MY
RLWC on FS
4:55pm Australia v England Replay (plus several more repeats of this match as filler throughout the week - doesn't matter how many times they show it Australia will still win)
Tomorrow
10:30am LIVE Fiji v USA (replay Wednesday 9:00am)
Sunday
5:30am LIVE France v Lebanon (replay Monday 12:00pm)
Saturday 4th Nov
6:30am LIVE Samoa v Tonga (replay at 4:10pm plus more in the week)
6:20pm REPLAY England v Lebanon (again, lots of replays throughout the week)
Sunday 5th Nov
6:00am EXCLUSIVE - LIVE Italy v USA
Saturday 11th Nov
6:00am LIVE Samoa v Scotland
Sunday 12th Nov
7:30am LIVE Wales v Ireland
7:30pm REPLAY England v France
Sun 19th Nov
2:00am England v France
4:55pm Australia v England Replay (plus several more repeats of this match as filler throughout the week - doesn't matter how many times they show it Australia will still win)
Tomorrow
10:30am LIVE Fiji v USA (replay Wednesday 9:00am)
Sunday
5:30am LIVE France v Lebanon (replay Monday 12:00pm)
Saturday 4th Nov
6:30am LIVE Samoa v Tonga (replay at 4:10pm plus more in the week)
6:20pm REPLAY England v Lebanon (again, lots of replays throughout the week)
Sunday 5th Nov
6:00am EXCLUSIVE - LIVE Italy v USA
Saturday 11th Nov
6:00am LIVE Samoa v Scotland
Sunday 12th Nov
7:30am LIVE Wales v Ireland
7:30pm REPLAY England v France
Sun 19th Nov
2:00am England v France
S7
A funny opening from Mark Chapman 
Perhaps a statement on BBC Sport trying not to 'break the bank'?
"This is Melbourne, it's 26°, it's sunny, it's lovely... We've got a top team Down Under, and I'm off to the studio in Salford to present it."
(From BBC Aus v Eng)
Perhaps a statement on BBC Sport trying not to 'break the bank'?
"This is Melbourne, it's 26°, it's sunny, it's lovely... We've got a top team Down Under, and I'm off to the studio in Salford to present it."
(From BBC Aus v Eng)
TL
toby lerone 2016
Premier Sports the primary rights holder again - seems to only be England games, a quarter final, a semi final and final on the BBC. Anyone know if Freesports are showing anything from it?
The deal was put in place before the last RLWC that the coverage was shared between BBC and Premier Sports for 2013 and 2017 with BBC mainly focusing on England matches and the same happened for the Four Nations. I don't know if this applied for the 2017 RLWC but in 2013 the BBC had no limit on the amount of matches they could show but were only allowed to cover New Zealand or Australia live if they played England or got to the final therefore the only non-England matches they covered was Wales v Italy on the opening day and the final itself between Australia and New Zealand.
This is also the last tournament for the time being split between the BBC/Premier Sports/Freesports as the BBC have exclusive rights for the 2021 tournament in England and the Four Nations looks to have been scrapped with tours of New Zealand and Australia to Europe happening and a revival of the Great Britain team in 2019.
TI
Possibly, but he's also got both NFL shows, MOTD2 & Extra to present as well.
A funny opening from Mark Chapman Perhaps a statement on BBC Sport trying not to 'break the bank'?
"This is Melbourne, it's 26°, it's sunny, it's lovely... We've got a top team Down Under, and I'm off to the studio in Salford to present it."
Perhaps a statement on BBC Sport trying not to 'break the bank'?
"This is Melbourne, it's 26°, it's sunny, it's lovely... We've got a top team Down Under, and I'm off to the studio in Salford to present it."
Possibly, but he's also got both NFL shows, MOTD2 & Extra to present as well.
S7
Ah, true. He's a busy guy.
After a few years, they've ended up with some fun opening titles for rugby league – similar to this 2016 version (below), but of course including World Cup teams' kits and locations in the host countries.
Having distinctive titles and music is especially nice when you're used to broadcasters Down Under, whose only approach seems to be "How many more ways can we rip off the music from Gladiator / Batman / Epic Movie ?"
...When I say "movie rip-off", I mean, how the BBC Super League music was a few years ago.
Or the tournament organizers' official theme tune, titled "Why Not Watch A Film Instead?" Dramatic, yes, but very unoriginal by now.
It'd be crazy if it stopped with no replacement. Obviously it'll never have the same international appeal as State of Origin
After a few years, they've ended up with some fun opening titles for rugby league – similar to this 2016 version (below), but of course including World Cup teams' kits and locations in the host countries.
Having distinctive titles and music is especially nice when you're used to broadcasters Down Under, whose only approach seems to be "How many more ways can we rip off the music from Gladiator / Batman / Epic Movie ?"
...When I say "movie rip-off", I mean, how the BBC Super League music was a few years ago.
Or the tournament organizers' official theme tune, titled "Why Not Watch A Film Instead?" Dramatic, yes, but very unoriginal by now.
International rigby league really does itself no favours. The 4-nations had been pretty good for exposure of the game, significantly boosted by BBC live coverage, and now just as it has begun to establish itself they've gone and scrapped it.
It'd be crazy if it stopped with no replacement. Obviously it'll never have the same international appeal as State of Origin
TL
toby lerone 2016
International rigby league really does itself no favours. The 4-nations had been pretty good for exposure of the game, significantly boosted by BBC live coverage, and now just as it has begun to establish itself they've gone and scrapped it.
The problem with the 4 nations is the fourth team were usually whipping boys although Scotland got a draw against New Zealand last year but I agree it's a good tournament and with the BBC coverage in the UK it was becoming an established tournament. The replacement thus far is New Zealand touring Europe in 2018 and Australia touring Europe in 2020 with Great Britain returning to tour the Southern Hemisphere in 2019 and in my opinion these could be a success if they maintain BBC coverage. The RFL stated the 4 Nations may return but not until 2022 at the earliest after these tours and the next RLWC but by then it may not be worth resurrecting a tournament that hadn't been held since 2016.
A funny opening from Mark Chapman Perhaps a statement on BBC Sport trying not to 'break the bank'?
"This is Melbourne, it's 26°, it's sunny, it's lovely... We've got a top team Down Under, and I'm off to the studio in Salford to present it."
Perhaps a statement on BBC Sport trying not to 'break the bank'?
"This is Melbourne, it's 26°, it's sunny, it's lovely... We've got a top team Down Under, and I'm off to the studio in Salford to present it."
Possibly, but he's also got both NFL shows, MOTD2 & Extra to present as well.
On top of NFL, MOTD2 and Rugby League he also presents 5 Live Sport.
RO
Toby, the RLWC was held in 1977, and then it wasn't until 1985-8 it was contested again, with just the five first class nations. Even then, the matches were built into the international calendar, with a pre-determined match counting as the world cup match. So, there is a prospect for the 4 nations to return.
I think that the main issue for the sport is the lack of international action. Scotland lost today to Tonga, but that was Scotland's first game since that historic draw against New Zealand last year. The four nations gave the smaller nations more international action.
I think that the main issue for the sport is the lack of international action. Scotland lost today to Tonga, but that was Scotland's first game since that historic draw against New Zealand last year. The four nations gave the smaller nations more international action.
S7
BTW, who on earth has designed these schedules?
Scotland game venues: 1. Cairns, 2. Christchurch, 3. Cairns again
Total travel distance 4,840 miles
In the groups, Australia's games are in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney (444 miles' travel), and co-hosts Papua New Guinea don't have to travel at all. So there seem to be some double-standards in the design.
Aussie will be in Darwin for their quarter-final :-s So the random scheduling does apply to them too.
But to keep it TV-themed, I'm going to guess it was designed by... an Australian! Why, I ought to link to the wonderful mockumentary of the Sydney Olympics, The Games. Actually I will.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5TewuwFkUo&t=2m10s
Scotland game venues: 1. Cairns, 2. Christchurch, 3. Cairns again
Total travel distance 4,840 miles
In the groups, Australia's games are in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney (444 miles' travel), and co-hosts Papua New Guinea don't have to travel at all. So there seem to be some double-standards in the design.
Aussie will be in Darwin for their quarter-final :-s So the random scheduling does apply to them too.
But to keep it TV-themed, I'm going to guess it was designed by... an Australian! Why, I ought to link to the wonderful mockumentary of the Sydney Olympics, The Games. Actually I will.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5TewuwFkUo&t=2m10s
AA
Don't quite follow that. If there had been a four nations this year instead of the world cup, how would that be any different? Scotland still wouldn't have played a single game before October this year.
I do agree the lack of international action is holding the sport back - look at Rugby Union and their international calendar you can see events for years and years ahead. Ask anyone who England RL are playing next year and the governing body don't have a clue of dates, venues or opposition yet. Crazy. None of the home nations will play on home soil this year - again crazy.
You are right, they have been designed by Australians - the NRL I believe have been organising this tournament.
On a TV POV, I watched the England game last Friday, but who ended up presenting the highlights on Saturday and Sunday for the BBC? Was supposed to be George Riley but for obvious reasons he's been sidelined. Was it Tanya Arnold?
Also I believe the giant characters running around titles were first introduced at the last RLWC and all Challenge Cup/Internationals since so was hoping we'd get something new this time.
I think that the main issue for the sport is the lack of international action. Scotland lost today to Tonga, but that was Scotland's first game since that historic draw against New Zealand last year. The four nations gave the smaller nations more international action.
Don't quite follow that. If there had been a four nations this year instead of the world cup, how would that be any different? Scotland still wouldn't have played a single game before October this year.
I do agree the lack of international action is holding the sport back - look at Rugby Union and their international calendar you can see events for years and years ahead. Ask anyone who England RL are playing next year and the governing body don't have a clue of dates, venues or opposition yet. Crazy. None of the home nations will play on home soil this year - again crazy.
BTW, who on earth has designed these schedules?
You are right, they have been designed by Australians - the NRL I believe have been organising this tournament.
On a TV POV, I watched the England game last Friday, but who ended up presenting the highlights on Saturday and Sunday for the BBC? Was supposed to be George Riley but for obvious reasons he's been sidelined. Was it Tanya Arnold?
Also I believe the giant characters running around titles were first introduced at the last RLWC and all Challenge Cup/Internationals since so was hoping we'd get something new this time.