Angelic Cynic

It's provisional as it doesn't kick in until next year. It appears it hasn't ' landed very well ' with the clubs despite an earlier statement. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/12706792/super-league-relegation-scrapped-for-category-a-top-clubs-in-radical-plans-from-img Ken Davy announced IMG - I hope a journalist asks him how he thinks it is going after his accompanying remarks,at the time. 14 Super League clubs - 14 Championship clubs - as for France? I have read more trustworthy political manifestos

More League 1 clubs may help in the development of future international MoM award winning displays - https://hullkr.co.uk/mikey-lewis-newcastle-thunder-loan/

Has the piece in bold been passed to IMG?

But Hull FC were involved in the season just concluded and yet it continues. https://www.totalrl.com/rfl-reviewing-kit-protocols-following-recent-colour-clashes/ Pleasing professionalism continues to flourish in rugby league.

Off field may present more challenges..

Seems to put to bed the assertion,made by some,that clubs in Super League have to be full time. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/exclusive-london-broncos-will-not-be-entirely-full-time-in-2024-following-promotion-back-to-super-league

I absolutely agree.It seems the players are the least considered,and the last informed,whenever decisions are made in the sport of rugby league. I would like this to change...

Saint Gaudens play away at Toulouse next weekend. I haven't booked anything as thus far Toulouse have hosted their home games on both Saturday and Sunday and with different kick off times. It should be 1730hrs on Saturday - https://www.to13.com/calendrier-resultats-elite-1-2022-2023/ I shall wait a few more days...

I can confirm that while arranging yet another train journey for yet another rearranged game I was informed of a 3rd date for Saint Gaudens v Lezignan. This will be Friday 10th November at 2000hrs.( TV on site ) I would like to think/rely on,a fixed day and time for kick offs if tv/internet transmission gets underway. Lack of trains after the games,perhaps,but overnight accommodation is cheaper than multiple train bookings.

Castore have compiled a number of complaints from those in soccer. This is one of those complaints https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66958595#:~:text=Villa's male players have criticised,remain at a delicate stage.

Kids? Rugby League? On here? Love the optimism(?) of the Salford fans. Keep on keepin' on.

While the quick thinking,quick working IMG are reportedly considering a new title to replace Super League, a new title may also be considered for the potentially amalgamated new league,or the new conferences. Exciting,ain't it?

Football developed as stadia in the UK finally improved after some tragedies,as the simultaneous timing of a broadcast deal coincided with wealthy,non - Uk ownerships took over with ownership(s) being registered offshore. There seems to be an argument for the sport to be played by big city clubs. Perhaps the same people should argue for the sport to just be played by big countries in geographical spread and not by population? Until somebody somewhere increases the number of good coaches by hundreds,so they can coach young players,in thousands,the 'elite' product ain't gonna get mega - broadcast deals,or attendances, whoever is left playing,or where.

It is just sooo educational on this forum Every day is a school day. September to January. https://daysontheclaise.blogspot.com/2014/10/sheep-farming-in-france.html#:~:text=The main lambing season is,(known as aseasonal lambing). Goes back a long time - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7393119/ Innovative,these French folk.

With the statement from Mick Hogan hinting at the funding for the Thunder Academy being cut,does anyone out there know if funding was cut to the other clubs who had ' Elite' Academies? Should Thunder wish to return to semi - professional ranks it would appear a suitable stadium may prove costly. Kingston Park don't want them. Gateshead International Stadium isn't admired by the council https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/gateshead-international-stadium-college-12m-27163448

Thanks for that. I hope he remains. That should be two full time sides in The Championship - Wakefield and Toulouse with potential promotion decided on spreadsheet,social media interaction and LED Advertsing,or suchlike - and the possibility of some former League 1 sides without the funding for travel. I just wanna see the best players on the pitch - with good youngsters bursting onto the scene. I wonder how the attendance for the Final,next year,fares in comparison to yesterday in Toulouse and whether youngsters are in attendance?

It seems to me Rhys Lovegrove kept a low profile yesterday. Maybe rumours of him to Hull KR are correct. Best wishes to him wherever and whatever he does.

Newcastle Thunder filled the template.Did them the world of good. The product,' Super League ' is of a lower standard with the 30 yrs old + players doing the rounds of clubs. Yet now the players are the least important... Gonna be great in the future...

Do you think Mr Houles will now stand down? If so is there a French coach ready to takeover? Will Toulouse go back as a separate entity to their reserve side in Elite1? If so,the English Championship may take one League 1 club leaving even less for the 3rd tier. Not many yoof watching - at stadium in France,or in Wimbledon.

The problem may be that the hierarchy are entrenched in rugby union and their jobs will be secure. A possible help may have been ex - Premier League player Michael Carrick.A friend of Chris Thorman from schooldays and Mr Carrick has a former Thunder player as a right hand man for his property acquisitions. Maybe rugby league clubs should only be allowed to operate with nothing less than a 6 person board of directors. The 1 or 2 owner(s) seem destined for failure.

From this - https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/12125231/newcastle-thunder-aiming-to-cause-a-storm-with-super-league-ambitions An Elite Academy Licence for numerous years... Just what IMG apparently desire as they try to sell Super League To extinction... Empty words.No surprise players butterfly around flitting from club to club. What a sport.

It looks like the RFL's Strategy Reset,whatever that may mean,or be,may have to be reset.https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/55261514 Should have put them into Super League - the TV money didn't seem to harm Leigh in any way.

If IMG can pass comment about London following interest in the south following an international game I should be expecting a comment following the removal of 2 semi- professional clubs from 2 big cities,with one club having an Academy,Ladies and PDRL side,I believe. They also attracted more bums on seats to an international game in that part of the world than London did;similarly attracted decent numbers to Magic Weekends Once again a wealthy owner allows a club to lose out after those wealthy owners fail to find another wealthy person to take over the club. Can these wealthy owners not find other wealthy people through friendship,or networking,and persuade them to enjoy the sport sufficiently to take over from them? Why does lack of continuity exist in rugby league but such as politics,religion,business,crime,terrorism,there is always a new one to takeover? It ain't gonna be getting better in the immediate...

Thanks for that,Phil. Interesting read.

It's just inconvenient - I shall,as usual get over it. Just last week I learned a home game has been brought forward from the Sunday date, to a Saturday,so more train website bookings. I deliberately avoided Toulouse.I wanted to get away from England- not return every fortnight. Rugby League is the winner.Always optimistic is my motto. Nothing on the club Facebook to say the game is postponed...