RL kicking of 9's in NZ

[eelofwest]

Nines tournament may kick-off 2014 season

DISCORD

Hot on the heels of colleague Brad Walter's excellent column about Australia picking their rugby Sevens team from all codes for the next Olympics comes the news that rugby league is finally going to take Nines seriously.

Super League, you'll remember, kicked off with Nines tournaments – twice. Once in 1996, before the whole comp was banned, and again in 1997. Since then, a few dimly-lit tournaments in England with mainly reserve graders has been about the extent of it.

As Brad wrote, Nines rugby league is set to be introduced to the Commonwealth Games in 2018. But Discord can reveal that a Nines tournament to kick off the 2014 NRL season at Eden Park is just about nailed on, with huge prize money meaning teams will be at full strength.

Some clubs are even planning to spend extended pre-seasons in New Zealand to tie in with the tournament, forming partnerships with local councils around the country. If the tournament is held every year hereafter, it will be a perfect lead-in to the selection of teams for the Com Games on the Gold Coast and could give rise to a serious international circuit to challenge (OK, eventually....) union's Sevens.
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In the meantime, if you think Australia's Olympic “rugby” team, should be made up of more than just rahrahs, you could always tell the Australian Olympic Committee... Not that I am waging a campaign, you understand. Just sayin'.....



Great new for RL, will be a instant success in NZ...Kids love playing short versions of Rugby league.....ie Austag, Touch footy.

Bring back reserve grade also while your at it, will be great for grass roots. =D>

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... z23f5SXikI

[justanotherleaguefan]

About time, been waiting for a 9's or 7's comp to come back. If will be a great start if we can it into the comm games