Sylvain Houles says Toulouse should be exempt from relegation

[Jughead]

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/toulouse-super-league-relegation-exemption-23836517

This should rile some up on a Sunday afternoon. 

[Oxford]

Not really as Sylvain, great though he is, would say that woudn't he?

Paul Rowley says the same should apply to Salford, and I agree!

[idrewthehaggis]

Does Rowley say that Comrade Oxford? 

The real question not addressed is if you have relegation, ,how do you stop those demoted clubs vanishing when the gap between SL and the Championship is so great?

 

 

 

[Dave T]

15 minutes ago, Jughead said:

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/toulouse-super-league-relegation-exemption-23836517

This should rile some up on a Sunday afternoon. 

Without going into the P&R debate in detail, as its been done to death and many support exemptions and many hate the idea of them, but this line made me chuckle. 

"If you have two (French) clubs in Super League in 2025 you will have a good French World Cup."

And. 

"The day France beat England everyone can say around the table we've done well. Anyone will say to have that, you have to have two teams in Super League."

I'm afraid this is a poorly thought out argument. It is self preservation, no more no less. And I have no issue with him arguing his clubs cause, he's doing the best for Toulouse. 

But 2 French teams are not the requirement for a good World Cup. And I would argue that for France to beat England you have to have 2 French teams in. I'd argue it will take much more than that. 

More than ever we need strategic direction around SL's setup for things like this. 

[The Rocket]

3 minutes ago, Dave T said:

But 2 French teams are not the requirement for a good World Cup

So does that mean that you think if there was 4 ( pick a number ) French teams in Super League then that would not mean a better World Cup.

There`s a reason why England and Oz hold the WC. Because that is where there are the most Rugby League clubs and have the best chance of succeeding.

The more clubs, the greater the footprint.

 

[clogdance]

Oh dear Sylvain. You had a little cry when Leigh got selected for being fast tracked into Super League, and now you have got upset once again ! So it's the RFL's fault you did not strengthen your championship winning squad, even after you released 2 players, and subsequently only won one game. Last time I checked you are only 4 points adrift, and play at home to 'out of form' Wakefield. Also in July TO have 4 home games, so stop blubbering. 

[Omott91]

Finally some sense, give them the exemption.

[Dave T]

13 minutes ago, The Rocket said:

So does that mean that you think if there was 4 ( pick a number ) French teams in Super League then that would not mean a better World Cup.

There`s a reason why England and Oz hold the WC. Because that is where there are the most Rugby League clubs and have the best chance of succeeding.

The more clubs, the greater the footprint.

 

PNG had no NRL clubs. NZ had one. 

Arguing that 2 is the number for success is convenient for Toulouse. 

[The Rocket]

2 minutes ago, Dave T said:

PNG had no NRL clubs. NZ had one. 

Arguing that 2 is the number for success is convenient for Toulouse. 

 I think what he was arguing wasn`t necessarily two but anything more than one would help to sell it, especially if you are going to expect people to pay a reasonable price for tickets.

PNG and NZ only held games not entire World Cups, they could, but they`d have to give tickets away or make them very very cheap.

Anyway it looks like they are probably only going to have one team in SL, so marketing it is going to become a lot more important, probably like it would have been anyway.

[Dave T]

22 minutes ago, The Rocket said:

 I think what he was arguing wasn`t necessarily two but anything more than one would help to sell it, especially if you are going to expect people to pay a reasonable price for tickets.

PNG and NZ only held games not entire World Cups, they could, but they`d have to give tickets away or make them very very cheap.

Anyway it looks like they are probably only going to have one team in SL, so marketing it is going to become a lot more important, probably like it would have been anyway.

Yes, I'm being a touch pedantic with his argument. Had he spoken more high level about needing increased presence and a larger player pool etc. then I'd agree, but when he is naming two as the number as his team sits in the relegation spot, it makes your argument transparent. 

[UTK]

I don't agree that they should be exempt at all - exemptions for one while another is relegated is an untenable situation and I'm a backer of P&R as a structure (though there is a valid argument surrounding the travel costs argument creating an uneven playing field that could justify it, same applied for Leigh last year).

This is ultimately one of the negative realities of this system, you are undoubtedly limiting any form of strategic support that could be given to the international game in a variety of different facets, the consequences of this will be felt moving forward but we can only hope have limited impact on the success of things such as the WC.

[Damien]

I think his comments and logic are quite correct but obviously Toulouse being bottom means they smack of self preservation and gives them less credibility.

It again just highlights the lack of a whole game approach when it comes to developing the game both domestically and internationally. France 2025 offers a great opportunity for the sport but only if we can capitalise on it. A 14 team SL with 2 places reserved for French clubs, no loop fixtures and a couple of mid season French internationals just ticks all the boxes for me to build the game.

Edited May 1, 2022 by Damien

[Dallas Mead]

Totally agree. Needed for growth of the game, we’ve got enough economically deprived small towns in SL as it is, let’s not let Toulouse drop out to let another one in eh.

[clogdance]

4 hours ago, clogdance said:

Oh dear Sylvain. You had a little cry when Leigh got selected for being fast tracked into Super League, and now you have got upset once again ! So it's the RFL's fault you did not strengthen your championship winning squad, even after you released 2 players, and subsequently only won one game. Last time I checked you are only 4 points adrift, and play at home to 'out of form' Wakefield. Also in July TO have 4 home games, so stop blubbering. 

Davo5 is 'confused' shock horror !   

[Davo5]

11 minutes ago, clogdance said:

Davo5 is 'confused' shock horror !   

Your childish posts tend to frequently have that effect.

[clogdance]

6 minutes ago, Davo5 said:

Your childish posts tend to frequently have that effect.

Sorry if my post about Sylvain Houles upset you, I can only apologize. 

[The Future is League]

5 hours ago, Jughead said:

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/toulouse-super-league-relegation-exemption-23836517

This should rile some up on a Sunday afternoon. 

Its not going to happen unless we have a 14 team Super League next season and I've seen no plans for that

[Pie tries]

Need funded 14 team comp - sure Sky can see that ?

[dkw]

Hes right.

[The Future is League]

Its a toss up between Toulouse and Wakey who get's relegated, and we all know that if Wakeys bad run continues Willie Poching is going to get the Spanish Archer. Not sure what the situation would be with Sylvain Houles as they probably have him on the cheap

[Angelic Cynic]

7 hours ago, clogdance said:

Oh dear Sylvain. You had a little cry when Leigh got selected for being fast tracked into Super League, and now you have got upset once again ! So it's the RFL's fault you did not strengthen your championship winning squad, even after you released 2 players, and subsequently only won one game. Last time I checked you are only 4 points adrift, and play at home to 'out of form' Wakefield. Also in July TO have 4 home games, so stop blubbering. 

I think you'll find it is the owners of Super League clubs who decide who is in Super League - not the RFL.

When Leigh were last promoted - it was an ' independent ' decision.

Toulouse may not have been able to strengthen their squad given 2 players were in dispute,and they were paying all travel costs for the 'entitled ' elite clubs. 

[Snowys Backside]

If they go down, they go down. 

If they stay up, then two stronger clubs will come up. Depends whether the Greedy SL chairmen think of the game in general or their own back pockets. 

For me, it's a no brainer because a 12 team SL with one scapegoat is boring. Put 3 in there and make relegation a real battle. May sell out Belle Vue, LSV and PO Road whilst we are at it. Can't sell out Toulouse, but we may fill a stand! 

[clogdance]

2 hours ago, Angelic Cynic said:

I think you'll find it is the owners of Super League clubs who decide who is in Super League - not the RFL.

When Leigh were last promoted - it was an ' independent ' decision.

Toulouse may not have been able to strengthen their squad given 2 players were in dispute,and they were paying all travel costs for the 'entitled ' elite clubs. 

You got my drift didn't you though ? Toulouse had to agree to pay the away clubs travel costs to be allowed into the Super League. If this is going to prove too much for them, then so be it. 

[JohnM]

5 hours ago, Snowys Backside said:

If they go down, they go down. 

If they stay up, then two stronger clubs will come up. Depends whether the Greedy SL chairmen think of the game in general or their own back pockets. 

For me, it's a no brainer because a 12 team SL with one scapegoat is boring. Put 3 in there and make relegation a real battle. May sell out Belle Vue, LSV and PO Road whilst we are at it. Can't sell out Toulouse, but we may fill a stand! 

their own back pockets. 

That set me wondering. Which greedy SL chairmen are currently lining their own back pockets?

 

 

[Harry Stottle]

18 hours ago, The Rocket said:

PNG and NZ only held games not entire World Cups, they could, but they`d have to give tickets away or make them very very cheap.

Did that not happen in '17 in Australia Rocket? it certainly happened in England in '13 and if I was a betting man I would wager it will also happen this year also.