Should London be targeted for development?

[DEANO]

Lol. Good luck with expanding the game. I really hope you are successful. Reality says you won't be

[bowes]

There were only about 150 open age amateur teams in 1973 (nearly all in Yorkshire) and about 100 at juniors 

[Adelaide Tiger]

Help needed - Years ago I read an interesting and in depth article - possibly in RL monthly - about how RL in London had not been properly funded or developed.  The writer explained that RL had just scratched the surface in developibg the game and that the game in London needed greater input of resources and finance. I have trued to find in online without success.  Anyone remember this or have a copy of it?

[londonrlfan]

6 hours ago, DEANO said:

Lol. Good luck with expanding the game. I really hope you are successful. Reality says you won't be

Reality shows the game has expanded a lot in the last 20 years.

[bowes]

28 minutes ago, londonrlfan said:

Reality shows the game has expanded a lot in the last 20 years.

Not really. There are far fewer clubs than there were then in total. Also London and surroundings plus the east Midlands had more amateur clubs then and they weren't just off season RU players 

[The Parksider]

20 hours ago, GeordieSaint said:

Despite over a 100yrs of exposure and access to practically all the sport's resources, the game isn't any better in many heartland areas. 1. Should we give up there as well?

If the game had any 2. sense, it should develop London properly as a footprint in the nation's capital city is essential and must be retained.

1. Of course not, we enjoy it to death up here.

2. You should have said money. If there is any money why deprive the heartland areas of it.

[The Parksider]

8 hours ago, bowes said:

Not really. There are far fewer clubs than there were then in total. Also London and surroundings plus the east Midlands had more amateur clubs then and they weren't just off season RU players 

Nice reality check.

The idea of spending £thousands to try to get them playing and watching in london that therefore deprives the M62 game of much needed funds is barmy.

We like the game up here, don't try to give the darn thing away to people who don't want it.

Those that do want to play in London play, those that want to watch in London watch, what is the problem.

[bowes]

The fact that the RFL can't even provide London Chargers a league to play in sums up how much they have failed development. They focused too much on the ever expanding RLC press releases at the expend of meaningful development of the clubs they already had

[westlondonfan]

23 hours ago, The Parksider said:

They did just that in 2009 when London Broncos and Celtic Crusaders were given 3 year licences, and several £Million SKY money to go with Samuels and Hughes (and Lenegan's?) money..

It worked as these clubs were a focus for junior development until the money ran out. 

The resources we have now are nowhere near as much as that money so I sadly believe that we can't spend money outside the north as every £10 spent in the south and wales is £10 less on the heartlands. 

 Yes but  that just sounds like rugby league is a sport in decline? 

[londonrlfan]

13 hours ago, bowes said:

Not really. There are far fewer clubs than there were then in total. Also London and surroundings plus the east Midlands had more amateur clubs then and they weren't just off season RU players 

On a professional level, the game has expanded over the country and players are coming from over the country, not just the m62 like before. Just becasue there are a few less amateurs in Hull doesn't mean the sport hasn't expanded.

[bowes]

23 minutes ago, londonrlfan said:

On a professional level, the game has expanded over the country and players are coming from over the country, not just the m62 like before. Just becasue there are a few less amateurs in Hull doesn't mean the sport hasn't expanded.

The game had nearly the same geoheaphical spread in the pro and amateur game in the 1980s (in England, Wales is in a better position now). There aren't a few less amateurs, there are far fewer than even ten years ago. Some teams of RU players playing ten games a year is not an adequate replacement.