Lewis admits to 'setback'

League supremo looks to young talent in search for success

By Rob Carragher   Last updated: 16th November 2008

Lewis admits to 'setback'

England: Lacklustre Down Under

The current crop of players have done their best, but we have come up short and we have to learn from that.

Richard Lewis
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The Executive Chairman of the Rugby Football League has revealed that he has concerns over the future of rugby league in England, in the wake of the national side's poor showing at the World Cup.

Richard Lewis has been the man responsible for improving the way British rugby league is run since his appointment in 2002.

However, with the national team returning from the latest World Cup with just one win to their name, Lewis says improvements can and will be made.

"It's definitely a setback," he conceded.

"It would be silly to pretend otherwise. But I don't think it's much more than that. We've clearly got lessons to learn.

"The current crop of players have done their best, but we have come up short and we have to learn from that."

'Next generation'

Australia coach Ricky Stuart has suggested that the weakness of the English national side may lie in the Super League's keenness to favour imported players over homegrown talent.

Worryingly, Lewis has previously come under criticism for the lack of young talent produced during his time as LTA director of tennis, and the current league supremo is now anxious to avoid a similar condemnation this time around.

"We have to look at how we can produce the next generation of players who can deliver, and the next generation of coaches frankly," remarked Lewis.

"We have to get more people playing the game - and we are succeeding in doing that. We're doing something right.

"A lot of good things are happening, which haven't been reflected in this tournament, and we just need to find out why."

Comments (3)

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Alan Dean says...

Sack Richard Lewis and the sport will develop - Tennis had the right idea when they got rid of him and RL must do the same.

Posted 22:04 18th November 2008

Paul Quantock says...

lewis should go and all the other hangers on . get people in charge of the game that understand the game .ie phil clarke . we will never catch up with the aussie as long as we keep having inports playing in key positions ie scrum half .standoff.let our own come though the ranks an start from basics .

Posted 17:39 18th November 2008

Christine Rigby says...

Having been brought up on Rugby League, which in my opinion is the best game in the world and having followed it in both hemispheres, it came as no surprise that England did so poorly in the World Cup. Born in St Helens, my team has always and will always be the Saints. Now living in Australia, I also follow Manly. Ricky Stewart does have a valid point re the reliance on overseas players in the Super league. Although the Saints have been one of the most successful clubs at nurturing young local talent, it has to be said that this is not the case for all teams and I¿m sure, can also be improved at St. Helens. Rugby League, likewise any sport in Australia, is promoted, supported and encouraged from a very early age. Having worked within the Education system both in England and Australia, the differences between the two are worlds apart when it comes to sport. Structured Physical Education lessons begin in Primary School. All kids are taught how to play the different sports. The facilities offered out of school are also very good. Most kids play some sort of sport at the weekends. Rugby ¿Schools¿ are not uncommon in Australia. Put all these elements together and its no surprise that Australia is so successful at most sports, not just Rugby League. Their international side is bigger, faster, stronger and able to play as a ¿Team¿, unlike the England side, who looked average and were unable at times to get the basics right. English rugby league needs to concentrate on the ¿grassroots¿ of the sport and promote, support and encourage from an early age, as is the case in Australia. Maybe its time for the ¿Money Men¿ of the English Super league to get together in helping to safeguard the future of both the International and National sides so that one day they can be a force to be reckoned with against the Southern Hemisphere instead of unfortunately being the usual disappointments. I love the sport.

Posted 10:48 17th November 2008
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