The UK SL - Good Stuff

Rugby league in the UK has a fight on its hands. The code at the top level is a regional game and in addition to that the country is obsessed with association football. The media is therefore not exactly falling over itself to cover the game. SkyTV only televises two games each week and money received from that crucial source is modest.

Still. British RL doesn't sit on its hands. It moved the code to summer to avoid head to head competition with football. The game itself comes across well on television with action aplenty and little down time. The skills the players exhibit are of a high standard. Playoffs and promotion/relegation also ensures most games have plenty riding on the outcome. The salary cap keeps the gap across UK SL narrow so increasingly no team is dominating as happens infootball.

So is there any improvements that could be made? Here's a few suggestions:

Not having two fixtures over a long weekend. Twice a year players have to back up on a weekend. The game is hard on the body and recovery time is so important. Sure, TV may want it otherwise but player welfare must come into it.

Have a Nines tournament. They do it in the NRL and it should be done in the UK. I'd have it in the middle of summer and create a carnival atmosphere. Play the tournaments outside the game's heartland and include championship (division 2) sides. Perhaps top players could be rested too as their impact in this format is less than the 80 minute version.

Change the points for the Top 8. I like the system where the teams divide into three divisions of eight each. The only issue is with the Top 8, where points are carried over and teams at the bottom of that group have no chance in seven games to make the finals. Either go back to zero points, or what I would prefer, double points for those last seven games. That way there is some hope for the sides just scraping into the Top 8.

So these suggestions aren't huge but there is always ways to improve things. I like the European SL much better than the NRL in Australasia. The play is more open and adventurous plus the relegation aspect keeps it interesting for all the teams and fans.

Picture source: The RFL.