A Great Britain tour to the southern hemisphere in '19 was "given the go-ahead" by the Rugby League Int'l Federation, according to the AAP. The tour, which the RLIF board says is "subject to consultation with the major playing leagues and the players’ representatives," is part of an eight-year rolling contract approved in principle at the end of a four-day summit in York. The Lions will not meet Australia, which will tour England in '20, but will play matches against New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Rugby Football League CEO Ralph Rimmer said, "There is still some discussion to complete on 2019 but everything looks to be moving in a positive direction" (AAP, 11/11). STUFF reported int'l rugby league will have "quite the shake-up" in '19, with New Zealand taking part in an Oceania Cup competition and a proposed Lions tour of the southern hemisphere. The RLIF board said that it approved "major changes" to the int'l calendar, rolling out matches for the next eight years following a meeting of the governing body's congress, with the Kiwis confirmed to play Australia and Tonga next year. The new int'l schedule is slated to start in '19, featuring World Cups in '21 (England) and '25 (U.S. and Canada) as well as Oceania Cups in '20 and '22, while "there is scope for games and tours between rival nations in other years." The inaugural Oceania Cup will be held next year with plans for two groups -- one featuring Australia, New Zealand and Tonga; the other Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea -- and New Zealand Rugby League CEO Greg Peters confirmed that "a number of games" will be hosted in New Zealand, although he did not specify how many (STUFF, 11/11).
