Applications to League 1 Open

[The Future is League]

9 hours ago, WiganBooney said:

The costs and logistics of more French teams make that unfeasible,  viable expansion in the UK is the way forward but only with a solid business plan for any applications. 

I would suggest that any team wishing to join League 1 read the criterea front to back and back to front when the criteria is revealed before applying, as i wouldn't put it past the RFL to change the rules that any new club signed up half way through a season.

[DEANO]

I’m afraid you’re all deluded if you think expansion is going to work. It’s been tried and better tried. Doesn’t work. Never has. Never will. Shame cos they don’t know what they’re missing

[Hello]

20 hours ago, Anita Bath said:

Shhh……If it doesnt make sense it will quickly be adopted by RFL.

Lets face it….expansion doesnt make sense when we recently lost two clubs and other current clubs are struggling.

Nope. In all other sports, and the mountain of evidence is there for all to see , expansion is occurring and makes sense e.g. football, cricket , rugby union, basketball, ice hockey etc.   BUT.... Not in RL, oh no no no. For some unfathomable reason expansion in RL is apparently impossible.......

Edited June 11, 2024 by Hello

[Toby Chopra]

12 hours ago, Phil W said:

Maybe the trick here is to not just think of applications from existing clubs. What about investors wanting to invest in the game and possibly a new franchise. Cornwall weren't in existence before coming into League One. Some form of Scottish, Irish or South Wales franchise wouldn't be the worst thing ever. If these countries need to grow their international game especially in Scotland and Ireland (as at least Wales have Crusaders) this could be a good stepping stone to growth. 

Celtic franchises could inject some energy into the game based out of Cardiff Arms Park, The Hive in Edinburgh and somewhere in Dublin. Some good weekends away. 

I'll wait for the comments! 

There's nothing wrong with that in theory, but as has been proven beyond doubt now if you want a vaguely competitive team outside the heartlands you need a core of full time players. And immediately you're looking at millions of pounds over several years to build up a fan base at the sort of venues you mention.

Great if we can, but there doesn't seem to be a queue of investors looking to make it happen.

The non-heartland expansion candidates that have been mentioned in the current conversation aren't looking at this model, so are doomed to failure. 

[lucky 7]

The RFL couldn't offer any help to South Wales and the London Skolars so zero chance of any help for any new clubs to League 1.

[redjonn]

14 hours ago, Gooleboy said:

When a new club comes in and has some success the crowds come, but as soon as they get to a level where they are getting beat on a regular basis the crowds dwindle. That's what's happened to most of them since Fulham.

They don't like it up em....

on a regular basis

[Damien]

13 hours ago, DEANO said:

I’m afraid you’re all deluded if you think expansion is going to work. It’s been tried and better tried. Doesn’t work. Never has. Never will. Shame cos they don’t know what they’re missing

Rugby League in this country has rarely had well financed expansion, most expansion clubs have been little more than pub teams run on a wing and a prayer. Those that have been well backed like Catalans have done well, and Toronto and Celtic Crusaders did too until the money ran out at both.

[The Future is League]

Are the RFL going to publish a list of the clubs who are interested in joining League 1,IF there is any serious interest from any parties?                                                                                       It is my opinion that the RFL blew a golden opportunity for the game when they refused Manchester Rangers application to join League 1.

Edited June 12, 2024 by The Future is League

[ATLANTISMAN]

It's a real tough one this however for 150K pretty much guaranteed promotion only Oldham in ones way at present.

P

[DEANO]

10 hours ago, Damien said:

Rugby League in this country has rarely had well financed expansion, most expansion clubs have been little more than pub teams run on a wing and a prayer. Those that have been well backed like Catalans have done well, and Toronto and Celtic Crusaders did too until the money ran out at both.

Who knows where Toronto or Celtic crusaders would be had they been treated the same as the french

[burnleywelsh]

2 hours ago, DEANO said:

Who knows where Toronto or Celtic crusaders would be had they been treated the same as the french

And how have the French been treated differently to those two??

[Gav Wilson]

14 hours ago, burnleywelsh said:

And how have the French been treated differently to those two??

Catalans were rightly protected from relegation for their first three seasons. I only wish that Toulouse were offered the same protection. 

[burnleywelsh]

11 minutes ago, Gav Wilson said:

Catalans were rightly protected from relegation for their first three seasons. I only wish that Toulouse were offered the same protection. 

It's a shame they weren't. 

[Eddie]

15 hours ago, burnleywelsh said:

And how have the French been treated differently to those two??

Catalan haven’t been voted out by the other SL clubs. 

[DEANO]

4 hours ago, Gav Wilson said:

Catalans were rightly protected from relegation for their first three seasons. I only wish that Toulouse were offered the same protection. 

Why not everyone gav 

[newbe]

Once all  the clubs who are interested are finalised, it will be very interesting to see who actually wants to go on with this, once they receive the terms n condition file from the RFL, think it will.open up.those rose tinted glasses. 

[EssexRL]

5 hours ago, newbe said:

Once all  the clubs who are interested are finalised, it will be very interesting to see who actually wants to go on with this, once they receive the terms n condition file from the RFL, think it will.open up.those rose tinted glasses. 

I'd like to think any club thinking about this step will have done due diligence on things like the cost of travel, but that might not be the case.

[lucky 7]

14 minutes ago, EssexRL said:

I'd like to think any club thinking about this step will have done due diligence on things like the cost of travel, but that might not be the case.

And the cost they might have to find for visiting teams

[OriginalMrC]

48 minutes ago, EssexRL said:

I'd like to think any club thinking about this step will have done due diligence on things like the cost of travel, but that might not be the case.

I think Skolars said it was £50-80k. Obviously the amount will vary but it's still a big sum of money for any new club to find.

[Billy King's Boots]

On 11/06/2024 at 18:55, Phil W said:

Maybe the trick here is to not just think of applications from existing clubs. What about investors wanting to invest in the game and possibly a new franchise. Cornwall weren't in existence before coming into League One. Some form of Scottish, Irish or South Wales franchise wouldn't be the worst thing ever. If these countries need to grow their international game especially in Scotland and Ireland (as at least Wales have Crusaders) this could be a good stepping stone to growth. 

Celtic franchises could inject some energy into the game based out of Cardiff Arms Park, The Hive in Edinburgh and somewhere in Dublin. Some good weekends away. 

I'll wait for the comments! 

Technically, Cornwall are Hemel. Eric Perez bought the Hemel licence with the intention of moving them to Ottowa, but Covid kiboshed that, so he plonked 'em in Cornwall (which seems to be working if crowds are a measure if success)

[northamptoncougar]

What’s become of Mr Perez?

[OriginalMrC]

10 minutes ago, northamptoncougar said:

What’s become of Mr Perez?

He moved to Penryn 2 years ago. 

[Eddie]

On 14/06/2024 at 19:33, Billy King's Boots said:

Technically, Cornwall are Hemel. Eric Perez bought the Hemel licence with the intention of moving them to Ottowa, but Covid kiboshed that, so he plonked 'em in Cornwall (which seems to be working if crowds are a measure if success)

What crowds are they getting? They never publish them so it would be good to know. 

[OriginalMrC]

6 hours ago, Eddie said:

What crowds are they getting? They never publish them so it would be good to know. 

Anecdotally based on highlight videos they don't seem to be getting the same numbers they were in their first season. I suspect if they were genuinely good they would announce them

[Billy King's Boots]

On 16/06/2024 at 16:11, Eddie said:

What crowds are they getting? They never publish them so it would be good to know. 

They started off with around the thousand mark.
Was there last week - and probably around the 5/600 mark