RLIF give more power to minor nations

Tuesday 11th May 2010

Above: Colin Love - retained as RLIF Chairman.

By STEVE MASCORD

The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) constitution is to be overhauled to give minor countries a bigger say in the international game, while Tonga are to play Samoa in a full international during this year's Four Nations.

These developments, Wales' acceptance as a full member of rugby league's international board and the formation of a southern hemisphere federation were the main business to emerge from last week's RLIF meeting in Melbourne, which also rubber-stamped the abolition of cornerpots in the NRL next season.

The Federation has not issued any statement about its' meeting but rugbyleague.com spoke to several delegates to get to the bottom of what transpired.

It's the cornerpost issue which is already receiving the most publicity Down Under.

"The argument is that a player can run 100 metres down the sideline, puting one foot in the air over the touch line all the way, and then when he gets to the tryline and knocks the cornerpost he is out of play," ARL chief executive Geoff Carr explained.

Under a proposed constitutional change, Australia, New Zealand and England will be permanent members of a restructed Federation executive while Europe and a new Asia-Pacific Federations will also appoint delegates to the executive.

RLIF chairman Colin Love said having an Asia Pacific Federation would help the game attract government funding in the Pacific in the same way the RLEF does this in Europe.

"There was a feeling from the Pacific countries that it helps them in dealing with governments if they have an affiliation to a regional body," Love told rugbyleague.com.

Smaller countries have long complained the bigger league nations pushed them around but now they will have a say.

The Rugby League Asia Pacific Confederation should mean more competition between South Pacific Countries - starting with a Tonga-Samoa game at Parramatta Stadium during the Four Nations, on October 24 on the same bill as Australia-Papua New Guinea.

"There will be NRL and Super League players involved and the best facilities made available," Carr said. said.

Meanwhile, as previously reported by rugbyleague.com, Wales - where the 1908 Kangaroos spent a month on tour - have finally been accepted as full members of the RLIF.

Plus, there is continuing discussion about the RLIF selling Test match TV rights after 2012 and Australia, New Zealand and England talked about their plans for Four Nations warm-up games.

Australia coach Tim Sheens is considering a match against Cook Islands, Fiji or Lebanon, New Zealand are looking to again play Tonga but RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis has scotched talk at the meeting about England hosting the last game at Knowsley Road before the Four Nations.

The issues of Sam Burgess being released to play for England and Melborne being stripped of their world championship were not discussed at the day-and-a-half Annual General Meeting of the global body at Melbourne's Holiday Inn On Flinders.


THE RLIF's MAIN DECISIONS:

• No cornerposts in the NRL next year
• An Asia-Pacfic Rugby League Federation to be formed
• Wales made full member of the RLIF.
• Colin Love retained as chairman. David Gallop retained as secretary.
• Two extra places, one from the northern hemisphere and one from the southern hemisphere, to be created on the RLIF Executive.
• Tonga and Samoa to play as curtain-raiser to Australia-PNG at Parramatta Stadium on October 24.
• Australia to play Cook Island, Fiji or Lebanon in October.
• European Cup may be renamed European Championships because there is unlikely to be a final.