77 replies to this topic

[oiseau]

But I thought the conventional wisdom on these boards was that a SL club was impossible to operate on less than a 10,000 average, never mind one that has to travel to the UK every second week. I am not knocking Toulouse, I am sure they have done the math but the rabid opposition to clubs in the UK who can't hit the 10,000 average vis a vis the support for the Toulouse application smacks of double standards.

I don't know if Toulouse going into SL is a good or bad thing - there are pros and cons but the one big advantage the RFL may be considering is the fact that Toulouse would not be reliant on one main sugar daddy like at London,Wakey or Widnes et al - the majority of the running costs would be borne by sponsors & tv money - Toulouse is a relatively rich city compared to the likes of Perpignan with loadsamoney in the pipeline though similar on-field success like the Catalans would be required to attract the fans on a regular basis - the word 'potential' keeps cropping up but it's easy to talk a good game...

[keighley]

I don't know if Toulouse going into SL is a good or bad thing - there are pros and cons but the one big advantage the RFL may be considering is the fact that Toulouse would not be reliant on one main sugar daddy like at London,Wakey or Widnes et al - the majority of the running costs would be borne by sponsors & tv money - Toulouse is a relatively rich city compared to the likes of Perpignan with loadsamoney in the pipeline though similar on-field success like the Catalans would be required to attract the fans on a regular basis - the word 'potential' keeps cropping up but it's easy to talk a good game...

Thanks for that further information. Multiple sources of income sounds like a winner.

[oiseau]

Thanks for that further information. Multiple sources of income sounds like a winner.

seems more af a stable environment to run a business rather than relying on one man to prop up the company ? If I were the RFL I would be struggling to find stability or potential stability in these troubled times so maybe this is not a perfect scenario but a more intelligent way of looking toward to future ?

[The Parksider]

I don't know if Toulouse going into SL is a good or bad thing - there are pros and cons but the one big advantage the RFL may be considering is the fact that Toulouse would not be reliant on one main sugar daddy like at London,Wakey or Widnes et al - the majority of the running costs would be borne by sponsors & tv money - Toulouse is a relatively rich city compared to the likes of Perpignan with loadsamoney in the pipeline though similar on-field success like the Catalans would be required to attract the fans on a regular basis - the word 'potential' keeps cropping up but it's easy to talk a good game...

The RFL will warmly welcome Toulouse as they have to promote International RL.

The SLE will warmly welcome money money money if Toulouse are to provide it in spades....

SLE would not consider France at all if Great Britain had the resources to provide a vibrant Superleague from top to bottom that did not exclusively sit on the M62......

RFL

[oiseau]

The RFL will warmly welcome Toulouse as they have to promote International RL.

The SLE will warmly welcome money money money if Toulouse are to provide it in spades....

SLE would not consider France at all if Great Britain had the resources to provide a vibrant Superleague from top to bottom that did not exclusively sit on the M62......

RFL

"The RFL will warmly welcome Toulouse as they have to promote International RL."

only in the northern hemisphere to iprovide better opposition for England teams

"The SLE will warmly welcome money money money if Toulouse are to provide it in spades...."

don't think Toulouse will be sharing much with the rest of SL - their ideal, like any other SL club would be to remain solvent

"SLE would not consider France at all if Great Britain had the resources to provide a vibrant Superleague from top to bottom that did not exclusively sit on the M62......"

exactly - the RFL have no interest other than making the SL continue and see Toulouse & Catalans as ways of keeping the SL dream alive - they see there are not many GB alternatives - the RFL have no altruistic links to France & vice versa

[The Parksider]

The RFL have no interest other than making the SL continue and see Toulouse & Catalans as ways of keeping the SL dream alive - they see there are not many GB alternatives......

Sheffield, Featherstone, Leigh and Halifax surely?

Nothings official yet but I'm just waiting for the uproar when people realise a club seems to be being flagged through nearly two years before the licensing process?

[keighley]

Sheffield, Featherstone, Leigh and Halifax surely?

Nothings official yet but I'm just waiting for the uproar when people realise a club seems to be being flagged through nearly two years before the licensing process?

And so there should be. There would not even be the ususal pseudo sham legitimacy to the SL application process if they did that.

After that there will be even more uproar when two of the weakest SL teams, London, Bradford , Castleford or Salford are are given the boot for Toulouse and a club from the Championships as promised by the league.

[winnyason]

You think they have waited long enough screwed with the crusaders fast track then the championship experiment. They deserve a shot, not the. Usual whinging from championship Supporters that occurs.

[CANETMAN]

I am 100% behind Toulouse for SL and i am certain that if they are given the chance they will be a success.Toulouse is a very well run club Carlos is a stickler for detail (Its his policeman mindset:) and if you have ever visited his office you will see the clubs papers and bookwork are always kept upto date and are perfect,i know for a fact that they are the only french club that pay all the taxes and social payments the club is run on a total straight forward financial basis cheating and finding ways round the salary cap are things that the club under Carlos would never do,having Toulouse in SL is a win win situation for everyone.

CM

[CANETMAN]

But I thought the conventional wisdom on these boards was that a SL club was impossible to operate on less than a 10,000 average, never mind one that has to travel to the UK every second week. I am not knocking Toulouse, I am sure they have done the math but the rabid opposition to clubs in the UK who can't hit the 10,000 average vis a vis the support for the Toulouse application smacks of double standards.

I see your point however the revenue stream would be far higher Toulouse does have some serious money people out there 5000 would easily generate the same as 10000 back in the UK.One big revenue is from VIP corporate hospitality the french love it and will pay decent money.CM

[JohnM]

A vital development in my view, as long as they meet the conditions ( and no problem with them being helped along the way, just like the others have been helped over the years). The international dimension is sport is so important these days from a TV and sponsorship point of view. The others have had their chances.

[audois]

Yeah I think if they are in give them the light in 12 months, Robinson gave plenty of fringe players confidence to perform, the likes of stacul, baile, gossard, Simon are sl standard along with say massolot and quintella already at toulouse. Also young ben Garcia at nrl under 20's is another. Avignon and villenvue are hotbeds for rl talent toulouse should link up ties with these clubs. Griffi, saudoni and the bentley boys could also be SL standard. Barthau is could also be looked at, but longterm he is the playmaker at catalans post dureau/bosc. The first year will be a struggle ask widnes, crusaders, catalans.

Since Catalan arrived in 2006 they've released something like 20 plus French players. Of that number a dozen or so are still playing in the Elite1/2.. The two latest let go Stacul & Gossard have between them nearly 150 SL appearances. The Bentley lads now at Pia still in their twenties have 60 games behind them too. Bemba, Griffi Soubeyras & Gigot are Elite1 players in the 19 selected to play France on Saturday. When Catalan started they had none of that experience. Worth remembering too that the French Academy side in recent times has done well against England. With two SL out fits the best of this crop can be developed & nurtured.

Edited by audois, 14 October 2012 - 11:51 AM.

[keighley]

You think they have waited long enough screwed with the crusaders fast track then the championship experiment. They deserve a shot, not the. Usual whinging from championship Supporters that occurs.

I think they will get a shot. They seem to be well heeled andm dare say it, rubber stamped.

[Lobbygobbler]

Lots of expats in and around Toulouse due largely to the massive aerospace industry.

I think theyd get very big crowds within a couple of years in SL.

Get them in ASAP and get a third French team in by latest 2018

[CANETMAN]

Lots of expats in and around Toulouse due largely to the massive aerospace industry.

I think theyd get very big crowds within a couple of years in SL.

Get them in ASAP and get a third French team in by latest 2018

WELL SAID THAT MAN SECONDED:))))

[Wellsy4HullFC]

Lots of expats in and around Toulouse due largely to the massive aerospace industry.

I think theyd get very big crowds within a couple of years in SL.

Get them in ASAP and get a third French team in by latest 2018

At the expense of Leigh?

[Scubby]

Couldn't this all be avoided by SL clubs and the RFL agreeing to Catalans, London and Toulouse being put in a criteria of Development Franchises and the rest of the clubs being in another pot. Then you could have real transparency (e.g. Castleford being replaced by Halifax or Featherstone; Leigh replacing Salford) of like-for-like.

This system would also have meant that Toulouse could have bid for the vacant Development Franchise left by the defaulting Crusaders etc.

Edited by Scubby, 14 October 2012 - 02:12 PM.

[dkw]

At the expense of Leigh?

[Wellsy4HullFC]

Couldn't this all be avoided by SL clubs and the RFL agreeing to Catalans, London and Toulouse being put in a criteria of Development Franchises and the rest of the clubs being in another pot. Then you could have real transparency (e.g. Castleford being replaced by Halifax or Featherstone; Leigh replacing Salford) of like-for-like.

This system would also have meant that Toulouse could have bid for the vacant Development Franchise left by the defaulting Crusaders etc.

I've said this in the past. If we're going to include development sides, they're going to need more time to prepare than the heartland clubs.

[Northern Sol]

Sheffield, Featherstone, Leigh and Halifax surely?

Nothings official yet but I'm just waiting for the uproar when people realise a club seems to be being flagged through nearly two years before the licensing process?

I'd be okay with that if the RFL had made it clear that this kind of thing might happen, Toulouse deserve a shot at SL. Instead it seems to be the usual moveable goal posts.