superten Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 With all this talk of new exotic teams looking to join our league. The question has to be asked what's going to become of RL in what is our third traditional county . All three of Cumbria's team sit in league one although one may go up this season but can they survive in the championship ? We have already lost Carlisle which to me was a great shame. For a small population Cumbria has brought through some great players in the past if the game isn't careful we could lose this catchment area as both players and fans lose interest. I would like to see one day Carlisle returning to the league and also a team in Kendal to give Cumbria five teams. Should Cumbria be given some kind of special protection ? They use to get tour games and had go turn out in world cup for Scotland games. Could England knights play a few games up there ? Is this clamour for the world expansion with all this talk of USA teams more Canadians and French teams plus now Dublin leaving smaller areas behind ? Chief Crazy Eagle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ojx Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Cumbria had the opportunity to merge clubs and have a Super League team. At that time they decided to keep their clubs and play in the lower leagues. This is a result of that decision. In the Welsh RU, regional teams were created. It has had mixed success, but it was the only logical way forward. It worked at the Ospreys but not for the Dragons. The Scottish Border team didn't last because folks would only support their local clubs. Now there is no professional rugby in the Scottish borders. It is a choice the Cumbrian teams should face, only together can they form a top level team, if they can get behind it. Otherwise, it will forever be the lower leagues for the clubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon reader Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 1 minute ago, ojx said: Cumbria had the opportunity to merge clubs and have a Super League team. At that time they decided to keep their clubs and play in the lower leagues. This is a result of that decision. In the Welsh RU, regional teams were created. It has had mixed success, but it was the only logical way forward. It worked at the Ospreys but not for the Dragons. The Scottish Border team didn't last because folks would only support their local clubs. Now there is no professional rugby in the Scottish borders. It is a choice the Cumbrian teams should face, only together can they form a top level team, if they can get behind it. Otherwise, it will forever be the lower leagues for the clubs. I agree. they can't have it both ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Has Rugby League even ever been played in Kendal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 1 minute ago, superten said: With all this talk of new exotic teams looking to join our league. The question has to be asked what's going to become of RL in what is our third traditional county . All three of Cumbria's team sit in league one although one may go up this season but can they survive in the championship ? We have already lost Carlisle which to me was a great shame. For a small population Cumbria has brought through some great players in the past if the game isn't careful we could lose this catchment area as both players and fans lose interest. I would like to see one day Carlisle returning to the league and also a team in Kendal to give Cumbria five teams. Should Cumbria be given some kind of special protection ? They use to get tour games and had go turn out in world cup for Scotland games. Could England knights play a few games up there ? Is this clamour for the world expansion with all this talk of USA teams more Canadians and French teams plus now Dublin leaving smaller areas behind ? My opinion as a Cumbrian for what it's worth is that we are hampered by a small population in the RL playing towns of Whitehaven, Workington, maryport, egremont and creator moor and poor stadiums. These towns are too small to sustain a super league side and if a merged team was to play outside of super league then nobody would support it. Im afraid that ship of a merged Cumbrian team has sailed a longtime ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 The ideal scenario would be for a Roman abramovich type to buy and bankroll a Carlisle based super league side that doesn't have the baggage of the rivalry of town&haven. Plus barrow is to far away to even be considered in a possible Cumbrian merger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Fanatic Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 5 minutes ago, Damien said: Has Rugby League even ever been played in Kendal? Not to my knowledge, Penrith did have a team for a few seasons in the 1990's 100% League 0% Union Just because I don't know doesn't mean I don't understand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 And special protection, of any kind, would bring protests from ailing clubs in other areas, whether they are heartland or expansion. Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. Ralph Waldo Emerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superten Posted July 28, 2017 Author Share Posted July 28, 2017 3 minutes ago, ojx said: Cumbria had the opportunity to merge clubs and have a Super League team. At that time they decided to keep their clubs and play in the lower leagues. This is a result of that decision. In the Welsh RU, regional teams were created. It has had mixed success, but it was the only logical way forward. It worked at the Ospreys but not for the Dragons. The Scottish Border team didn't last because folks would only support their local clubs. Now there is no professional rugby in the Sottish borders. It is a choice the Cambrian teams should face, only together can they form a top level team, if they can get behind it. Otherwise, it will forever bethe lower leagues for the clubs. didn't Cas Wakey and Fev get told to merge by super league . Yet Cas now top Wakey 5th and Fev fourth in championship .All whats needed is some investment after all all the 3 Cumbrian towns are bigger in population than Featherstone Chief Crazy Eagle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 1 minute ago, Futtocks said: And special protection, of any kind, would bring protests from ailing clubs in other areas, whether they are heartland or expansion. This. Sadly it's a no win situation for Cumbria. We don't have the population, stadia or investment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 3 minutes ago, superten said: didn't Cas Wakey and Fev get told to merge by super league . Yet Cas now top Wakey 5th and Fev fourth in championship .All whats needed is some investment after all all the 3 Cumbrian towns are bigger in population than Featherstone But not as big as castleford or Wakefield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Fanatic Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 2 minutes ago, walter sobchak said: But not as big as castleford or Wakefield. No population centre's anywhere near them either, but you'll know that. While I don't think anyone really expects any special treatment of protection it would be nice to get a game against a touring/4N side once in a while so that we could play as Cumbria a little more often 100% League 0% Union Just because I don't know doesn't mean I don't understand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 15 minutes ago, Damien said: Has Rugby League even ever been played in Kendal? Union territory along with Wigton and aspatria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Just now, walter sobchak said: Union territory along with Wigton and aspatria. Thought so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 2 minutes ago, Cumbrian Fanatic said: No population centre's anywhere near them either, but you'll know that. While I don't think anyone really expects any special treatment of protection it would be nice to get a game against a touring/4N side once in a while so that we could play as Cumbria a little more often Games against the Aussies and even the NZ Maori attracted capacity crowds at both Workington and Whitehaven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scubby Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 1 minute ago, Cumbrian Fanatic said: No population centre's anywhere near them either, but you'll know that. While I don't think anyone really expects any special treatment of protection it would be nice to get a game against a touring/4N side once in a while so that we could play as Cumbria a little more often Cumbria needs a central community stadium along the lines of Leigh Sports Village. If that had happened 10 or so years ago we may well have seen a Cumbrian franchise evolve with stakeholders from the existing clubs. They could have remained in the Championship or League 1 and used duel registration. Sadly, I don't think there is a will for it - either from the Council or the local clubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumbrian Fanatic Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 1 minute ago, Scubby said: Cumbria needs a central community stadium along the lines of Leigh Sports Village. If that had happened 10 or so years ago we may well have seen a Cumbrian franchise evolve with stakeholders from the existing clubs. They could have remained in the Championship or League 1 and used duel registration. Sadly, I don't think there is a will for it - either from the Council or the local clubs. Two different local authorities, Copeland for Whitehaven and Allerdale for Workington so there's no chance, neither would there be from Cumbria County Council as RL only covers a part of the county. Sadly as well as this, I think you are correct in saying there would be no will from the clubs either 100% League 0% Union Just because I don't know doesn't mean I don't understand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scubby Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 3 minutes ago, Cumbrian Fanatic said: Two different local authorities, Copeland for Whitehaven and Allerdale for Workington so there's no chance, neither would there be from Cumbria County Council as RL only covers a part of the county. Sadly as well as this, I think you are correct in saying there would be no will from the clubs either I think facilities could have helped to instigate change. I remember a proposal for a stadium half way between the two towns (maybe 15 years ago??) If that had been built then heads could have been knocked together. Now we have two stubborn traditional clubs in two equally decaying stadiums - yet the area is as rich in RL pedigree as you could get. Such a shame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superten Posted July 28, 2017 Author Share Posted July 28, 2017 why couldn't one of Wales , Scotland or Ireland play a pre world cup warm up match against Cumbria . Maybe even have Cumbria v Jamica Chief Crazy Eagle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 16 minutes ago, Scubby said: I think facilities could have helped to instigate change. I remember a proposal for a stadium half way between the two towns (maybe 15 years ago??) If that had been built then heads could have been knocked together. Now we have two stubborn traditional clubs in two equally decaying stadiums - yet the area is as rich in RL pedigree as you could get. Such a shame. Lillyhall. Which now has a fairly new bypass connecting Whitehaven with Workington and has seen new development with the multi-million pound lakes college being built there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scubby Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Just now, walter sobchak said: Lillyhall. Which now has a fairly new bypass connecting Whitehaven with Workington and has seen new development with the multi-million pound lakes college being built there. Story of RL really. Look what you could have won :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 1 minute ago, Scubby said: Story of RL really. Look what you could have won :/ A more appropriate picture would have been a speedboat or a brand spanking new kitchen to be split by 2 different families;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OriginalMrC Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Did the C2C cycle a couple of years ago and it went through large parts of Cumbria. One thing that genuinely surprised me was the number of rugby pitches everywhere. However the facilities were poor. I wouldn't worry too much whether Cumbria has a SL team (as nice as that would be). What they really need is grassroots support. Investment in facilities and coaching programmes. Create a conveyor belt of talent and that will filter up to the clubs. Realise this could be true of anywhere but Cumbria has real potential to be a hotbed of RL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 1 hour ago, ojx said: Cumbria had the opportunity to merge clubs and have a Super League team. At that time they decided to keep their clubs and play in the lower leagues. This is a result of that decision. In the Welsh RU, regional teams were created. It has had mixed success, but it was the only logical way forward. It worked at the Ospreys but not for the Dragons. The Scottish Border team didn't last because folks would only support their local clubs. Now there is no professional rugby in the Scottish borders. It is a choice the Cumbrian teams should face, only together can they form a top level team, if they can get behind it. Otherwise, it will forever be the lower leagues for the clubs. Was this prior to the 1st super league season?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 7 minutes ago, OriginalMrC said: Did the C2C cycle a couple of years ago and it went through large parts of Cumbria. One thing that genuinely surprised me was the number of rugby pitches everywhere. However the facilities were poor. I wouldn't worry too much whether Cumbria has a SL team (as nice as that would be). What they really need is grassroots support. Investment in facilities and coaching programmes. Create a conveyor belt of talent and that will filter up to the clubs. Realise this could be true of anywhere but Cumbria has real potential to be a hotbed of RL The demise of both town&haven has had a knock on effect for amateur RL in the area. That and the explosion of the premier league which is seeing more kids taking up and preferring football to RL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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