bowes

Ground quality and I believe they still need to put a big bond with the RFL. Expect a big change in the league structure in 2012 that leaves this discussion irrelevent if the RFL can pull it off

All in the South apart from Crusaders and a 9s tournament up north I believe

It's expected there will be Championship licensing from 2012 so not necessarily anyone

A bit difficult given they have to decide by March but then again doing it on the 3 year playing average between teams meeting criteria to go up and the worst 3 year average of those missing out on a B license (or equivalent under the new system) to go down. Might spice things up but they wouldn't be happy if Quins went down

Any teams that make the final or win the NRC next year can apply for SL from 2015

Barrow fall short on ground and attendance unsure about turnover. Halifax maybe meet the criteria don't know their turnover but they meet everything else

Interestingly only til 2014 so presumably they have one more franchise period to get it right before they're given up on if they haven't?

Coundon is gone and Butts is far too small for SL (about 4000 capacity since they smashed up the temporary stand I believe)

Not likely for SL but may be the only chance of there being a West Cumbrian team back in the Championship

We should be honest and admit there's no proof a club with few fans in London makes an iota of difference to the SL contract. Also it's a myth that a lot of fans want no expansion of the sport. Fans would love a thriving London SL club, what noone but the truly crazy want is the RFL bankrupting themselves by bailing out an unviable club with few fans to the tune of

Yes, but it won't be the much maligned Castleford or Wakefield. Harlequins may well move to Milton Keynes, but SL in London is finished (at least until another club builds up which Skolars don't look like doing but the increased London talent may well). Crusaders are looking shaky after a good start, but probably will be around at least a few more years, hopefully the sport takes off in Wrexham. Hull KR are in big debt, so may eventually hit problems.

Since they scrapped 50% of turnover the cap's not been about that.

Yeah Harlequins are finished barring a move outside of London and some other clubs are looking shaky. We missed a trick not reducing to 12 teams IMO Though not just the pro game this year, lots of problems in the RLC this year obviously we're affectively left with 4 clubs in our division from the 10 that were supposed to start last season. 4 good sides yes but only 4. Not just us, most divisions are like that.

Expect Championship licensing to be pushed through from 2012 as a result of this, plus Keighley and all the other teams (Gateshead, Doncaster etc.). About time too.

Okay sorry to him then. Both relegated clubs these years are in a bad financial state so maybe needed to go down, but can't imagine the promoted sides will be in good finances, though the Oldham situation appears to be under control (assuming they go up)

Don't be pathetic, how would a bankrupt club having the ability to go up to SL help them? Lunatic

Saracens Rugby League?

Unless grounds are going to be ready for the start of the 2012 season they won't count in the application. Also no mention of invited foreign clubs

Hope it's a grass hockey pitch and not astroturf, sounds painful playing rugby league on astroturf

Think they'll have Championship licensing so the clubs will have a season to recover without the fear of relegation, but they'd then need to go all out for 2013 to have the chance to apply for 2015

To be fair I putmuch more faith inastrology than I do in the chances of a 2nd French SL club in 2012

If it rains tomorrow Castleford and Wakefield will definitely be for the chop and replaced by Paris and Toulouse. Castleford are 50-50 so if it's sunny they might survive but if it rains they'll be joining Wakefield who are certain for the axe. Stade Francais and Toulouse can provide better weather than northern towns so must be in

You're Richard Branson and I claim my

Well done, just Widnes and Featherstone in it from the Championship

It wasn't a fair suggestion though it was awful, especially the 14 fixtures which would kill every club dead within the first season