31 replies to this topic

[bowes]

Toulouse should be aiming for 2015 now, unless an SL side goes bust before then.

Even then they're ineligible. If a team goes bust most likely whoever would have gone down will get a reprieve.

Nothing short of a big French TV deal allowing expansion of SL would see them in before 2015 and even then it's not looking likely unfortunately

[Lobbygobbler]

Sounds terrible. Really.

You think that 16 Uk teams and 5 French teams would be better than the current setup? It may be something to aspire to, but the standard would be appalling.

What a daft thing to say

How would you notice if the standard was appalling? Never does RU any harm anway

For me the standard is to have close games - not necessarily harlem globetrotting, or X-Men power

Best way to have close games is to make sure the best players are spread around, and that might mean a draft system for ANZACS

In the long run the standard would be much better for England, Wales and France as there'd simply be more professionals being top level

[Philippe Barrau]

remenber

the last who goes bust was W.....

don't be afraid about Toulouse, all is right in this town and there is no crisis like in England.

[Dave T]

How would you notice if the standard was appalling? Never does RU any harm anway
For me the standard is to have close games - not necessarily harlem globetrotting, or X-Men power

Best way to have close games is to make sure the best players are spread around, and that might mean a draft system for ANZACS

In the long run the standard would be much better for England, Wales and France as there'd simply be more professionals being top level

You actually have a good point with the bit in bold!

Personally, whilst I was dismissive of your idea, it was more about the fact that I don't think we are anywhere near ready to do that at the moment. I would love to see a French conference, but think this needs to be worked on over a period of time, likewise with getting 3 more English teams in.

My main concern, and going back to the point of the standard being appalling is due to the attitude of the average RL fan in this country. Yep, I know that Union and Football have plenty of dire standard games, but for some reason RL fans are far more critical of their sport than other sport's fans IMHO.

I am happy with the principle of your post, but to suggest that we shouldn't have just put 1 French team in, and we should have had these 21 teams just seems a bit reckless to me, and I would love to see a 10-12 year strategy which has the ultimate aim of your suggestions (with tweaks).

We are already getting fans moaning now though that 14 teams is too many and the standard is lower, which isn't a view I share, but RL fans love to be vocal about the negative things in the game.

[Bomb Jack]

the last who goes bust was W.....

Keighley ?

[bowes]

Keighley ?

Did they go bust or just administration? Gateshead definitely went bust

[terrywebbisgod]

Did they go bust or just administration? Gateshead definitely went bust

Keighley went into administration.

[Methven Hornet]

remenber

the last who goes bust was W.....

don't be afraid about Toulouse, all is right in this town and there is no crisis like in England.

Come on, you can't leave it at that! What else do you know?

[Methven Hornet]

Theoretically would probably be a better word. I meant it should be open to British and Irish clubs even if in practice there won't be any of the latter at least in the immediate future

I though you might mean clubs that are Irish in name only - a bit like London Irish in union, maybe Lancashire Irish or some such.

[bowes]

I though you might mean clubs that are Irish in name only - a bit like London Irish in union, maybe Lancashire Irish or some such.

London in name only too, though got the right idea leaving London to better markets elsewhere

[mick wilson]

Did I understand Mr France rightly that the RFL can directly invite into SL, a club which is not in the Championship. Hence the reason behind them dropping out, allegedly.

That would'nt surprise many

[The Parksider]

Did I understand Mr France rightly that the RFL can directly invite into SL, a club which is not in the Championship. Hence the reason behind them dropping out, allegedly.

It was Mr. Derwent that found a rule about being able to invite a european club directly into SL, and he quoted it direct on this forum. It was an excelent piece of work by him and something no journo has either picked up or checked. If a big investor wanted to start RL in a big stadia with all the criteria ticked the "winning an NL comp" would be a bar to that investor, never mind Toulouse.

So that may be why it was slipped in because the RFL remain the bar to Toulouse having rejected them more than once.....