Co-director Scratching Shed Publishing & Forty-20 magazine, bookshop owner, glass half full, writer, proud Loiner, rugby league advocate, answer is always cake
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Articles by Phil Caplan
A sunny evening for remembrance
Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix By PHIL CAPLAN IT WAS a truly special night, around 18,500 people packed into a glorious, sun-drenched AMT Headingley – summer rugby at its finest.
Book review: Marooned by Darren Groth
By PHIL CAPLAN IT’S ORIGIN time again and a new book is being released on May 26 that reflects its enduring obsession. Set initially on June 8 2022, on the outskirts of Vancouver, Canada, author Darren Groth, his elderly parents and two younger brothers gather in the living room of a Ladner townhouse to watch an early morning replay of that year’s opening State of Origin clash. For Groth, the occasion is full of unknowns.
Back to Paris for Super League
Image: Rémi Vignaud/SWpix By PHIL CAPLAN HE’LL be one of the guests of honour when Catalans Dragons take on Wigan at the Stade Jean-Bouin in the French capital on Saturday, June 6 and, theoretically, heritage number one. Laurent Lucchese, now 53, played fullback for Paris St Germain on the opening night of Super League 30 years ago, as the Parisians beat Sheffield Eagles 30-24 in the Stade Sébastien Charléty to kick start the competition in front of 17,000 inquisitively excited fans.
NRL 2025: Rugby League World Series; A World Cup berth would 'blow the sport wide open' in Ireland
“The calibre of players and quality of domestic games have increased, which is really positive, and if we do have success in Canada, that will blow the sport wide open and give us a footprint. Being recognised as a team that can compete is the next step," he said.
“There’s not enough high quality players to fill eight teams”
By PHIL CAPLAN AS THE welcome spring sun streaming through the plate glass windows of the function room at Leigh Sports Village glinted off the women’s Betfred Challenge Cup and Super League trophies and picked out the colours of the shirts of the assembling players at the launch, optimistic thoughts were directed towards what the new season may hold.
The real reasons there’s been no Ashes announcement
By PHIL CAPLAN AS this issue went to print, the full details of the proposed end of season Ashes tour by the Kangaroos, the first since 2003, were still yet to be formally announced. It had been hoped that the Australian RL Commission and RFL/RL Commercial would confirm the details on the Sunday after the games and in Las Vegas, all of the big administrative players having been there for an International Rugby League board meeting in the lead up.
Groundsman responds to Aussie calls for British game to return to winter
By PHIL CAPLAN THE head groundsman at Leeds Rhinos, who was presented with the Professional Rugby League Grounds Team of the Year accolade at the Grounds Management Association awards for 2023, held at AMT Headingley, couldn’t help but raise a smile when he heard Matthew Johns say Super League should go back to winter.
Five things we learned from witnessing the Academy rule changes
By PHIL CAPLAN 1) Every era has seen major changes to the sport, predominantly to make it a more entertaining spectacle for paying fans. We’ve witnessed a drop in players, the abolition of the line out and contested scrums, four tackles then six, sin bins, video referees – you name it, we’ve not been afraid to try it, hence our reputation for innovation. Now the imperative is safety, exacerbated by the threat of litigation.
Betfred Wheelchair Super League | Hull FC defeat London Roosters
Hull FC‘s Tristan Norfolk celebrated his England call up earlier in the week with two tries, as Mike Swainger’s side pulled off a notable 36-26 victory against the London Roosters at the Allam Arena. The match was played after an England open training session at nearby St Mary’s College and the crowd that stayed on were treated to an excellent contest which saw the black and white’s register their second consecutive win to consolidate third place in Betfred Wheelchair Super League.
The danger of spurning IMG
By PHIL CAPLAN RUGBY league – although forged out of worker’s rights and a rebellious mentality – is too democratic, which can make decision making ponderously slow. The need for clubs, predominantly in the guise of the RL Council, to ratify all major decisions means playing politics too often dominates wider strategic implementations.
Magic Round a 'resounding success' says Coyd
Wheelchair RL general manager Martin Coyd has hailed the first-ever central inclusion round, held at the University of Birmingham in Edgbaston, “a resounding success.” All six Super League sides travelled to the midlands for the first time with the six-hour extravaganza screened live on the The Sportsman. “It was a wonderful showcase for the sport,” said Coyd.
EXCLUSIVE: Majority of clubs OPPOSE Toronto Super League return
The majority of top level sides have made their feelings known as new owner aims to rescue Wolfpack. Toronto Wolfpack face an uphill battle to avoid Super League expulsion with a majority of clubs believed to be against their re-entry into the competition in 2021. Toronto pulled out of the remainder of the Super League season on July 20 citing financial pressures caused by the Coronavirus.
EXCLUSIVE: Hudgell to stand down from Hull KR
Hull KR owner Neil Hudgell will leave the Super League club at the end of this year. Forty20 News can exclusively reveal Hudgell, who took over as chairman of the Robins in 2004, will walk away from the club in December. It is believed he has become disillusioned with the sport and has decided to depart. According to sources, the chairman tips more than £1 million into the club every year.
EXCLUSIVE: Leigh close in on Toronto star
Leigh Centurions are looking to secure the signing of Toronto Wolfpack utility Blake Wallace. Forty20 News understands Leigh are keen… Leigh Centurions are looking to secure the signing of Toronto Wolfpack utility Blake Wallace. Forty20 News understands Leigh are keen to sign up Wallace for the 2021 season. The Australian is on the hunt for a new club following Toronto’s withdrawal from the current Super League season, with the Canadian venture’s future still in limbo.
RFL responds to Toronto players’ desperate plea
The governing body has broken its silence after Toronto players went public on social media last night. The RFL says it has reminded Toronto Wolfpack of its responsibilities in regards to its employees after the club’s players took to social media demanding to be paid and calling for support from the governing body.
Off-contract Inu opens up on future
Krisnan Inu says he is eager to play on in 2021, but has not deal in place with the Red Devils. Salford winger Krisnan Inu says he wants to keep playing next year and won’t be hanging up his boots. The 33-year-old is off-contract and has not signed a deal at any club yet for 2021. Inu said he has made no decision on his future but won’t be retiring. “No nothing yet, nothing in cement,” he told Forty20News.
Are players being told to take a knee for Black Lives Matter?
As Super League prepares for its first full schedule of fixtures since the restart, the topic of Black Lives Matter, and players taking a knee in support of the movement, will inevitably be a part of the conversation. Israel Folau’s decision not to take a knee ahead of Catalans’ clash with St Helens this past Sunday provoked a passionate response from players, fans, journalists and other stakeholders, with many defending the player’s right not to participate.
Folau chooses not to take a knee for Black Lives Matter
Catalans centre Israel Folau chose not take a knee with team-mates and opponents before the start of today’s St Helens v Catalans match. Players across sports have dropped to one knee in a symbolic show of support for the Black Lives Matter movement in recent months. The vast majority of Saints and Dragons players followed suit just prior to kick-off, but Folau opted not to join in.
Coventry chief in war of words with Euro XIIIs organisers
Coventry Bears owner Alan Robinson has entered into a war of words with organisers of the new Euro XIIIs competition, following their decision to hold a player draft event in Birmingham. Robinson, who helped found the Bears and played for the club during its formative days questioned the idea of drafting UK-based players into amateur competition across Europe. He said: “That’s not developing the game.
Ben Currie linked with Leeds and one other club
Leeds Rhinos and one other Super League club are targeting Warrington Wolves back-rower Ben Currie as a signing for next year. Currie is off-contract at Warrington at the end of 2020 and has yet to make a decision on his future. Forty20 News understands Leeds and another Super League side, as yet unknown, are interested in landing the England international.
Fiji 32 Ireland 14 - report and highlights
Rochdale hosted one of RLWC2013’s most eagerly awaited match-ups – and Dave Hadfield squeezed in to see it. Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com It’s a very long time since a game of rugby league at Spotland has been so keenly anticipated. Could Fiji and Ireland possibly live up to such inflated expectations? I was looking at it from a slightly different angle, travelling with a bus-load from Bolton, most of whom had been involved with the Fijians in one way or another during their stay in the town.
Forty years and counting
John Davidson looks at how Maroons v Blues transcended all to become a fair dinkum institution. The year is 1980 and it is the birth of State of Origin. New South Wales had won the first two interstate games and the series that year against Queensland, but a third game was proposed in which players would instead represent the state where they were born or had started playing first-grade.
Looking back over our shoulders
Forty20 recently turned 100. Phil Caplan details how the game has changed since issue 1 It seems a long time, just over eight years and 100 issues. Gone the black hair and ruddy complexion. The world, sporting especially, has definitely shrunk but, like the contents of the wardrobe, more than you think has remained as it was.
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