AFL gets a grass roots competition in Europe for U16's

[Fred]

I don't get all these threads on whether AFL is bigger internationally than nrl . For mine it is obvious nrl had a larger international presence. The have a professional league in England ! Enough said.

Secondary, do you see the yanks being concerned if the rest of the world likes the nfl ? So why should we Australians care if other countries like our national sport. AFL is clearly the number 1 sport in this country as a whole ... No one bit idiots, zealots, or trolls would argue against that. Even the head guy of the nrl has outlined that there are things the nrl has to do if it wants to be the number 1 code.

I am finding all this crap about who has the higher international profile ridiculous. Rl clearly has it over AFL. Union clearly has it over rl. Soccer had it over everyone. Is rl profile high compared to other sports ... No not really ... I reckon I could name 10 sports higher at least. Is it higher than AFL ... Of course it is.

Now cut the crap and at least argue over something that is ambiguous like regional tv ratings. Or at least make excuses for poor crowd numbers, membership, low sponsorship ... Or lack of profile in respective non traditional states .

[Swans4ever]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxGb8QdbrM0#t=34

amazing stuff. amazing crowds. what a competition. wish RLWC could get 500 people to a stadium

Yeah ALL amateurs with skill level way down - no advertising and they got 500, imagine what it's gunna be like when they tick all those boxes!

yea maybe A THOUSAND!! without being played before a regular season game!!!

and you think league should do the same so we are back to some pissweak tournament like that.... gee.

No - read what I wrote - it would be more interesting with fewer sides with stricter criteria of eligibility - if on there merits there are 16 sides good, if one their merits it's only 5 so be it - but make it about country v country - not propped up sides with NRL players 2 generations removed from that country! Horses for courses - AFL set up a model for those internationally to come together - it's not about setting up a competition so you can call your selfs world champions!

[Swans4ever]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxGb8QdbrM0#t=34

amazing stuff. amazing crowds. what a competition. wish RLWC could get 500 people to a stadium

And that was the 'highlights' clip!! Actually i believe it now, maybe there are no aussie expats playing in this comp. Both teams were absolute rubbish with the irish lads clearly gaelic players (albeit shitty ones) hAVING A bit of a trip a joke and a laugh by signing up for the national marngrook side The papua new guineans were even worse with their only highlight a tackle!!! Clearly a bunch of leaguies just having a joke and a laugh and a bit of a trip

My god, I think the state of international marngrook is worse than when i played for the netherlands against france 5 years ago! It was then... a bit of a joke and a laugh too!

Your full of shit - if Australian you couldn't have played for them - seeing the French have only had a club and team the year before IC11 - so full of shit!

[Swans4ever]

I don't get all these threads on whether AFL is bigger internationally than nrl . For mine it is obvious nrl had a larger international presence. The have a professional league in England ! Enough said.

Secondary, do you see the yanks being concerned if the rest of the world likes the nfl ? So why should we Australians care if other countries like our national sport. AFL is clearly the number 1 sport in this country as a whole ... No one bit idiots, zealots, or trolls would argue against that. Even the head guy of the nrl has outlined that there are things the nrl has to do if it wants to be the number 1 code.

I am finding all this crap about who has the higher international profile ridiculous. Rl clearly has it over AFL. Union clearly has it over rl. Soccer had it over everyone. Is rl profile high compared to other sports ... No not really ... I reckon I could name 10 sports higher at least. Is it higher than AFL ... Of course it is.

Now cut the crap and at least argue over something that is ambiguous like regional tv ratings. Or at least make excuses for poor crowd numbers, membership, low sponsorship ... Or lack of profile in respective non traditional states .

But Phelpsy don't you find it funny when they get upset - I don't disagree with anything you say - AFL will grow but it won't be number one in any other country - it will be a niche sport - but with international combines there will be a day when there will be an international XVIII v Australia (players like Mike Pike playing at the highest level). That's ultimately where I see any AFL international comp - saying that The point of the thread is that statements that the game is non existent outside Australia is false. I don't accept RL will become the number one internationally or in Australia (or even 2nd spot ahead of RU).

[pHyR3]

now that's where i take issue. how is RU ahead of RL? they play 40 games in australia and averaged 16-17k this year in the first 8 rounds (couldn't find figures after that) while the NRL playes TWO HUNDRED GAMES and averages the same. then add in stuff like SOO which shits all over bledisloe then consider all the union juniors that are turning to league it simply isn't a contest.

And add the fact that RU crowds in australia have declined over the past 7-8 years from well above 20k averages. And the same is seen in RSA and NZ (except in 2012 after the RWC) but then dropped this year again.

[pHyR3]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxGb8QdbrM0#t=34

amazing stuff. amazing crowds. what a competition. wish RLWC could get 500 people to a stadium

And that was the 'highlights' clip!! Actually i believe it now, maybe there are no aussie expats playing in this comp. Both teams were absolute rubbish with the irish lads clearly gaelic players (albeit shitty ones) hAVING A bit of a trip a joke and a laugh by signing up for the national marngrook side The papua new guineans were even worse with their only highlight a tackle!!! Clearly a bunch of leaguies just having a joke and a laugh and a bit of a trip

My god, I think the state of international marngrook is worse than when i played for the netherlands against france 5 years ago! It was then... a bit of a joke and a laugh too!

Your full of shit - if Australian you couldn't have played for them - seeing the French have only had a club and team the year before IC11 - so full of shit!

speak coherent english, after the your full of shit statement nothing made sense. should be 'you're' but whatever dont really care as long as people can understand what youve said

[Swans4ever]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxGb8QdbrM0#t=34

amazing stuff. amazing crowds. what a competition. wish RLWC could get 500 people to a stadium

And that was the 'highlights' clip!! Actually i believe it now, maybe there are no aussie expats playing in this comp. Both teams were absolute rubbish with the irish lads clearly gaelic players (albeit shitty ones) hAVING A bit of a trip a joke and a laugh by signing up for the national marngrook side The papua new guineans were even worse with their only highlight a tackle!!! Clearly a bunch of leaguies just having a joke and a laugh and a bit of a trip

My god, I think the state of international marngrook is worse than when i played for the netherlands against france 5 years ago! It was then... a bit of a joke and a laugh too!

Your full of shit - if Australian you couldn't have played for them - seeing the French have only had a club and team the year before IC11 - so full of shit!

speak coherent english, after the your full of shit statement nothing made sense. should be 'you're' but whatever dont really care as long as people can understand what youve said

Typing on the run on my iPhone - he's still full of shit the French side only started the year before IC11

[NRLCrap1]

Dave, this is how your game looked in the 1900's. Think about it.

When AFL was first developed they didn't even get 100 to the first game.

From acorns grow oak trees........

oh so you're admitting your code is only 100 years behind ours then :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

No we're 50 years ahead. 1858 for us. 1908 for you.

For the record, the very first game between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar pulled only 100. But it jumped from there after the publicity it got.

[pHyR3]

lol who cares? guess oxford is several hundred years ahead of harvard...

[NRLCrap1]

Yep. Look at what a joke the US "education" is if their government is anything to go by.

[pHyR3]

Yep. Look at what a joke the US "education" is if their government is anything to go by.

or the international rankings, nobel prizes, graduates the stuff that actually matters...

[NRLCrap1]

Likely with a golden handshake.......