BridBeachRL

Looking at the locations it's split into 6 (7 depending on how you split London) regions https://www.englandtouch.org.uk/play/where-to-play/map-and-contacts/ but there are clubs based all over. However if you dig deeper "North East Raiders" are the rep side with players trialling out from their clubs to play regionally then nationaly and potentially internationally so clear pathways in place. I think it's a good idea but definitely a 2 way street as there aren't many Yorkshire based side "Yorkshire Thorns" in Leeds are the main one they have backing from the Rhinos community wise which is good. Potentially one in York but the page has been quiet for a while. I think England touch will benefit from potential of "all year rugby" as well as fans of League that fancy giving touch a go but more visible teams or leagues need to be present maybe on the back of the exsisting RFL community game or a tag league model.

I know a higher standard but not off topic when I was watching York home and away pre Covid. I made a commitment to not swear at all or complain at the referee if I did I was happy to be picked up on it and if it happened I would donate £1 per incident to the oppositions club foundation. Being the tight Yorkshireman I am I didn't have any occurances but for me on a personal level I actually enjoyed the games even more, if there was a penalty given against it was then about encouraging the defence/attack depending on the situation to get the performance levels needed.

It's off season so random thoughts and opinions. Red Bull like to buy into sports clubs rename the club such as Red Bull Salzburg. If them or a similar company investor came along would you want the identity of the club to be stripped and renamed for a cash injection or is a hard pass. Like the Red Bull Rhinos playing out of Red Bull Arena Headingley or similar?

Agreed with Leeds. It will be interesting to see what the crowds are like for the Group game for England against the worst rank side in the Group. With Sheffield it all depends where people are travelling from as has links to all of the Midlands, London, Yorkshire and Lancashire and Bramall Lane is within a 20 minute walk of the station. Definitely more better connected than Bolton but Leeds agreed is well connected although downside Elland Road is out of the way if travelling by train.

On semi-finals wise it depends on what grounds are available Hillsborough is bigger than Elland Road but in an awkward place to get to, Bramall Lane although slightly smaller is well connected transport wise. Riverside at Middlesbrough a decent size but again not well connected. If they are planning to rotate the triple headers I would like to see Sheffield have a chance at hosting. I think the Midlands wouldn't be very productive although you have some decent sized stadiums Villa Park, Leicester, Coventry etc I can't see people travelling en mass to events there.

On semi-finals wise it depends on what grounds are available Hillsborough is bigger than Elland Road but in an awkward place to get to, Bramall Lane although slightly smaller is well connected transport wise. Riverside at Middlesbrough a decent size but again not well connected. If they are planning to rotate the triple headers I would like to see Sheffield have a chance at hosting. I think the Midlands wouldn't be very productive although you have some decent sized stadiums Villa Park, Leicester, Coventry etc I can't see people travelling en mass to events there.

Cornwall have got 11 weeks this weekend to assemble a squad ready for their 1st fixture. When 2 of those weekends are Christmas Day and New Year's day doesn't leave too much prep time!

I know it's potentially off season boredom but defo keep the Featherstone image for tradition purposes if nothing else. With the proposed changes in Super League and Championship with the 2 Leagues of 10 teams. It is working out when the push for promotion and money injection would be best, with this idea not likely until 2024 (if it happens) promotion in 2022 might not be the best idea as you will have to finish in the top 10 to stay up and not be a 1 season wonder. Promotion in 2024 would see you in Super League at the time of the new TV deal. As you saw with Leigh I don't know what their financial books looked after 2021 but with supporting extra outlay with players wages etc were they able to balance out with Covid restricted crowds.

On a RFL facilities with league 1 what is the minimum number of seats required? It used to be 500 in about 2016 but this ground only has 200 have the requirements changed/not a factor any more? And my 2nd question is Laurent Frayssinous still under contract and if so how does that work is he under contract of the franchise of Hemel moving to Ottawa now to Cornwall so would be the current head coach or was it only for 2021 that he signed for Ottawa?

They literally do but also have some wealthy farmers/landowners backers from the area. Although some areas of Darlington aren't the best and the Northern Echo Arena or whatever its called these days is next to a traveller site with barbed wire fences surrounding it and Cctv all over the place they are very protective over Union. It may be easier to get into the 3k Blackwell Meadows which would be a ground share with the football club they are in the National league North same league as York City. There would need to be a few more hundred seats adding in to meet League 1 standards but a possibility and maybe an attraction if you were investing in their infrastructure as well as bringing in ground share revenue.

They would genuinely be better off being based in Uzbekistan. As someone that knows the Harrogate sporting area, one ground potentially for a ground share option of Harrogate Railway FC who are struggling financially. Harrogate Town FC are very precious with their setup, so doubtful plus you would need a big stock of Rugby balls at that ground and Harrogate Rugby Union would want money and alot of it to even consider a ground share which doesn't conform to League 1 seating requirements although I would love to see a semi pro side fan base would be 100 tops on a good day

I remember chatting a while back to some Leeds United fans at work and queried if they have ever thought about the idea of Leeds Rhinos and going but for them due to location they said if Hunslet were a bigger club they might give it a go but they class Rhinos as "non Leeds" and don't like the MOT being nicked and used at Rhino's games. Leeds as as city is such a big area in terms of towns you have Tadcaster to Ilkley across wise and everything in between including the likes of Guiseley, Pudsey and Otley under the LS postcode. It should be able to support multiple sports clubs which it does however I am not sure where additional fans are coming from

Ooh I don't know sounds a bit tasty that one. Where's my war paint etc

For me personally I hope it doesn't get off the ground especially with how crowded the market is for sports. Luckily no Rugby League players have taken the NFL Europe player pathway like that Union player side was it Wade? Although on a positive note on Rugby League I was chatting to a few blokes from Sheffield on Saturday and they were Sheff United fans but went to the Grand Final because their team wasn't playing due to the international break. Maybe targeting more international breaks in football (England) might be a way to boost crowds. They weren't too bothered about the game mainly a reason to go to an event and on the drink in Manchester.

Another bananas idea but https://teamukfl.com/the-league/ according to this website and current social media campaigns they are creating an 8 team Pro American football league in the UK split into North and South Conferences from May 2023. Although sounds like another hundred gimic or the Union World 12s if this does get a hold with funding it will be interesting to see the locations and crowds. They believe the audience to be 1 million in the UK even 10% of that attending across the 8 teams gives an average of 12,500 per team.