13 replies to this topic

[GuyDinlite]

Can anyone confirm which teams are coming up next year? - I'm assuming the championship is still to become a 14 team league?
Doncaster,Barrow,workington and Whitehaven? is this confirmed?
Also - what is to become of the opening round of the Northern Rail cup? - straight knockout?

[M Hopkins]

According to an article I read on loverugbyleague.com the championship will still become a 14 team division whilst championship one will run with only 9. The northern rail will still start with 2 groups as before.

Just to confirm it is the four teams joining our division that you mentioned above.

[Tsunami]

I'm sure the northern rail cup group stage will just be for the Championship 1 teams to give them extra fixtures with the top 2 joining the 14 Championship clubs in a straight knockout competition. Although to be honest that was from an RFL press statement a few months ago so it's probably completely changed by now.

[M Hopkins]

That would make sense. As our league games will increase to 26 games. Our maximum number of northern rail games will be 4 (that's for those who reach the final).

[Piggy's mate]

yahoo, that's 30 games to look forward to next season plus the two to win the grand final

[Batley Bob]

That would make sense. As our league games will increase to 26 games. Our maximum number of northern rail games will be 4 (that's for those who reach the final).

With us having 14 teams now , the same as super league , will the play offs involve top 8 teams and be just like super league with clubcall too ?

[fredm]

With us having 14 teams now , the same as super league , will the play offs involve top 8 teams and be just like super league with clubcall too ?

Don't be silly, Bob. SL play to different rules to everyone else, that is why RL is such a unique sport.

[Batley Bob]

Don't be silly, Bob. SL play to different rules to everyone else, that is why RL is such a unique sport.

We will still be unique in the championships tho Fred , with the 3 points for a win an the bonus point for losers ,

[colinb]

With 28 games in the league, plus Northern Rail, plus Challenge Cup (which we will win Ha Ha), just when is the season going to start and finish, bearing in mind we are a SUMMER Rugby sport.Plus the players are part time also.I think it's getting a bit daft. Discuss.

[redditchbulldog]

With 28 games in the league, plus Northern Rail, plus Challenge Cup (which we will win Ha Ha), just when is the season going to start and finish, bearing in mind we are a SUMMER Rugby sport.Plus the players are part time also.I think it's getting a bit daft. Discuss.

If northern raill cup for championship sides is going to be straight knockout and knockout round for championship clubs to played april/may time as only championship one clubs will have group stages to give them more fixtures then season will start and finish at the the same time as in feb to october. with 3 months off, got to remember t'old winter season used to run from mid august when we had yorkshire cup right through to 2nd week in may. League season was too short with just 10/11 teams in as season started then was soon over, as a lot of teams didn't used to take NRC seriously and was just used as a training excercise. This way we should be starting with competitive matches from week one.

[fredm]

But it is daft starting in February (which can be the coldest month of the year) and clubs who don't reach the play offs finishing the first week in September (which usually has good weather). If you add in the pre-season matches which are at the moment in January, what interest is there in those plus what damage is being done to the pitches?

[bowes]

2 groups of 4 in NRC (Oxford are sitting out) with the winners to join the 14 Championship clubs in last 16.

[grumpyoldram]

yahoo, that's 30 games to look forward to next season plus the two to win the grand final

I really fear for the traditional clubs that have been left behind now though - still think the two championship divisions should comprise of the current teams plus the grass roots clubs in the championship 1, and a seperate development division, OK that might mean having some fixtures where you only meet a club once, but sooner that than lose some of the great old clubs - and yeah BSJ, I AM a dinosaur.

[Bat Lad]

I really fear for the traditional clubs that have been left behind now though - still think the two championship divisions should comprise of the current teams plus the grass roots clubs in the championship 1, and a seperate development division, OK that might mean having some fixtures where you only meet a club once, but sooner that than lose some of the great old clubs - and yeah BSJ, I AM a dinosaur.

Agree, that lower division now looks poor, feel sorry for teams like Oldham and Rochdale.