They’re here! RFL announce International Origin Match
The RFL has today announced the full details behind the “They’re Coming” campaign with the launch of the International Origin Match.
The game, to be played by England as a replacement to the annual France test match, will be against an Exiles team, partly selected by fans via a dedicated website. All players within the Exiles initial squad of 32 players, reduced from 95 eligible players by Exiles head coach Brian McClennan, are NRL trained.
McClennan, the former Leeds Rhinos and New Zealand coach, has already picked Danny Buderus as captain and Thomas Leuluai as vice captain and will be joined by Terry Matterson as assistant coach.
McClennan said at today’s launch at Headingely, the location for the match on 10th June: “It is a great honour to be appointed as the first coach if the Exiles team”.
RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood was also delighted with the concept.
“The international Origin Match is long overdue. I am particularly looking forward to seeing the internal club rivalry come to the fore when team-mates at clubs will go head to head against each other on the pitch.
“All Super League clubs are unanimously agreed to support this fixture with enthusiasm.”
Wood also suggested there were plans to turn the clash into a two or three game series in the near future and stressed there is no club verses country clash in rugby league.
Exiles Captain, Leeds Rhinos Danny Buderus said: ”I’m privileged and honoured to lead this team. It’s a great concept. I’m pretty confident we can put a good team out there.”
From today, fans can log on to www.internationalorigin.com and select their ideal 13 to take on England. Supporters can only pick a maximum of three players from any club. The voting process will remain open until midnight (BST) on Thursday April 21 2011.
Will you be backing the England v Exiles game, do you agree with it? Answer in our poll here.
Selection Criteria
All players in the squad are NRL club trained players.An initial squad of 95 players were eligible to play. This squad has been reduced to 32 by Exiles Head Coach Brian McClennan and assistant coach Terry Matterson.There will be a selection limit of three players per club.Hierarchy of selection criteria for players is number of votes, position, then club. Coach has final say.
Process
From the 34-man squad, the Exiles coach will make five selections during the voting period and will announce a further four selections throughout May.Fans, who register on the official selection website, will be given the opportunity to select their strongest starting 13.Supporters have until midnight on Thursday April 21 2011 to submit their squad selection.The nine players selected by the Exiles coach and the highest ranked 13 players selected by the fans that have not been selected by the coach will make up the 22-man Exiles squad.The Exiles coach will reduce the 22-man squad to 18 in the week leading up to the International Origin match.The 18 players selected by the coach will go into battle against England on Friday June 10 2011 at Headingley Carnegie Stadium.Any player who has to be omitted from the Exiles squad, whether that is through injury or other unforeseen circumstances, the Exiles coach will have sole jurisdiction to replace that player with a selection of his choice.
Key Dates
13 April Brian McClennan will make his third selection pick
20 April Brian McClennan will make his fourth selection pick
21 April Fan vote ends
26 April Brian McClennan will make his fifth selection pick
28 April 18-man Exiles squad revealed (13 fan picks and five coach’s selections)
4 May Brian McClennan will make his sixth selection pick
11 May Brian McClennan will make his seventh selection pick
18 May Brian McClennan will make his eighth selection pick
25 May Brian McClennan will make his ninth selection pick and full reveal of 22-man squad
7 June 18-man squads announced for International Origin
10 June International Origin Match – England v Exiles, Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds
