New Zealand and England agree to play Test matches in US for the next three years
THE controversial mid-year Test in Denver looks here to stay with the Kiwis and England committing to playing matches in the US for the next three years.
NRL
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THE controversial mid-year Test in Denver appears here to stay with New Zealand and England committing to playing matches in the US for the next three years.
Despite serious reservations from clubs, the NRL and the Rugby League Players Association — who described the Test as “deeply flawed” — this year’s match in June is all but certain to go ahead with players committing to appear in the fixture.
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And those within club-land hoping the match would just be a passing nightmare will be tormented for the next couple of years at least with plans locked in for the match to be an annual event.
While each year will be judged on its merit, the two nations have an agreement to play the yearly mid-season fixture in the lead-up to the 2021 World Cup in England. It is understood that promoter Jason Moore, the president and chief executive of Moore Sports International, has an option in his favour to keep the game in Denver each year.
The 2025 Rugby League World Cup will be played in the US with the NRL also exploring the possibility of taking a competition match to the US as early as next year.
Officials from the New Zealand Rugby League will fly into the Gold Coast on Tuesday and meet with clubs and the RLPA. The RLPA, the NRL and clubs sent a joint letter last week calling on the NZRL and their English counterparts to provide more information — centring largely around insurance policies — ahead of the 16 club chief executives coming together on Tuesday.
The Sunday Telegraph understands representatives from England will phone in for the meeting while the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) will be represented by former Australian Rugby League chairman John Grant. The group will meet with a handful of concerned clubs — which are believed to include St George Illawarra and South Sydney — and the RLPA prior to meeting with the rest of the NRL clubs on Tuesday afternoon.
The mid-year Test in Denver will also usher in a new era for the Kiwis who are on the lookout for a new coach following the resignation of David Kidwell.
Applications closed late last week for the role with the likes of Geoff Toovey, Laurie Daley, Michael Maguire and Richie Blackmore expected to feature as part of discussions.
One person who has not applied for the job is former Gold Coast mentor Neil Henry, who has distanced himself from the role despite being linked to the Kiwis top job.