New amateur international Four Nations tournament

A press release from the RFL states that the RLC are to represent England in a new 4 nations tournament - as follow:

In a further demonstration of the expansion of Rugby League, the sport's inaugural Amateur Four Nations Championship will start during 2002.

The competing nations will be England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales with England being represented by the Rugby League Conference, Rugby League's highly successful competition for clubs outside the sport's heartland region.

The round-robin style matches will take place, between June and September although the full fixture list has still to be finalised.

Appointed as Tournament Director for the championship is Graeme Thompson, Player Performance Manager at the Rugby Football League. He has previously been involved in development in Scotland and the Rugby League Conference.

Commenting about the tournament Thompson said: "This is a strategic step in furthering the expansion of Rugby League. "The championship will not only provide a performance platform for the players but will help enhance the domestic competition structures in each of the competing nations.

"It will also aid in attracting and retaining players, coaches, officials and administrators for the sport as well as further increasing the all-round interest in Rugby League within Great Britain and Ireland.

[Mark Brown - 30/03/02]