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England’s one and only mid-season international ended with a new-look side defeating France, but the occasion underlined the major problems international rugby league possesses.
Tucked away on a streaming platform, with no televised coverage and set as a curtain-raiser to a Championship game between Toulouse and Featherstone in the French city, this Test had felt like somewhat of an afterthought for the sport’s organisers in the run-up to it.
International rugby league is in a dire state, epitomised by the fact England’s plans for the end of this year, a two-Test series against Samoa, were not confirmed until a few weeks ago. Until IMG or the Rugby Football League make the bold decision to afford more opportunities for international fixtures, games like this will continue to mean little.
