THE history of rugby league has traditionally been about innovation and revolution. Moreover, the move to a summer schedule has brought added interest in fixtures, increased crowds, better media coverage and a keen focus on results.

It has also opened great opportunity for rugby league betting. Online bookmakers are quick to react to a new market with free bets and while the sport has traditionally been north of England based, it is drawing fresh interest across Europe and throughout the UK.

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are the powerhouses of world rugby and when the nations collide in Super 15 rugby, the results are spectacular.

After starting as the Super 10, then Super 12 and later growing into the Super 14 competition, it then expanded to 15 teams for the 2011 season and has been rebranded as Super Rugby. Australia provides six teams, South Africa and New Zealand five each.

A PLACE in the world cup final might be regarded as the holy grail for any nation's rugby team, but the small matter of the Six Nations has become a European obsession and results in the opening round of fixtures in February will be as closely followed as any events in New Zealand later in the year.

The age old enmity which has developed on the sporting field between six of the best means the competition’s history is littered with stirring deeds where predictions and the odds have been upset in glorious fashion. Expect more of the same this year.

STARTING on November 6, England’s rugby players will take the tiger by the tail with four successive weeks of matches against New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and South Africa.

It is a brutal schedule, one which will test the resolve and fitness of Martin Johnson’s squad like few others, but as a guide to betting prospects for next year’s World Cup, the games could prove crucial.

What to make of this current England side? First winners and then runners-up in the past two World Cups, history would suggest they are still a force in the game.