SRL chief wants New Zealand to come to Scotland
Scotland are urging organisers to give them another chance to take on New Zealand, this time north of the border, when they tour the UK in 2018.
Scotland are urging organisers to give them another chance to take on New Zealand, this time north of the border, when they tour the UK in 2018.
Steve McCormack's Bravehearts pulled off a stunning draw with the then world number one-ranked Kiwis in the 2016 Four Nations Series in a round-robin match in November that was played in Workington after plans to stage it in Glasgow fell through.
Scotland Rugby League chairman Keith Hogg says he plans to talk to the Rugby Football League about plans for the 2018 tour, which was confirmed as part of a four-year calendar at the latest meeting of the Rugby League International Federation in Sydney this week.
The Federation also revealed the return of the Lions tour in 2019 and announced a Kangaroos tour the following year.
"It is great for rugby league to have Australia and New Zealand touring and it would be very good for the development of the game to see them play in Scotland," said Hogg.
"We would love to play them again. New Zealand beat us in our first meeting in the 2013 World Cup quarter-finals, then last year we showed we had improved a lot and deserved the draw. We play them again in Christchurch in the World Cup in November, so it would be wonderful to have a fourth meeting next year, too."
Hogg welcomed the return of the Great Britain team, whose 2019 tour down under will clash with the 2021 World Cup qualifiers.
Scotland will avoid having to qualify automatically only if they reach the last eight in Australia and New Zealand at the 2017 event later this year.
Hogg said: "We haven't been involved in discussions as to how the GB Lions is going to work, but meetings are planned. We would support our players having the opportunity to play for Great Britain, of course.
"We look forward to some of our fine talents joining the illustrious list of Scots who have played rugby league with great pride for Great Britain over the years, such as Roy Kinnear, George Fairbairn and Alan Tait.
"We are aiming to qualify for RLWC 2021 at this year's event, but, should this not happen, we will want to understand how the World Cup qualifiers will work given that the GB Lions will also be touring in 2019."