Lewis strives for more international matches
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Your support makes all the difference.The international game remains the priority for Richard Lewis, the newly appointed RFL executive chairman, despite Great Britain's disastrous defeat in the one-off Test in Sydney.
Lewis has completed a series of globe-trotting talks with the major rugby league playing nations in a bid to revamp the international game.
The former Davis Cup tennis player, who met with French officials last month, flew from Sydney following Britain's record 64-10 defeat by Australia a fortnight ago for talks with New Zealand officials before the end-of-season Kiwi tour of this country.
"International rugby league is a huge priority and the feedback I've had since the match has been very encouraging," he said.
"It was good to find so much common ground – Australia, New Zealand and ourselves all want more international rugby. The Australian trip went very well apart from the 80 minutes."
Lewis says he is yet to hold a debriefing session with under-fire national coach, David Waite, but accepts that next year's scheduled one-off Test in New Zealand is almost certain to be scrapped in the wake of the Sydney humiliation.
"I've a huge amount of respect for David," said Lewis. "He had major reservations about flying down there for a one-off match.
"Yet, in a funny kind of way, it still achieved its purpose by reinforcing to people behind the scenes that there is a future for Test match rugby.
"The Test in New Zealand next July is officially still on but New Zealand don't expect us to play a one-off match. We need to talk with the Super League clubs about whether or not we should try to put in place a better build-up period or maybe, if it's a one-off, we shouldn't do it."
Lewis must gain the backing of Super League clubs if he is to raise the profile of the international game but he was delighted with their response at a meeting this week.
"We've talked about the principles and there are no sacred cows. We will consider everything," he said.
"There was a recognition that international football is the way forward, not just from a revenue point of view but for the development and growth of the sport, we need more international rugby."
Lewis is aiming to push ahead with the formation of a European Federation to forge closer links with France and foster interest in Russia, Italy and Spain.
French clubs will continue to participate in the Challenge Cup and English officials are to examine the possibility of an end-of-season European competition involving clubs from the Northern Ford Premiership.
Lewis added: "Russian involvement is a possibility and I certainly would like to see the home nations involved. I think that might well encourage other countries like Spain and Italy."
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