English NRL Team

[Mr Ryan]

Marwan Koukash behind bid to introduce English franchise into NRL

British billionaire Marwan Koukash is behind an audacious bid to introduce an English club into an expanded NRL competition.

Fairfax Media can reveal that Koukash, who owns English club Salford Red Devils, has already secured an international airline to sponsor the budding franchise.

The development comes just days after former South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson was announced as the NRL's head of game strategy and development as part of the governing body's push to broaden rugby league's international footprint.

The issue of expansion will again be on the Australian Rugby League Commission's agenda when the present broadcast deal expires at the end of 2017.



While bids for new teams in New Zealand, Queensland, Perth and the central coast in an expanded competition have been mooted for some time, this is the first attempt to introduce an English-based franchise into the league's premier competition.

"This the only way the sport is going to grow, through integration between the two competitions," Koukash told Fairfax Media.

"I have asked the NRL if it would ever allow an English side to play in the NRL. The way it would work is you apply for a franchise and assemble a team over here that operates under the same salary cap as the NRL.

"The team would come over to Australia to play all of its away games. Over three months they would play about a dozen games.

"Then we would come back to England and host an Aussie team every week. The way we would do it is we'd take it to places like London, Manchester, areas outside the traditional geographical area of rugby league here.

"Imagine bringing Souths and Brisbane and playing in London against a British team. That would be massive.

"Some of those games could be played in places like Dubai and [Las] Vegas. It's about growing the sport globally."

In an acknowledgment of the importance of the English game, the traditional World Club Challenge has been expanded this year to include six teams, three from each hemisphere.

Brisbane and St George Illawarra will join premiers South Sydney in taking on the best of the British – Warrington, Wigan and reigning champions St Helens. But the new proposal will ensure there is a weekly clash between Australia and England if the NRL gives it the green light.

Koukash said he had discussed his vision with NRL boss Dave Smith late last year and was planning to travel to Australia in March to further outline his proposal.

While there will be logistical challenges due to the tyranny of distance – the scheduling of byes for travelling Australian teams will be crucial – Koukash believes they could be overcome.

"If, for example, you play the Gold Coast [in England], they could play the week before on the Thursday," he said.

"They could get here on the Saturday and that would give them a week to prepare for the game in London or Manchester or whatever. They play the game and shoot back, so if they play the following Sunday that would give them eight days to get back to Australia. It will only be once a year for every [Australian or New Zealand] team."

Koukash has come from humble beginnings. Born in Palestine, as an eight-year-old he had to walk with his family for three days without food after the family farm was bombed. He didn't own a pair of shoes until he was 12. Now, he is worth an estimated $3 billion.

Asked if he would personally organise and bankroll the bold venture, the racing magnate said: "Yes, I definitely will.

"I have the support of one international airline that would be prepared to sponsor the whole thing.

"It's fine to take another team to Brisbane or New Zealand, but this would be a bigger [opportunity], the benefits are there for both competitions.

"When you want to grow, you can't always grow within your existing products, you have to introduce something new.

"Some people might be worried about taking the shine away from their competition but this is a genuine way to grow rugby league internationally."

AN ENGLISH TEAM IN THE NRL: HOW IT WOULD WORK

- If granted a licence, it would compete against existing NRL teams.

- The English side would comprise players born and bred in Britain and would comply with the NRL's salary cap restraints.

- It would play all its away games in a block during a three-month stint in Australia.

- NRL teams travelling to Britain would be given a bye to counteract travel fatigue and aid recovery.

- Some fixtures could be played in locations such as Dubai or Las Vegas to make rugby league grow internationally.

I'm not sure if there's another thread for this kinda stuff, but I think its worth discussing.

Personally I think its a great idea.

It would do wonders for the game over there.

 

[evertonshark]

I dunno, possibility it'd be a novelty that would wear off after a few seasons and end up costing a fortune.

Would it be detrimental to the ESL as well ?

 

[Mr Wright]

Not feasible at all.

 

[Beejay]

What newspaper was this printed in?

If given the choice again, I'm sure the Super Rugby competition would be organised differently. The time zones and travel time are ridiculous.

 

[Gow's Scissors]

IRL?

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

im sure a dick like dave smith would allow this.

what a stupid idea. national rugby league....we already have 1 international team in the comp we dont need another

 

[slide rule]

**** idea. Travel would be a total bummer.

Why not just develop a better World Club Challenge? Super League were on the right path with that one.

 

[evertonshark]

Wouldn't they be better off trying to grow the game in france, scotland, ireland and wales ?

 

[Littleshark]

What is this insanity

 

[The Wild Man]

Wouldn't they be better off trying to grow the game in france, scotland, ireland and wales ?

Or at Goodison Park maybe?

 

[The Wild Man]

Has anyone else noticed the dude's name looking to finance this?

Marwan Koukash.

Jumble the syllables and presto.... "Wanmar Kashkou".... aka "One More Cash Cow"

Dont ask me how I see these things. Still trying to work that out myself.

 

[evertonshark]

Or at Goodison Park maybe?

Ha, I meant overtaking boring old rugby union for starters

 

[Addy]

It would be bizarre going to an live NRL game on a Saturday and a live ESL game on a Sunday

 

[Gil]

It wouldn't work.
Imagine trying to sort out training then flights and hope you don't have a short turn around.

It would cost clubs a small fortune to sen a team over there.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

It wouldn't work.
Imagine trying to sort out training then flights and hope you don't have a short turn around.

It would cost clubs a small fortune to sen a team over there.

He claims he'd pay

Crowds would take a hit. All home games (in oz) would have 1 teams fans only.

 

[CrankyShark]

Well the English side should never lose a home game considering how miserable the travel would be for the other teams. Then they get to cosy down in Australia for three months to play their away games.

Give me strength.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

Well the English side should never lose a home game considering how miserable the travel would be for the other teams. Then they get to cosy down in Australia for three months to play their away games.

Give me strength.

Haha broncos 2.0 favourable draw

 

[Western Sharkie]

Wld only work if the team was based in OZ for the season but if they did that, then what's the point?
It wld just be an NRL team full of English players. That would make it the National team then wouldn't it?

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

Wld only work if the team was based in OZ for the season but if they did that, then what's the point?
It wld just be an NRL team full of English players. That would make it the National team then wouldn't it?

If he was serious, he would have an aussie team that is owned/operated by Salford, but be an Australian based team. It is rather arrogant the way he describes how 'easy' the travel would be.
He says if the titans go over, they play in Australia the thursday, fly out friday, have a week off, play, fly home, then play a week later again.........for starters we dont play thursday games year round. Nor should our teams have to go to the trouble of travelling across the world for a national competition. Yes its only once a season but its not really the point. What happens if the England side makes the grand final? What if a player like Luke Lewis strains a hammy on game day, but has to jump on a plane the next morning and spend 20 hours in the air, which is time he could have been doing rehab on his leg. Its a massive dis-advantage to every team going over that they lose that day after for recovery rendering all game prep behind the 8 ball from the word go

Ive been dirty about their being a NZ team in our 'national' competition, if the NRL ever allowed this I think id have to give up on them ever getting it right. England has a comp, a comp that is improving in quality. Maybe the world club challenge needs to be looked at, as having an English team in the NRL will do nothing but create havoc. You

 

[Capital_Shark]

A logistical nightmare. Not to mention we're yet to expand enough to justifythe "N" in NRL.

I like that this bloke wants RL to grow globally, but I'd see more sense in pumping the dollars into growing and strengthening the various competitions around the world rather than pumping the money into air travel. I can't see the return anyway, we'd basically restructure an entire competition to account for one franchise's location (we struggle to do this Townsville as it is for ****s sake) but the novelty of Titans v Salford will wear off pretty quick, quicker if Salford are having a crook year. NRL fans aren't known for showing up in droves to see genuine stars trot out, I don't see Shark Park for instance bursting at the seams cause ****ing Salford is in town - you think we draw a small number against the Cowboys or Warriors, I'd argue there are more Cowboys or Warriors fans in your street than Salford fans.