French rugby league’s domestic competition has long struggled for visibility beyond its southern heartlands, but with a new identity and the launch of a dedicated WebTV platform, Super XIII is attempting to drag itself into a new era.

“CRITICISM may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things,” as former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once put it.

Undoubtedly, many Treizistes possess the soul of physicians, eager to help the French rugby league patient recover. Criticism is rife on social media, flowing in every conceivable direction and often contradicting itself entirely.

A prime target for such scrutiny is the French top-tier men’s division. Formerly known as Élite 1 and now rebranded as Super XIII following a federation-led overhaul, the competition remains a contentious subject.

Let us be clear: it is impossible to find a consensus regarding this championship, which ought to be our flagship alongside the national team. While Super XIII boasts a solid standard, it remains frustratingly invisible in the national media. It is still perceived primarily as a southern affair, albeit one played across a broader canvas than in the UK, spanning three distinct French regions.

Decades ago, tracking a championship contested by teams sometimes five hours’ drive apart was a logistical nightmare. News was fragmented across the regional editions of various local papers. I really take my hat off to Mike Rylance, who has been doing this from abroad for a long time. The lower divisions, and even more sadly, the women’s championships, were virtually non-existent in the public eye.

Today, thanks to the internet and digital platforms (such as Treize Mondial), that era is gone. It is now possible to follow Super XIII and view footage on YouTube, but only if you already know exactly where to look. Is it reasonable to expect the French public to cultivate this instinct? That is asking too much. In the current jungle of media offerings in France, Super XIII remains all but impossible to stumble across.

We even encounter Treizistes here who follow nothing but the NRL. I was recently contacted by a fan who mistook my Facebook page for that of Treize Mondial. He offered his services, but stipulated that they would apply solely to covering the NRL, as he had no interest whatsoever in the domestic Élite 1.

Yet Super XIII remains the heart and soul of French rugby league; it is vital to maintain and promote it.

But how?

I had the opportunity to question the key stakeholders via Thomas Rouchit, who works for Athlead, the agency contracted by the FFR XIII (see last month’s issue of RLW). He provided fascinating insights into the Federation’s strategy, beginning with the rebranding to Super XIII:

“The change of name to Super XIII is a major communication opportunity. Our project extends to the 2030 horizon. First and foremost, we are creating a genuine brand, a distinct name, and a unique DNA that is starting to resonate across all areas.

“In 2025-2026, Super XIII launched its own Instagram account for the Championship, working weekly, match by match, with club communications teams to co-share weekend content.

“By 2026, we will have a dedicated page on the future website and regular seminars with club presidents.

“A Super XIII-branded drink has been created in the colours of each club; you can already find it at refreshment stands in Villeneuve-sur-Lot and Carcassonne, which were pioneers in this initiative.

“Finally, this name change will enable the development of shared broadcasting arrangements. Our ambition is clear: to improve the broadcast quality of Super XIII. Our Championship gains in playing standard each year, and we must be proud to showcase it! This is a major challenge that could accompany a change of season to offer a ‘sexy’ Super XIII more in line with current consumption patterns.”

We did not have to wait long for this change of season to become concrete, with news of a rescheduling of the calendar to align with Super League and Championship.

However, FFR XIII backtracked on those plans last month, after six of the eleven club chairman voted to stick with the traditional format.

As a Treiziste, I found the idea highly appealing. In summer, French rugby league faces fewer competitors, and given that many clubs are located in popular tourist destinations, this presents a tremendous opportunity to present our sport to our compatriots arriving from the northern regions — and why not to foreign tourists too?

However, as a French citizen, I was more cautious. Global warming is hitting the southern areas of France hard. Some matches will inevitably be played when temperatures occasionally reach 30°C. This is not ideal for the players or the environment. Yet the advantage of operating somewhat under the radar of the mainstream media is that French rugby league can afford to experiment with new approaches.

Speaking of new approaches, there are at least two this year.

The first is, of course, the Grand Final of Super XIII, which will be held as a curtain-raiser to the match between Catalans Dragons and Wigan in Paris on 6th June. I questioned Rouchit on how the Federation managed to set up this event with the Dragons:

“Links have always been good with our flagship clubs. They are aware of being entrusted with a greater mission, which is the development of French rugby league. This development will benefit everyone. Subsequently, discussions with the Super XIII clubs were conducted fairly rapidly to decide to hold the final there this season. Rugby league conquering the capital — that sounds good!”

The second initiative is more discreet but could be a game-changer in the long term, if it succeeds of course.

The Federation’s latest venture is the launch of a dedicated Super XIII WebTV. From next season, four live matches per weekend, pre-match analysis and comprehensive highlights will be available to subscribers. The pricing is accessible — €72 (£60) annually for FFR XIII licensees, €96 (£80) for others — but the success of the venture hinges on reaching a critical mass of 5,500 subscribers by June, when broadcasting contracts must be signed.

The Federation has personally confirmed to me that subscriptions can be taken out from abroad should demand arise — a crucial detail for the diaspora of Treizistes scattered across the Channel and beyond, or indeed for Anglophone fans of our sport, among them those who rediscovered it during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It could work, provided, of course, that the WebTV is easily accessible on most smart TVs. Recently, I had a bad experience: the Super League games involving French teams were no longer available via Twitch on the Rugbyrama account, without explanation. I had to figure out for myself again how to stream the images from my tablet to my TV, which was not completely straightforward. One really needs to make things easier for the French public.

Nevertheless, this is not merely a commercial exercise; it is a test of whether the French rugby league community truly values its own product. Visibility requires more than digital presence — it demands commitment from within.

The ball is now in the court of every Treiziste: will we prove that our sport deserves a platform, or will we let another opportunity slip away?

Treiziste Diary is an opinion column written in a personal capacity and is © Pierre Carcau