2025 World cup

[The Oracle]

And the winner is....France! Victor could be vice captain by then. From the NRL:

The Rugby League World Cup is set to return to France more than 70 years after the nation hosted the inaugural tournament, with French Prime Minister Jean Castex to announce details of the successful 2025 bid on Tuesday.

France has been the IRL’s preferred location for the 2025 World Cup and FFRXIII president Luc Lacoste has won the backing of the French Government to stage the tournament in 40 cities and towns across the country.
“The Prime Minister will announce the launch of the Rugby League World Cup, which will be organised by France in 2025,” an FFRXII statement said.

“This international event, which has not been organised in France for more than 50 years, will help promote the influence of French sport and is intended to irrigate the entire territory, by being organised in around 40 towns.”

France hosted the 1972 World Cup final between Australia and England, who retained the Paul Barrière Trophy after the match ended in a controversial 10-10 draw following the disallowing of a try to Kangaroos fullback Graeme Langlands.


'The World Cup bid had the support of seven-times NRL premiership winning coach Wayne Bennett and Sydney Roosters mentor Trent Robinson, who is the FFRXIII director of coaching.

Bennett went with Grant to a meeting with French consul-general Anne Boillon to propose the World Cup being in France 12 months after the 2024 Paris Olympics and two years after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The French consulate in Sydney tweeted the 2025 World Cup announcement on Saturday.

[Thirteen]

Can’t stand international league.

Bring on THE ROOSTERS!

[rented tracksuit]

Viva Le Coq!

[Mickie Lane]

Can’t stand international league.

Bring on THE ROOSTERS!

Im the opposite. I would love to watch 8 International Rugby League teams playing in a World Cup that any of them could win.
The NRL would be like the EPL with all the best players from around the world playing in it.
It would be great if Robbo can get France into a position of being competitive.

Australia
New Zealand
Tonga
Samoa
PNG
Fiji
England
France

I want Rugby League Internationally to be bigger than Rugby Union & Soccer are Internationally.
It baffles me why the game isnt bigger globally.

[milanja]

Is there a less competitive or irrelevant World Cup?

[milanja]

Im the opposite. I would love to watch 8 International Rugby League teams playing in a World Cup that any of them could win.
The NRL would be like the EPL with all the best players from around the world playing in it.
It would be great if Robbo can get France into a position of being competitive.

Australia
New Zealand
Tonga
Samoa
PNG
Fiji
England
France

I want Rugby League Internationally to be bigger than Rugby Union & Soccer are Internationally.
It baffles me why the game isnt bigger globally.

realistically though Mickey, only Aus,Nz and England will win a World Cup, with Tonga or Samoa a slight chance.

[NorfolkStreetKid]

If the travel restrictions are lifted by then i will be going to this, got a good mate in London i can catch up with and tie it in with a trip to scandinavia.

[Thirteen]

Im the opposite. I would love to watch 8 International Rugby League teams playing in a World Cup that any of them could win.
The NRL would be like the EPL with all the best players from around the world playing in it.
It would be great if Robbo can get France into a position of being competitive.

Australia
New Zealand
Tonga
Samoa
PNG
Fiji
England
France

I want Rugby League Internationally to be bigger than Rugby Union & Soccer are Internationally.
It baffles me why the game isnt bigger globally.

If it was competitive I’d love it too. But the results of all games will be a forgone conclusion. Rugby league is not an international sport. Most likely never will be.

[Thirteen]

If the travel restrictions are lifted by then i will be going to this, got a good mate in London i can catch up with and tie it in with a trip to scandinavia.

If this eventuates you should speak with Mickie Lane. He’s spent some time in London and in Paris and would no doubt know some excellent brothels for you to visit. You should PM him.

[Batemans Bay Rooster]

Is there a less competitive or irrelevant World Cup?

I doubt it.

[rented tracksuit]

If this eventuates you should speak with Mickie Lane. He’s spent some time in London and in Paris and would no doubt know some excellent male brothels for you to visit. You should PM him.

There. Fixed it for ya!

[gragra]

I doubt it.

World Series baseball in the usa....all of one country!

[OMR]

France is the reason I supported the roosters upon landing in Australia in early 70s. Watching my first ever game of rugby league, coming from a Lebanese and soccer background, seeing the RWB jersey drew me to the team called Easts.

[King Salvo]

World Series baseball in the usa....all of one country!

The Commissioners Trophy (World Series Championship) is the hardest sport trophy to win in any major sport competition in the World.

Is the EPL/Bundesliga/ Serie A / La Liga irrelevant for an example as well as they are all played in the one country?

It started as World's Series and then was shortened to World Series - it would have to be acknowledged that the Worlds Best Baseball Players play in the MLB either National or American Leagues so calling it the World Series is apt.

Currently there are players from 27 countries that play major league baseball - even players from Europe - Germany/Netherlands/UK - Australia /New Zealand/South Africa as well.

So it's a misconception to say it's irrelevant as it's all of one country - US as more and more players from overseas are being signed by MLB clubs - The pathway to the Majors is Rookie League/ Single A / Double A / Triple A then Major League.

Canada has one team - Toronto Blue Jays used to be 2 -MontreaLExpos as well but they were moved to Washington DC to become the Washington Nationals.

The Popularity of Baseball is on the rise in Europe with Professional Leagues in 30 European Countries and the MLB having academies in 4 European Countries with more planned plus each MLB club has a networks of Scouts across the Globe

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...seball_leagues

https://www.mister-baseball.com/sche...uts-in-europe/

[Mickie Lane]

The Commissioners Trophy (World Series Championship) is the hardest sport trophy to win in any major sport competition in the World.

Is the EPL/Bundesliga/ Serie A / La Liga irrelevant for an example as well as they are all played in the one country?

It started as World's Series and then was shortened to World Series - it would have to be acknowledged that the Worlds Best Baseball Players play in the MLB either National or American Leagues so calling it the World Series is apt.

Currently there are players from 27 countries that play major league baseball - even players from Europe - Germany/Netherlands/UK - Australia /New Zealand/South Africa as well.

So it's a misconception to say it's irrelevant as it's all of one country - US as more and more players from overseas are being signed by MLB clubs - The pathway to the Majors is Rookie League/ Single A / Double A / Triple A then Major League.

Canada has one team - Toronto Blue Jays used to be 2 -MontreaLExpos as well but they were moved to Washington DC to become the Washington Nationals.

The Popularity of Baseball is on the rise in Europe with Professional Leagues in 30 European Countries and the MLB having academies in 4 European Countries with more planned plus each MLB club has a networks of Scouts across the Globe

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...seball_leagues

https://www.mister-baseball.com/sche...uts-in-europe/

‘Catastrophic’ blunder means Magnus Carlsen is close to retaining world chess championship

Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen is a step closer to retaining the title of world chess champion after he defeated challenger Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi for a second time.
Playing with the white pieces in the eighth game of the FIDE World Chess Championship in Dubai, Carlsen played e4 and Nepomniachtchi answered with e5, steering the game into the Petrov defence (Russian defence).

It was Carlsen who pulled out the first surprise move in the game playing 7. Nd2 in the Steinitz attack variation.
Nepomniachtchi soon responded with a thunderbolt of his own, playing the shocking 9. h5 after Carlsen castled.
The caveman-style move sent Carlsen into a long think while Nepomniachtchi paced in the playing hall.
Carlsen responded with the odd-looking Qe1+, sending Nepomniachtchi’s king scurrying to Kf8.

The resulting middle game was uncomfortable for Nepomniachtchi. Carlsen’s precise moves kept the Russian under pressure.
In response to Carlsen’s energetic sequence 20. c4 dxc4 21. Bxc4, Nepomniachtchi played the “catastrophic” blunder b5 and Carlsen found the right move — the sharp 22. Qa3+.

Computers analysed the resulting position as +6, an overwhelming advantage for Carlsen.
Soon afterwards, Nepomniachtchi resigned after reaching a dead-lost queen and pawn endgame.
Nepomniachtchi said after the game he probably didn’t defend in the best way.

“It becomes truly unpleasant and frankly speaking it’s hard to defend after such a blunder,” he said.
Carlsen said: “I am very happy with the result. Obviously, it’s huge. Otherwise, pretty tired, looking forward to the rest day.”
It’s the second win for Carlsen after he drew first blood in game six in what was a 136-move marathon.
The Norwegian is now in the box seat to retain the top title in chess, which he’s held since 2013.


Magnificent play by Carlsen & condolences to Nepomniachtchi