ....France was defeated but Paul help Puig Aubert... this photo was taken by myself at Paul Barri?re home on last march 2008

[DIEHARD]

Fantastic pictures rugbyman13! Probably the best pictures I've ever seen.

The glory days of French rugby league!

On Fox Sports News channel in Australia, they interviewed your national captain J?r?me Guisset. He spoke really well of rugby league in France, of the future and a return to the glory days.

He also said rugby league was one of the biggest sports in the country at it's peak.

I will try and tape these types of interviews off the news.

[quins rl]

Great pictures...have any of you blokes ever read the book "the forbidden game..the untold story of French rugby league"" by Mike Rylance,its a must read book for international RL fans.

[rugbyman13]

Thanks a lot Diehard for this comment.

[rugbyman13]

Yes I know the Forbidden Game. Mike dedicaced a book for me last year....In the french version !

http://www.putfile.com/pic/5568797/?action=zoom
http://www.putfile.com/pic/5544577/?action=zoom

Mike signature for me.....
http://www.putfile.com/pic/4126288/?action=zoom

[~lee~]

The World Cup in England would be excellent and surely the only other logical place to hold it at this moment in time. I wonder which stadium they would have holding the GF, whether it be Old Trafford or Wembley, both surely worthy contenders. I would prefer Wembley as its the only stadium close to me.

[DIEHARD]

Showcase bigger and better in 2013

WHILE the jury is still out on whether the World Cup will be a success, tournament director Colin Love has confirmed the Rugby League International Federation's plans to stage another tournament in 2013.

Love defended the five-year gap between tournaments - other sports hold a world cup every four years - saying organisers wanted to avoid a clash with the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The time frame continues the sporadic nature of rugby league World Cups - there have been 12 tournaments since 1954 - although Love added the RLIF intended to stage them every four years after 2013.

"The reason for the five-year gap is we want to take it out of the Olympic cycle," Love said.

"The next World Cup will be in 2013 and that's been endorsed by the RLIF.

"It hasn't been determined where it will be played but it could be in Australia again to run off the success of this tournament and there will be bids from (England's) RFL."

Love had previously estimated the World Cup would cost $20million to stage but that figure has now been revised to upwards of $21million.

However, Love is confident the tournament will record a profit regardless of whether ticket sales are strong for pool matches featuring developing nations.

Already the signs are promising in terms of patronage, particularly for Australia's games.

The Kangaroos' opener against New Zealand in Sydney on Sunday is expected to draw in excess of 30,000 while the clash with England the following weekend at Melbourne's Telstra Dome could top 40,000.

The final, to be held in Brisbane next month, is expected to be a sell-out.

"We'll finish in the black," Love said.

"This tournament is on a very sound financial footing and we've put in a lot of hard work to make sure it is.

"People have to understand they're going to come along and have a good night's entertainment even if their team or Australia is not playing.

"They'll see some good rugby league and some competitive rugby league the way we've got it structured with the pools.

"This is going to be a professionally run tournament and we haven't cut corners on costs because we're showcasing our sport to 126 countries around the world.

"This event is going to become a major international sporting event in a very short space of time."

Kangaroos captain Darren Lockyer has been one of Test rugby league's biggest cheerleaders and he is among those hoping the tournament is the start of a prosperous period for the international game.

"I feel it's the start of the beginning," Lockyer said.

"You have to give the organisers a big rap for the thought process and planning that's gone into it.

"I think obviously we're going to look to build on this one. Hopefully the product on show ... the people in Australia get behind it and we can build on it."

Source: http://www.foxsports.com.au