And that can only mean more attractive rugby.

Which attracts more spectators and more shouting. Spurring on the players to play out of their skin. Even the barman plays a blinder. As more fans stay behind afterwards to bask in the sun. Or in their team’s victory. And everyone from the fans to the players goes home merry. (Including the club’s treasurer.) There’s more than one reason to switch to a Community Summer League. More rugby. More Spectators. More Takings.

SUMMER RUGBY LEAGUE

A BRIGHTER FUTURE Forty-20 The 13th of every month

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Contents

December 2011 Volume 1 Issue 6

Luke Patten

16 More England woe

34 Kelvin Fletcher

28

Inside your next generation rugby league monthly

Front Row 4 Where are the fireworks? Phil Caplan assesses the 2012 Super League fixture list

5 Elder statesman Andy Wilson of The Guardian profiles Warrington’s Lee Briers 7 Five Drives and a Kick This month’s stories by Ray French MBE, Ross Heppenstall,

Matthew Segal, Mike Rylance, Nathan Clarke and Dave Hadfield

Columns 6 Louie the Lip Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook on the thrill of being St Helens’ number ten

12 Let’s target union Brian Noble says Super League needs to cast a wider net 23 Married to League Penelope Davidson makes her festive Forty-20 broadcast 32 View from the Back Richard Mathers on the ins and outs of off-season training 33 Radio Jonathan Doidge of Sky Sports News Radio discusses the phenomenon of podcasts 42 Irvine’s Indigestion Christopher Irvine of The Times has heard this WCC stuff before

Articles 14 Location, location, location Phil Caplan reports on the latest World Cup developments

21 Headingley challenge Gary Carter of The Sun is excited by the World Club Challenge 22 Wigan in Acton Tom McCooey on the ‘rebirth’ of Central Park 24 A load of Cobblers Phil Caplan welcomes rugby league’s newest club - Northampton 34 Match of the Month Tony Hannan was at Elland Road for the Gillette Four Nations final

Postcards 26 Stanningley Ryan Sparks reflects on the last ‘winter’ National Conference Grand Final

36 Dubai Sean High reports from the United Arab Emirates scene of Pakistan’s RL debut 38 Twickenham Tim Groves was on hand to watch Sam Tomkins turn out for the Baa-Baas

Interviews 16 General Patten Angela Powers catches up with Luke Patten of Salford City Reds

28 Emmerdale Yarn Tony Hannan meets Oldham St Annes’ most famous fan, Kelvin Fletcher 30 Retiring type Peter Smith gets the lowdown on a new start for Wakefield’s Glenn Morrison

Heritage 19 Mancunian Magic Tony Collins tells the story of Manchester’s relationship with league

46 Christmas calamity Tony Hannan unearths possibly the worst festive cover of all time

Obituaries 25 Phil Melling Tony Collins farewells a rugby league writer, administrator and evangelist

39 Arthur Beetson Sean Fagan with an appreciation of the late, great, remarkable ‘Big Artie’

The Culture 40 Trading places Gareth Walker of The People digs his old Merlin cards out of the attic

43 Books of 2011 Neil Barraclough of The Mail looks back over a busy literary year 44 It’s only a game Gareth Walker gives a new rugby league game on iTunes a try 45 Illustrious venue Dave Hadfield of The Independent takes his RL Pub Guide to Leeds

Summer-bound

26 World Cup venues

14 Sam socks it to ‘em 38

December 2011 Forty-20 3