I don't give a monkeys what a load of people that do not know our sport, and have never seen a game say to me its the best sport in the world and I can not wait for the world cup to start and lets hope for an England win

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24481185 On front page of bbc sport, 10 reasons to watch.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24481185 On front page of bbc sport, 10 reasons to watch.

Nice one BBC!

We're quick to slag the BBC, but they have shown, with the likes of Chappers and Clare Balding, that they have guys who can do well by rugby league.



The BBC's general sports new on their radio and TV channels always favours sports they have the broadcast rights for, so its not surprising that they're putting a bit of effort in given they've got it on telly.



I can't wait to see the capacity crowd at Huddersfield on TV, especially if we smash Ireland.

It's featured twice recently, with interviews, in the sports news on radio 4's Today show. As we normally only get something on cup final/grand final morning it's a definite positive.

At the weekend I played a bit of this year's Grand Final for someone who's a big RU supporter and not from this country (has very little awareness of League). This was in the middle of watching about 6 Heineken Cup Games on the impressive Sky red button coverage. He was blown away by the crowd (I told him it was typical

), atmosphere, skill level, speed and strength of the players, esp in the context of the Union games where the ball was hardly ever in play. He'd never heard of Sam Tomkins, but after 10 mins said 'that kid's a star'.



It just really hit home that we have such an amazing product and it's criminal the way the RFL have failed to market it effectively since such a great start to the SL era.



The WC should be the first stepping stone to do just that, but unfortunately I don't see anyone in place at the RFL with the skills to do it.

listening to five live this morning they were advertising the RLWC at 8:45am and heard it again later in the morning too

That BBC article is brilliant, really enjoyed it. Had no idea about the cup itself vanishing for 20 years.

There was a 45 second advert on Radio 1 this morning and the tv advert was on in the X-Factor break on Saturday night. The message is going to millions of people.

But yet there will still be some Rugby League fans that won't be happy.

Decent extract from Wikipedia regarding theft & recovery of the RLWC (please excuse the reference nos included from the original article) :



While competing in the 1970 tournament, the reigning champions, Australia, put the trophy on display in the Midland Hotel, Bradford.[11 The trophy was stolen six days before the final, on the night of Sunday, November 1, 1970 and remained unseen for the next 20 years.[11[12 Before its theft the trophy was last held aloft by Johnny Raper after Australia's 20-2 win over France at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 10 June 1968 to claim the fourth World Cup title.



However, the trophy was not the one which was due to be competed for and presented in the World Cup Final the following Saturday at Headingley Stadium. With the commencement of sponsorship in the game, administrators had decided to play for a new sponsored trophy, whilst keeping the original safe and on display at the hotel in a symbolic capacity only.[13



Nothing is known of the trophy's whereabouts for the next 20 years. In 1990, a Bradford resident named Stephen Uttley discovered the trophy, minus the plinth amongst rubbish dumped in a ditch near the Bradford and Bingley Rugby Club, in Bingley.[11 Unaware of the significance of his find, Uttley made enquiries at local rugby clubs around Bradford, including Bradford Northern, without success. He turned the trophy in to the police but it was returned to him 28 days later after no-one claimed it. He tried contacting Yorkshire Television's Calendar programme but could not interest them in the story. There were plans for the cup to be turned into a body building trophy by Uttley's local gym.[14 Uttley eventually contacted the local Telegraph & Argus newspaper who ran an article on it. The trophy was identified from this by rugby league historian Trevor Delaney, who notified the police, the paper and the Rugby Football League (RFL) of the find. Delaney and Uttley were concerned for the safety of the trophy, which was being kept at Uttley's council house, believing it to be increasingly vulnerable due to the media attention placed on it. They were anxious it should be turned over to the proper authorities as soon as possible before it was stolen again.[13



On Friday, 1 June 1990, the trophy was presented to Roger Millward representing the RFL outside the White Rose Health club in Bradford at 10



The original World Cup trophy was brought back into use for the 2000 World Cup minus the cockerel that had adorned it initially. It was presented to the victorious Australian team. The trophy featured again during the 2008 World Cup, when it was used prominently as the basis for the competition logo. It is likely this trophy will be retained for the 2013 competition and thereafter.

BBC have put a good piece on their web site www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24481185

BBC have put a good piece on their web site www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24481185