100 replies to this topic

[John Drake]

RFL confirm licensing announcement

The RFL has confirmed that the 13 clubs joining Widnes Vikings in Super League for the next three seasons will be announced on Tuesday July 26 at 11.00am.

Widnes were awarded a licence in March, allowing them time to make the transition from being a Co-operative Championship club to operating in Super League on a full-time, fully professional basis. Applications from the existing 14 Engage Super League clubs were submitted in April, and along with the application from Co-operative Championship club Halifax, are currently being assessed by the RFL Executive and a number of external advisors.

Nigel Wood, the RFL’s Chief Executive, said: “The independent RFL Board will ultimately decide which of the 15 clubs will be awarded the 13 remaining licences, and their decisions will be based on the detailed and comprehensive assessment of each club’s application, a process which is very close to completion.”

[davo99]

totalrl.com meltdown 11:01

[marklaspalmas]

This'll be much more thrilling than some silly relegation clash played before a packed house with everything on the line.

Much better to work it out on pieces of paper and then announce it at a press conference. That's passionate sport for you.

Deciding who's in and who's not by playing a rugby league match is just sooooo passé.

[The Parksider]

This'll be much more thrilling than some silly relegation clash played before a packed house with everything on the line.

I was at that one match. Sadly I didn't make the dozens of relegation 4 pointers played out before sparse crowds uninterested in struggling losing teams.

[HKR AWAY DAYS]

I fully expect Wakefield to miss out in place of the already-licenced Widnes. I think Fax have a good shot at it but the only viable way is to better Crus' application.

[JohnM]

I was at that one match. Sadly I didn't make the dozens of relegation 4 pointers played out before sparse crowds uninterested in struggling losing teams.

Giving your age away!!! Between 1855 and 1901, 1906 and 1961 and 1965 and 1972 there was only one division, so presumably no P and R.

I've counted 75 seasons of one div rugby and 41 years of multi-div rugby.

[Father Ted]

Cru have already been given a licence although the RFL don't quite say so.
They owe the RFL somewhere around £750k and Red Hall said it would be paid back over the next three years from their SKY TV money. The part owed would be witheld.
That is saying they have a licence without using those words.

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

Cru have already been given a licence although the RFL don't quite say so.
They owe the RFL somewhere around £750k and Red Hall said it would be paid back over the next three years from their SKY TV money. The part owed would be witheld.
That is saying they have a licence without using those words.

To be pedantic I think it's £700k, but that doesn't invalidate your argument. After all, after this year's contibution that would still mean the RFL having to write off over £450k and even they're not that stu...... Oh. This is the RFL we're talking about.

[jannerboyuk]

To be pedantic I think it's £700k, but that doesn't invalidate your argument. After all, after this year's contibution that would still mean the RFL having to write off over £450k and even they're not that stu...... Oh. This is the RFL we're talking about.

they have a charge on the stadium so would be part owners of an asset that its always hinted at being sold off or re-developed. the rfl would not lose their money.

[BringBacktheBiff]

Id put my life savings on Wakefield been kicked out and the Crusaders staying in. Which is a shame as fax have got an excellent case to be awarded a licence.

[l'angelo mysterioso]

This'll be much more thrilling than some silly relegation clash played before a packed house with everything on the line.

Much better to work it out on pieces of paper and then announce it at a press conference. That's passionate sport for you.

Deciding who's in and who's not by playing a rugby league match is just sooooo passé.

yeah they happened all the time didn't they?

[Just Browny]

Bitter rant with poor grammar by Wakefield fan slagging off one or more expansion clubs, dubbing the decision "pathetic" and/or "a disgrace" - 11.17am.

Unprofessional Press Release from Halifax declaring their disappointment with the decision - 12pm.

Long-winded post by a Wakefield fan declaring that they've fallen out of love with RL after 58 years - 12.40pm.

Number of posts made on the subject by Parksider - 250,000,000

RLFans functioning again - 27th July, 3pm.

[Bulletproof]

Bitter rant with poor grammar by Wakefield fan slagging off one or more expansion clubs, dubbing the decision "pathetic" and/or "a disgrace" - 11.17am.

Unprofessional Press Release from Halifax declaring their disappointment with the decision - 12pm.

Long-winded post by a Wakefield fan declaring that they've fallen out of love with RL after 58 years - 12.40pm.

Number of posts made on the subject by Parksider - 250,000,000

RLFans functioning again - 27th July, 3pm.

Cynical. I am sure none of this will happen.

And when I say "none" I mean "all."

[Lobbygobbler]

I was at that one match. Sadly I didn't make the dozens of relegation 4 pointers played out before sparse crowds uninterested in struggling losing teams.

That's odd because the relegation 4 pointers I saw Leigh involved in were passionate well supported games.

1987 was the best example I can think of because about 4 or 5 clubs could have been relegated in the 4th bottom spot. Oldham ended up being relegated if I recall.

On what basis will Wakey be kicked out? Will it be due to their stadium? If so does it meet minimum requirements? If it does then surely that cannot be a reason. If it is finance then Cru also have a problem. Wakeys crowds of late have been pretty good too, and its only this year they've ha a poor season.

[marklaspalmas]

yeah they happened all the time didn't they?

No, they didn't. There was some right grim rubbish went on then, as it does now, from time to time.

I just happen to think that the rugby field is the best place to sort this kind of thing out.

Frightfully old-fashioned I know.

Im just an automatic-P&R-but-with-minimum-standards-in-place kinda guy.

[Johnoco]

I have issues with franchising if I'm honest BUT we can't just ignore off field issues, they ARE important.

[Maximus Decimus]

Bitter rant with poor grammar by Wakefield fan slagging off one or more expansion clubs, dubbing the decision "pathetic" and/or "a disgrace" - 11.17am.

Unprofessional Press Release from Halifax declaring their disappointment with the decision - 12pm.

Long-winded post by a Wakefield fan declaring that they've fallen out of love with RL after 58 years - 12.40pm.



RLFans functioning again - 27th July, 3pm.

I must admit I have some sympathy for the criticism that Wakey fans will get in this process. Widnes fans got it last time and all it proves is that whichever club feel the most aggrieved will have the most fans going on about it.

There has been a lot of guff, hypocritical as well from some Wakey fans but the same would happen for any club in my opinion.

There is absolutely no excitement about this decision because it is a foregone conclusion. If anything devalues licensing it is this. The point of licensing is to provide competition in other areas and it has done this but at the same time there is little threat for the majority of clubs. That said, Wakey made it easy for them.

Number of posts made on the subject by Parksider - 250,000,000

Number of times Sugar daddy mentioned - 1bn.

[l'angelo mysterioso]

No, they didn't. There was some right grim rubbish went on then, as it does now, from time to time.

I just happen to think that the rugby field is the best place to sort this kind of thing out.

Frightfully old-fashioned I know.

Im just an automatic-P&R-but-with-minimum-standards-in-place kinda guy.

1982-3 springs to mind. A successful wembley run, relegation battles, average attendance of 2,600. I also remember the last game of 1991-2 against wakefield. Rovers only had to draw to stay up. they played abyssmally, completely lacking in passion and committment. One of the players told me recently that they weren't that bothered, because they knew they would be getting winning pay nearly every week the following season.

them wot days.

what kind of thing are we sorting out here?
Most teams who went up went straight back down
most teams as in most teams outside the top level never had a chance of promotion and probably never had/have any intention.

I think we are lucky in that although SKY got rugby league on the cheap, on the whole the game has benefitted, and infinitely preferable to the kind of Super League that the big clubs had been campaigning for over the previouss ten years.

[Lobbygobbler]

I have issues with franchising if I'm honest BUT we can't just ignore off field issues, they ARE important.

That is why standards based P&R is a good idea - once all the incumbents who don't meet standards have been removed

[marklaspalmas]

1982-3 springs to mind. A successful wembley run, relegation battles, average attendance of 2,600. I also remember the last game of 1991-2 against wakefield. Rovers only had to draw to stay up. they played abyssmally, completely lacking in passion and committment. One of the players told me recently that they weren't that bothered, because they knew they would be getting winning pay nearly every week the following season.

them wot days.

what kind of thing are we sorting out here?
Most teams who went up went straight back down
most teams as in most teams outside the top level never had a chance of promotion and probably never had/have any intention.

I think we are lucky in that although SKY got rugby league on the cheap, on the whole the game has benefitted, and infinitely preferable to the kind of Super League that the big clubs had been campaigning for over the previouss ten years.

Hence the first line of my reply. No rose-tinted specs here. Four up four down was always absurd anyway.

However, I just cannot see what's wrong with automatic-P&R-but-with-minimum-standards-in-place.

ATEOTD it is a sport and ought to be about what happens on this pitch as far as possible.