Yes I know, against Lancashire in the County Championship in front of an estimated crowd of 2,000.

erm...i wonder what we've been reading..lol

Quote The Observer="The Observer"[url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article2951170.eceClubs refuse to let Mark Regan and Andrew Sheridan play for Barbarians[/url [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7114837.stmBristol Rugby punishes Mark Regan for playing for the Barbarians against Springboks[/url Furthermore, surely it is ironic that the NZ Kiwis and Pacific Island teams struggle to secure release of their players for test matches, or for those players to be fit enough to play, yet a Rest of the World 13 should be allowed to select them?'" Thank you for proving that players do want to play in these games. The NZ kiwi's dont struggle to secure release's for any players. They decided against selecting any SL players for the Anzac test, but they could of selected if they wished. No club can stop a player playing in a International in RL. www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5869044440

Quote The Observer="The Observer"[url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article2951170.eceClubs refuse to let Mark Regan and Andrew Sheridan play for Barbarians[/url [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7114837.stmBristol Rugby punishes Mark Regan for playing for the Barbarians against Springboks[/url Furthermore, surely it is ironic that the NZ Kiwis and Pacific Island teams struggle to secure release of their players for test matches, or for those players to be fit enough to play, yet a Rest of the World 13 should be allowed to select them?'" Thank you for proving that players do want to play in these games. The NZ kiwi's dont struggle to secure release's for any players. They decided against selecting any SL players for the Anzac test, but they could of selected if they wished. No club can stop a player playing in a International in RL. www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5869044440

yeah when ever clubs have had a whinge about releasing players they've quickly been reminded of RLIF rules on releasing players if they are called up for international duty...

Look, if the issue is developing player pool and intensity level, why not have Yorkshire v Lancashire v Wales v France. Two weeks with Y/L and W/F one weekend and then W/Y F/L the next. Alternate years swap the second fixture to W/L and F/Y.

nah

Terrible idea.



And don't start a post with 'Look' ... you sound like Dally messenger when he pretends to be an Aussie

The point of the match on Saturday is simple , It tells us where the French are in development terms , and at the moment they are no further than they were 4/5 years ago



Does this mean we shouldn't play them ? , No , we must keep the mid season International going no matter what



The French squad will be tested against lesser opposition when they compete in the Euro cup in November , this is when they must perform if they are to retain their place in the 2011 Quad nations



The problem the French have in developing a quality team to compete with England and ultimatley the Aussies/Kiwi's is that any real talent will be poached by the French union clubs , they have a very difficult job on their hands



The solution ? , well once again it comes down to money , pure and simple , the best athlete's in France will play union or move to union when the money is on offer , so the problem is , how do the French RL clubs find more money ?

The sad fact is France are only included in the 4 nations to give England a chance of winning a game if NZ have an off day.



France have no chance of beating England NZ or Australia in any 4 nations and their inclusion is a total waste of time.

Totally incorrect , the inclusion of a 4 th team both evens out the fixtures and gives something for countries in both hemispheres something to play for

Well... the fixtures worked pretty well when it was the old 'tri nations' didn't they?



Seriously.



What is the point in Australia v France? or NZ v France? England are probably the closest nation to the French in terms of talent and even they can flog them.



France as a national side are a bit of a joke.



They might beat Wales or Ireland... but one of the so called 'big 3'??





Nope.

New Zealand ANZAC 2010:

1. Lance Hohaia - NZ Warriors

2. Sam Perrett - Sydney Roosters

3. Junior Sa'u - Newcastle Knights

4. Steve Matai - Manly Sea Eagles

5. Jason Nightingale - St. George Illawarra Dragons

6. Benji Marshall - Wests Tigers

7. Kieran Foran - Manly Sea Eagles

8. Frank-Paul Nu'uausala - Sydney Roosters

9. Issac Luke - South Sydney Rabbitohs

10. Sam Rapira - NZ Warriors

11. Bronson Harrison - Canberra Raiders

12. Zeb Taia - Newcastle Knights

13. Adam Blair - Melbourne Storm

14. Aaron Heremaia - NZ Warriors

15. Sika Manu - Melbourne Storm

16. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves - Sydney Roosters

17. Ben Matulino - NZ Warriors



New Zealand Club Based - 4

Australia Club Based - 13



France 2010 International:

1. Constant Villegas - Toulouse Olympique*

2. Nicolas Piquemal - Lezignan*

3. Cyril Gossard - Catalans Dragons

4. Sebastien Raguin - Catalans Dragons

5. Frederic Vaccari - Catalans Dragons

6. Tony Gigot - Catalans Dragons

7. Nicolas Munoz - Lezignan*

8. David Ferriol - Catalans Dragons

9. Gregory Mounis - Catalans Dragons

10. Remi Casty - Catalans Dragons

11. Olivier Elima - Catalans Dragons

12. Jamal Fakir - Catalans Dragons

13. Andrew Bentley - UTC*

14. Julien Touxagas - Catalans Dragons

15. Mathieu Griffi - Toulouse Olympique*

16. Michael Simon - Catalans Dragons

17. William Barthau - UTC*



French Club Based - 17

UK Club Based - 0

*Registered with Sub-SL team - 6

Not even including players without real 1st team experience at Catalans in my *'d catagory.



I'm not against a second French SL team, but I think to really advance the international games against France (and Wales for that matter) we not only need to get a better grassroots level in France, but promote a greater spread of French players throughout all Super League Squads, as well as having a predominantly French Catalans squad (which they do now).