​14 September 2021
 
Poll shows 88% of French people are in favor of Rugby League World Cup in 2025 in France
 
According to the survey of people in France, organized by the Institute Francaise d’Opinion Publique (IFOP), 88% of respondents support the plan to organize the Rugby League World Cup in France in 2025
In addition, the study shows that 69% of the French people would like the competition to take place in their region, giving support to the Organizing Committee's decision to host the competition in around 40 different towns and cities.
The proposed format of the competition will see, for the very first time, men’s, women’s, wheelchair, and youth competitions organized simultaneously and equally. A format that is proving very popular and has 88% general approval and 41% very supportive.
The survey demonstrates that 67% of the population are ready to support the French national teams, 73% believe that the event would have a unifying effect and 76% believe it will be very positive for the morale of the nation. Finally, 72% agree that such a huge event would benefit the French economy and especially the tourism economy in the host cities.
The business model is based upon 1.3 million tickets being bought with 60% sold in France and 40% to international visitors. Importantly, 33% of the population surveyed said that they are ready to buy tickets now. 
Michel Wiener, Directeur Exécutif du Comité de Candidature,
“This survey has demonstrated the support of the general public for our proposed plan to deliver a huge international sports event including all forms of the sport, in multiple towns and cities at affordable prices. It confirms the positive welcome already offered by local authorities across the country. We are very happy with this demonstration of widespread support for our proposal to organize the Rugby League World Cup in France in 2025.”
Jérôme Fourquet, Directeur du Département Opinion & Stratégies d'Entreprise de l'IFOP,
“The results of the survey are a positive response to France’s plan to organize RLWC2025 and illustrate the strong support for rugby as a sport that interests the public and can attract a large audience. 31% of the public aged over 18 years, which represents potentially 15 million people, have said that they are fairly or very interested in rugby. By comparison, the similar figure for football is 29%.”
*The survey was conducted between August 31 and September 3, 2021. There were 1803 participants drawn to form a national sample.
 
 
For PR and media requests please contact:
Niel Wood 
media@intrl.sport

​In December 1989, on the inaugural meeting of the South African Amateur Rugby League, held at the Old Edwardian Club in Johannesburg, Dave Southern was elected Chairman of the new body. It was a fitting assignment for Southern, who, with Anthony Barker, initiated the process of relaunching rugby league in South Africa. Born in Widnes, a rugby league stronghold located between Liverpool and Manchester, the task of reviving the 13-player code, was as natural as breathing. It all started in December 1988, when Southern met Barker from Wigan, in the Johannesburg Irish pub, called Fibber Maghees next to the Kyalami Racing circuit. Sharing the idea of starting rugby league locally Southern contacted, Harry Edgar from Open Rugby and Mr David Oxley, Rugby Football League Chairman, about assistance with launching the sport. The continued existence of apartheid and the lack of a rugby league World Development Officer to help complicated matters with no assistance forthcoming. 

Unperturbed, Southern and Barker took it upon themselves to set the ball rolling. A member of the Old Edwardians (Old Eds) Rugby Football Club in Johannesburg at the time, Southern used all their available resources to give impetus to the process. To determine potential interest from players, coaches, and administrators, an advertisement was placed in the Saturday Star. This brought at least 40 interested individuals into the process. They further received support from Star reporter, Rodney Hartman, who as a follow-up, wrote an article outlining further plans and desires. He also assisted with advertising the next meeting, which was to become the inaugural meeting at Old Edwardians, where the SA Amateur Rugby League was constituted and leadership elected. 
Started from a modest base, the SAARL operated from leased facilities with one paid official, Dave Southern, who was tasked with spreading the rugby league gospel in schools and the black townships. This was financed with the aid of income generated through a fundraising dinner. Limited financial support was also later received from the British Rugby League.

Southern served the organisation until June 1993.  After leaving SARL, he, together with Barry Haslam, and others established Mini League – a developmental program aimed at growing rugby league’s local base. In 1999, after a 12 –year stay in South Africa, Dave Southern moved to Ireland, where he became the inaugural chairman of Rugby League Ireland after its establishment in 2000.

By Hendrik Snyders

​In December 1989, at a meeting at the Old Edwardian Club in Johannesburg, at the inaugural meeting of the South African Amateur Rugby League, Trevor Lake was elected its inaugural president. The rest of his committee consisted of Dave Southern (Chairman), Tony Lane (Secretary), Peter Cooke (Promotions Director) and Andre Harmse (Players Representative). Tony Barker, in his absence, was elected Vice-Chairman).

Trevor Lake was born in Umtali in Rhodesia and played rugby union as a flank forward at school. However, more success came when he switched to the wing. He played for Old Miltonians, the Matabeleland province side, Rhodesia and the Quagga team – a South African select team, similar to the Barbarians. He also had three trials for the Springboks before being approached to join Wigan. Someone from Wigan who worked for the Rhodesia Iron and Steel Corporation approached him on behalf of the club and he signed a four-year contract with a £5,000 signing on fee.

He made his debut at Central Park on 3 November 1962 and scored two tries against Oldham in a 14-14 draw. Wigan skipper Eric Ashton recognised his talent: “He was a good finisher. You never had to look for him. If you broke, he’d be with you. He was a great talent.” Lake had refused to play a trial for Wigan, and had made his debut only a few hours after arriving at the club. He played 17 league matches in the weather-disrupted 1962-63 season, scoring 10 more tries to add to the two on his debut.

Wigan finished runners-up in the First Division in 1963-64 but made little impact in the cup competitions. But for Lake, it was a magnificent season, with 43 tries from 40 appearances. In 1964-65 he made up for the disappointment of missing out on the Challenge Cup Final in 1963. He played in every match on the way to Wembley, scored a try in the first round against Barrow and then got two against Swinton in the semi-final. In the final Wigan faced Hunslet, and won 20-16 in one of the greatest finals of all time. Lake scored two of his team’s tries. His first helped consolidate Wigan’s lead in the first half, for his second he was put in by Ray Ashby and “swallow-dived in at the corner for a spectacular try.” He also topped both his club and the national try scorers list with 40 from 34 appearances. 

Along with fellow South African, Gert Coetzer, Lake played for a Commonwealth XIII against the New Zealand tourists at the start of the 1965-66 season. Wigan returned to Wembley for the Challenge Cup Final, this time to play local rivals, St Helens. He missed the first-round win over Halifax, but played in every other Challenge Cup match, including a four-try haul against Whitehaven in the second round. But the final was an anti-climax, with Wigan lacking a regular hooker, they were unable to win possession at the scrums and lost 21-2. In the Championship they had finished third in the table and lost in the semi-final to Halifax. Lake scored 32 tries in the season, once again topping the Wigan try scorers list, and finishing joint-top with compatriot Len Killeen in the national list.

Wigan had last won the Lancashire Cup in the 1951-52 season. With only a few weeks left on his contract, and the club refusing to pay the £3,000 Lake wanted to extend it, his last act for Wigan was to help them win the long-elusive Lancashire Cup. He scored in the first round win at Leigh, missed the narrow win over St Helens in the second round, but then returned for the semi-final and final. His last match was the final, a 16-13 win over Oldham at Swinton. In four years at Central Park, he scored 132 tries in 140 appearances and was the top try scorer for the club in the three full seasons he played. 

He then signed for St George in Australia, following Fred Griffiths, Colin Greenwood and others to the ARL. He received a reputed £12,000 signing on fee, but the move was not a success. He only played eight matches in two years, scoring four tries. A knee injury in 1968 finished his career in Australia, and he returned to South Africa in 1969. He went on to develop a successful business career.

By Hendrik Snyders

​On 29 August 1895, 126 years ago, following a split between the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and 22 of its clubs over the issue of financial compensation to players who have lost earnings as a result of their rugby commitments (so-called ‘broken time”), the Northern Rugby Football Union (NRFU) was founded at the George Hotel in Huddersfield. 

This event, roughly coincided with the completion of the Third Currie Cup Tournament in Johannesburg, the founding of the Orange Free State (OFS) and Rhodesian (now Zimbabwean) Rugby Football Unions. The breakaway action and the subsequent decision of the RFU to declare any player who has participated in a game where gate money was taken, a professional, had direct implications for the South African Rugby Football Board (SARF) (1889) and its affiliates.

One month before the launch of the Northern Rugby Football Union, the Orange River Colony Rugby Football Union (ORCFU) requested the intervention of the South African Rugby Football Board (SARFB) in a case of suspected professionalism when a player called “Jumpers” was suspected of having changed both residence and workplace to play for another union. In its reply to this request, the SARFB stressed the need for conclusive evidence before it could act.

It also noted that:” in a country like this where men are always more or less on the move, it would I think, be almost an impossibility to prove that a man had changed residence solely on the inducement of better employment or a pecuniary consideration be given him on his promising to play for a certain town or club, and it should also be borne in mind that the player himself would invariably deny the charge and that it would be no easy task to get the person who offered the inducement to admit that he had done so.” Following this and moving into the 20th century, the body on various occasions had to give strong guidance to its affiliates concerning this and other matters. 

Two years later (1897), the newly-established South African Coloured Rugby Football Board (SACRFB), a black rugby body, adopted the rules of the Rugby Football Union and similarly outlawed professionalism.

By Hendrik Snyders

​On this day, 30 years ago, the South African Rugby League was launched with Trevor Lake (President) and Dave Southern as full-time Administrator. This came after 25 years of inactivity and following the repression of the sport under Rugby League South Africa. The launch was the result of an initiative of rugby league expatriates and fans, Tony Barker and Dave Southern, who met by chance at an Irish pub in Johannesburg in December 1988. Ignorant of the code’s eventful past and lacking any outside assistance, but determined to ‘have access to their game from home’, the two agreed to ‘start’ rugby league locally. The ambitious Barker-Southern project entered life at the same time that the larger South African society started its political transition from being a racist, to an open, equal and democratic society. This had all manner of implications for the rugby league project. 

Determined to realise their objectives Southern and Barker with the assistance of journalist Rodney Hartman advertised a series of meetings to gauge local interest in the project. Amongst those that attended the first meetings were a few former league players, administrators and match officials such as Trevor Lake (Wigan), Ray Mordt (Wigan), Tony Lane (Lock Lane) and former referee Barry Haslam. Their presence and insights into the game were critical for the launch of the next phase of the project, namely the election of office-bearers and the launch of the new body on 26 August 1991. Among the pioneers driving this process were Trevor Lake, Dave Southern, John Callaghan, Peter Cook, Tony Barker, Jacey Strauss. 

By Hendrik Snyders

The South African Rugby League Sport Association (SARLA), in partnership with European Rugby League (ERL), is currently offering a Level 1 Coaching course to individuals interested in branching into the thirteen-player code. Given the current Covid-restrictions and the Covid-19 lockdown in South Africa and the challenge of the distance between provinces, the course is presented virtually, using SARLA’s online platforms.

The course, which started on 22 July 2021, is presented by Martin Crick, Coach Education Development Officer from the ERL and affords current SARLSA coaches an opportunity to update their official accreditation. It also offered a new generation of coaches, coming from rugby unions, an opportunity to obtain their Rugby League Level 1 qualification.

Crick is assisted by co-presenters, Jean Coetzer (SARLA Coach Educator) and Nico Serfontein, a former Rhinos and professional player in the British rugby league. Both presenters have been involved with the domestic rugby league for a significant period. Serfontein in turn is currently employed by the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and holds a Level 3 Coaching Certificate which is a pre-requisite for the coaching of national and international teams. 

The course, which started with sessions on a session on “The roles and responsibilities of a coach”, and “Developing a Coaching Philosophy”, consists of 8 modules that are presented online on Monday evenings.  Upon completion of the prescribed modules, candidates will be required to complete a practical assignment, namely drafting a 6 weeks practical coaching programme. This collaboration between SARLA and SARU is the direct result of the former having obtained associate membership of the latter in 2019.  

Commenting on the progress with the course, SARLSA Director of Coaching, Krappie Eloff, noted:
“The online course is exceeding our wildest expectations in terms of participation and the level of enthusiasm of the candidates. This is a first for South Africa and we are looking forward to harvesting the fruits of this intervention over the next couple of years. There are 17 candidates on the course currently, including a group of current rugby union coaches eager to get involved with rugby league. 

All are very enthusiastic and eagerly participate in the discussions. Enthusiasm is further boosted by the involvement of Fanie Bredenhann, the National Rhino Coach. A veteran of both rugby union and league, Fanie is assisting the new entrants from the union to get to grips with the technical aspects of the game and in so doing, gives fresh impetus to their conversion to the 13-player code. The second round of training starts on Monday 20 September 2021. Any coaches from rugby league or rugby union interested in joining the second online session are welcome to contact me at directorcoaching@sarugbyleague.co.za”.

ABE MIDAS RUGBY LEAGUE PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK
Enslin Dlambulo

Enslin Dlambulo started his rugby career at Langa High School in Cape Town during the 1950s. Playing as a loose forward, he was up against formidable opposition but succeeded in making a name for himself. By 1958 he was selected to represent the Western Province Bantu Rugby Football Board in the Native Recruitment Cup Competition at the Caledonian Grounds in Mowbray, Cape Town. He also retained his position for the 1959 tournament in Queenstown.

 Dlambulo made his national debut at Number Eight for the African Springboks of the South African Bantu Rugby Football Board (later the SA African Rugby Football Board / SA Rugby Association) on 5 October 1957 at the Port Elizabeth Showgrounds in Port Elizabeth against the Coloured Springboks of the SA Coloured Rugby Football Board (later the SA Rugby Union). They unfortunately lost the test, but Dlambulo did enough to maintain his place for two more tests. 

During the 1959 test he caught the attention of a visiting rugby league scout which resulted in Dlambulo being offered a professional playing contract with Bradford Northern and Keighley rugby league clubs. He played professional rugby league for five years (1962-1967).

Goolam Abed had suggested to Northern that they sign Dlambulo. Dlambulo arrived in Britain in the middle of the dreadful winter of 1963, and made his debut in February at Whitehaven. Parts of the pitch were rock hard, and it is hard to imagine more alien conditions for a South African player. Trevor Delaney says that “the mobile, slightly-built South African showed impressive ball skills and defended better than most of the team. Northern lost 34–8. Dlambulo finished the season with 12 first team appearances, and made another 12 the following season before the club collapsed. He then joined Keighley, but only made nine first team appearances, including one off the bench, scoring one try, until the end of the 1966–67 season. At the time of writing he is believed to be living in Spain.

By Hendrik Snyders

​The board of European Rugby League has expressed its huge sadness after the peaceful passing of their chair, Maurice Watkins CBE, at his home in Cheshire, aged 79 from prostate cancer.  

He joined the ERL board as chair in July 2012 replacing Richard Lewis, and has overseen the growth of the federation from 23 to 42 members covering Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North and Central America and the Caribbean, with more than ever before ranked as full and affiliate.

One of the UK’s best-known sports lawyers and a long-time director of Manchester United, during his ERL tenure the volume of international rugby league being played by confederation members increased exponentially.

Additionally, Maurice served as a director of the Rugby Football League in England for 12 years until 2014, during which time he led a comprehensive review of the sport.

He also served on the boards of Lancashire County Cricket Club, British Swimming and the British Basketball Federation as well as a host of non-sports related charities, leading the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity’s new build appeal and raising £20m. He was awarded the CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2011 for his services to charity.  

On behalf of the ERL board, Graeme Thompson commented: “Maurice provided great experience in his role, which our organisation massively benefited from. His strong legal career provided great guidance on many matters, governance was another key area he led on. 

“His reputation in the sport’s world was high and having him as our chair brought us credibility and the ability to develop new partnerships. The initial relationship with the European Union was due to his extensive network and reputation.”

Thompson added: “All our general managers benefited from his wisdom and mentoring, which was always delivered in such a supportive manner. His board colleagues enjoyed the same and appreciated his kindness and the generosity of time he gave to everyone. 

“He was fine company with a good and sharp sense of humour and was proud to be the chair of ERL - he loved the culture of the federation and greatly admired the work that all the nations made, in a collective manner, to develop the sport.”

“It is a very sad day, none more so than for his family who are uppermost in our thoughts. We have been fortunate to have had Maurice play a major role in our journey and we will always be grateful for that and remember his unstinting contribution accordingly.”

ABE MIDAS Rugby League Personality of the Week
Taureq (Richard) Britton – Rhino 1994

​Taureq (Richard) Britton was born in the Strand into a family with strong links with the St. George’s Rugby Football Club. This club played under the auspices of the former Somerset & Districts Rugby Board which in turn was a member of the non-racial and anti-apartheid South African Rugby Union (SARU). In line with the family tradition, he started his rugby career with the St. George’s Juniors. After matriculating from Elsies River High School on the Cape Flats, he joined Belhar RFC after school –playing fullback for two years in the competitions of the Tygerberg Rugby Union. During this period and following an injury to one of the club’s lock forwards, Taureq, then still known as Richard, was switched to the forward pack – a move that had a significant impact on his further career. His first representative selection thereafter was his selection to the Tygerberg Rugby Union ‘B’-side. This period also saw his conversion to Islam and adoption of the name Taureq.
At the end of the 1986 season, Taureq left Tygerberg and joined the Young Stars RFC under the auspices of the Green Point-based Western Province Rugby Union - the leading province under SARU. Within this surroundings, Britton played in the extremely competitive Kajee Moosa competition. Based on credible performances during his maiden season, he gained selection to the Western Province for the inter-provincial South African Cup in 1987. The newcomer to the WP-pack also distinguished himself in defeating the City & Suburban Rugby Union in a festival game at the University of the Western Cape. In addition to delivering “a superb performance in the line-outs”, he scored a try
A particular high point was him playing in the SA Cup final against the Kwazakhele Rugby Union (KWARU) – a match they won by 3-0. This was further crowned a year later by Taureq winning non-racial rugby’s highest honour – a place in the SARU national side. He made his debut on 10 October 1987 against the Eastern Cape XV at the Adcock Stadium. This was followed on 1 October 1988, by a festival match against the SA Country Districts at Mooreesburg. Britton maintained his place in the national side for their game against the Eastern Province Centenary Invitational XV played at the Adcock Stadium in Port Elizabeth on 9 September 1989. In this game he continued his outstanding form by winning the lionshare of the lineout possession. When he won his fourth cap on 26 August versus a Transvaal XV and his fifth on 29 September 1990 in the match against the Border Zone, the Cape Times described the player at number 4 as “arguably without peer as a lineout specialist” that gave his side “a significant advantage in this phase”. An additional honour was Britton’s being made vice-captain of the national side which was captained by scrumhalf Allister Coetzee, the future Springbok coach.
In 1991, on the eve of rugby unity, Taureq joined the Hamilton RFC in Cape Town from where he won a place in the Western Province Currie Cup side. After unity, he also won selection into the SA Development XV for matches against France, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Argentina. Britton also represented Western Province in the Melrose Sevens competition.
Following his achievements in rugby union, Taureq Britton entered rugby league during the 1993 – 1994 seasons, playing for Cape Town in the second row. Coached by former Dewsbury rugby league professional, Martin Birmingham, the player made an immediate impression. Among others, he assisted his club to win the national championship. He also played for the Cape Raiders Rugby League Sevens team. This resulted in his selection and debut on 5 March 1994 in Randburg, for the South African national rugby league team, the Rhinos, in the ‘test’ against BARLA Lions. With only two Cape Town-based players in the side, Britton also cemented his place in rugby league history.

​ABE MIDAS – RUGBY LEAGUE LEGEND OF THE WEEK
JAMIE BLOEM

Jamie Bloem played top class rugby league from 1992 to 2005. He played over 300 games, mainly for Halifax, and including international appearances for South Africa and Scotland. In nearly 20 years in England, where he now lives with his wife and two children, he also played and coached rugby union, been a radio commentator, and has been one of few former professional players to become a referee. 

During his national service and prior to his entry into rugby league, Jamie, played rugby union for his Army regimental unit. Upon his discharge, he joined Milnerton RFC in Cape Town. From there he was selected for Western Province Under-20 and Under-21 teams. During the early 1990’s Jamie played a few games for the Cape Town Coasters at Megawatt Park in the Inter City Competition which the club won.

In November 1992, Bloem was chosen to play for South Africa in the international series against the Commonwealth of Independent States (Russia). This was South Africa’s official entry into rugby league test match rugby. Following this entry on the international stage, he joined Castleford a year later. After a short stay, he moved to Oldham as a utility back. This period was also short-lived with Jamie soon after moving on to Doncaster. Bloem made 34 appearances for the club.

During the first part of his stay, Jamie also played for London Monarchs American Football team for a period of six months. When he came to England, Jamie’s best position was at full-back, but at Halifax he gradually became a second-row forward. In 1997 he was selected for South Africa who were touring France and played in two test matches and two games against club sides.
 
After a period out of rugby league, he rejoined the code and signed with Widness who were playing in the First Division. Jamie played for one and half seasons at Widnes, and managed to also fit in some rugby union during the off season, including being selected for Cheshire. 

In May 1998, Halifax tempted him back to Yorkshire. Apart from a short spell at Huddersfield, Jamie stayed at Halifax for the rest of his professional career, and still lives in the town. In his first season they finished third in Super League. For the 2000 World Cup, Bloem captained the South African Rhino side. Although a stronger team than in 1995, they were still facing experienced opposition. Despite five weeks of preparation, the developing national side, lost most of their games. Results against Wales at Loftus, were equally disappointing.  

In 1999 Jamie made a short return to rugby union, but this time in France where he represented Racing Metro in Paris, in the Super Cup and the Heineken Cup. Thereafter, he returned to Halifax and rugby league where he spent three years before moving to Huddersfield whom he represented in 22 matches in Super League. Following the appointment of a new Giants coach and his exclusion from the coach’s future plans, Jamie rejoined Halifax, where he played on a part-time basis while planning his long-term future.

With the game in South Africa at a low ebb after the 2000 World Cup, Bloem accepted an invitation to play for Scotland based on maternal ancestry. In this capacity, he represented his new team against Wales and Ireland. He finally retired from professional rugby league in 2005.

By Hendrik Snyders