The Virtual Terrace • Re: Nice sentiment

The international game was only any good when the two main seasons - ours and Australia's - didn't run at the same time. That meant longer tours could be made in each league's close season, and the touring sides could play against clubs and keep everyone engaged. It also meant there were two periods in a calendar year when internationals could take place - in one hemisphere or the other - without clubs having to release players and carry on without them.

I doubt there is any appetite here to return to a winter season - I certainly don't want that - and I equally doubt there is any appetite from the Aussies to switch to summer. They have no reason to. The only solution I can think of to accommodate a more varied international game rather just what often seems like a token series each November, is to sometimes have a mid season break of a month of so to fit one in then, with the club season beginning and ending a couple of weeks earlier and later either side to fit it in. I'm not sure how workable it would be, and again I doubt the Aussies would agree and nor would their clubs, but what other genuine options are there?