You're so wide of the mark. It's their game. The criteria is so vague anyway nothing would stand up in court. Talking crap isn't illegal and the RFL are experts. It's a standard franchising system - where's the illegalities of letting Toulouse up instead of Widnes? Haven't Salford agreed to abide by the SLE "club rules" and accept such future decisions, etc,etc ...........

All this talk of taking the RFL to court is just nonsense.

You make some good points but the key thing is the Sport England money. If anyone can prove that a penny more of the Sport England money goes to a SL club than a Champ club for them to use in their community, then I should imagine the case would be simple. Halifax has x areas of 'economic disadvantage'. Due to Licensing these areas are not able to get access to Sport England funds in the same way that the Leeds's areas of 'economic disadvantage' are. From a Sport England point of view the areas in Halifax are just the same as those in Leeds.

As I said the RFL cannot refuse access one one hand and then take government money with the other. Have you ever tried applying for Sport England money?

Agreed. Nobody dare take the RFL to court because its their competition and if a team were to take them to court they would be well within their rights to kick that team out of the competition.

The whole system is bent and we all know it. If Fax moved to Penzance this summer we'd be in.

The whole game is built solely around geography and appearing more important than it really is. It isn't going to change and the longer we all take it the longer it will continue.

Ultimately every level of the game below SL will need to breakaway and form its own governing body. It will cause hell for a while but it is the only way it will ever get sorted - exactly as it did in Oz a few years back.

If it wasn't for my love of Fax I would turn my back on the "game" for ever

MEOW!!

I think that if Toulouse get stuck in Super League next season all hell will break loose at widnes!!

The RFL will always do what they want and clubs such as Halifax will let them because we keep voting in favour of these type of changes. To be totally honest if Widnes dont get in through ticking boxes then its a joke. They are clearly the only team based on criteria right now that should do so.

The fact is if Toulouse get into Super League its a complete joke as they tick about as many boxes as Brighouse Rangers under 9s. If that =#0000FF**** **** Richard Lewis lets them in then it is the final nail in the coffin for the Franchise system as far as I am concerned they have not even got close to any finals if it does happen we all need to get together and have a protest at Red hall and show these clowns us fans wont put up with anymore of this crap. Rant over.

[i=#0000FFEdited by TS.

I have removed the last bit. You just cannot issue threats like that.[/i

Chill!!!!!!......... Just as long as we can watch the mighty Halifax !

[i=#0000FFEdited by TS. See above post.[/i

I

I just can't stand the stupid system no more.

Thats the thing. This season I have been watching Halifax but the games just aren't the same anymore. A good win is great, for an hour or so afterwards. I am not sure that I could enjoy three more seasons of friendlies.

From the 2009-2011 aplications...RFL Comments. Has anything changed with Toulouse????

WIDNES VIKINGS
The stadium is an appropriate size and well appointed following significant investment in recent years. The club has been in the difficult position of seeking to take into account the club’s historical attendance and playing records but naturally distancing itself from the previous regime’s financial record. The current company has only been in existence for a few months following insolvency in October 2007. Early indications are that under new ownership the club has made very good progress so far and has attracted good sponsors and the support of the local authority. The club has maintained a reasonable playing infrastructure despite being in the National League but this would require further investment to ensure that they could be competitive in Super League particularly within Club Trained rules

TOULOUSE OLYMPIQUE
The club would offer geographic expansion and independent market research shows some support for Super League in Toulouse. Despite the club’s commendable commitment to player production there is a concern that it has a limited supply of Super League standard player talent in the area. The club has established strong business links and is well placed for commercial development, although the club would need to work hard to meet its financial projections. The application proposed using two quality facilities whilst the club’s own ground was being redeveloped.

can see this happening, felt it would last time story was mooted.

They won't get in for 2012, the more likely scenario is that they submit an application as a dry run for 2015.

can only submit if have won NRC or reached grand final. or have secret deal with RFL.

They've put a sub clause in their operational rules that means any overseas club failing to fulfill the criteria can still be "invited to apply" by the RFL. Before this morning, I was thinking that the Smogs might finally get in and I'd wish them all the best, but after reading about the change to the rules, there's no doubt in my mind that Toulouse are a shoe-in.

What is the point in Widnes setting up a u16s scholarship and a U18s Academy and a reserves team?We may aswell have had a experienced team and be competing near the top of this league.They have gone against criteria if they get in before Widnes.I hope Ste o connor has top lawyers and sues them.Saints,Wigan and Wire be happy with away support from Salford,Wakey,toulouse,catalans,london,crusaders?Away support brings a atmosphere and fans will just turn away.So if Toulouse came in it will be full of second rate aussies.Bring back promotion and relegation the game is a joke.I am that fed up i think i will walk away and watch football or union.

Is this sub-clause actually there, or are you making it up? If its there, put a link

Here are the last 3 Operational Rules regarding the Franchise System. Rules about applications start at A1:5 and A1:6.

[url=http://www.therfl.co.uk/~therflc/clientdocs/Operational%20Rules%20Section%20A.pdfOperational Rules - Section A1 - Membership Obligations - Issue 6 - February 2008[/url

[url=http://www.therfl.co.uk/clientdocs/Operational%20Rules%20Part%201.pdfOperational Rules - Section A1 - Membership Obligations - Issue 7 - February 2009[/url

[url=http://www.therfl.co.uk/clientdocs/Part%201_Articles%20etc_Section%20A.pdfOperational Rules - Section A1 - Membership Obligations - Issue 8 - January 2010[/url

Its all speculation, of course Toulouse will say they should be in SL and of course they can even say that they will put in an aplication for a SL licence and even that they will withdraw from the Championship (is that a threat???), people can say what they want, especially in the world of RL and ESPECIALLY exp[ansionist clubs (but heartland clubs do not dare to criticise the RFL as that is cutting your own throat and the RFL know it, they hold all the aces).
Whether it will happen is another matter.

The daft sods at the RFL cannot see that if you look at the bottom of the SL table - Harlequins and Catalans are bottom with the Crusaders only 4 places higher (mailnly because Bradford and Wakefield are doing it tough at the moment), look at the bottom of Championship 1 and its a similar story and Toulouse are hardly flying in our league are they???

Can't they see it is just not working, look at the crowds at Crusaders and Harlequins they are rubbish for one an established SL club in the Capital (how many million?) and the other in technically its first season and the only SL club in Wales!
Even Catalans crowds are down this year badly and they are struggling financially (fact).
Can't they see what having home games against these teams does for the home club and the matches atmosphere (there is none) plus the cost of travelling for the clubs and us fans???

Why can't people accept that RL is a North of England game also played a bit in the south of France and New Zealand and a lot in Australia with places like PNG having a bit of interest.
It aint gonna change lets face it, we live in a football dominated country as well as many other sports like RU and cricket all played nationally.
I have said it before does Gaelic football care about expansion outside Ireland???
No, yet they can fill grounds and a place like Croke Park (80,000)!
Its part of their culture as is RL in the North, stop deluding yourselves, yes we can have RL fans from around the country which is great, Fax have some as they can take an interest in the game, but it does not mean to say that we could have teams playing RL all over England.

But the RFL are like the old song 'the King is in the altogether now' or hwoever it goes, everbody is supposed to sing to the tune the RFL top bods sing.
I do think that like our economy one day somebody will shout 'hey the King is in the buff' and then it may actually change and we may see towns PASSIONATE about the game of RL actually in SL - like Widnes, Leigh, Halifax and maybe Fev & Barrow.
Why not Hull KR proved that it does work.

i totally agree its about time the rfl started listening to fans of the sport and not so much to Sky.

So that's Widnes & Toulouse in and two out.

Hello Castleford & Wakefield. Welcome to The Championship



Disregarding the total dishonesty and shambolic workings of the RFL this is good for Halifax. Castleford have a good following and we can probably say the same about Wakefield for at least a year before their fans drop out of the game altogether. We don't even lose the reputable good turnout from Widnes because their fans have chosen to abstain from away travel due to the dire performances of their team. We lose Toulouse, who bring 17 players, a few kit men and a physio.

I conclude that, in the short term, this sneaky underhand manouvre by the RFL is revenue positive for Halifax RLFC. Embrace it i say.

three out,one in [toulousewould be even better.SLE would be much closer to being a european league which is what they all want and the CC would be a viable british league.

Anyhoo, Halifax can't apply - we don't meet the criteria of having to have an average of at least 2,500 on 2009 or 2010. Is that right



What's our average this year?

BillyFax?

Average Attendances (Rounded down to the nearest person)

2009 Championship Season



2010 Championship Season

I knew as soon as they brought this silly franchise system in that eventually it would have to end, in 8 or so years time who are they going to throw out once they have kicked the likes of Salford, Waley and Cas out, they going to move onto Wigan and Bradford of course they won't.

all we have to do is just sit and wit for them to realise that theres no where else to go with it and then bring back promotion and relegation.

its a load of rubbish the RFl couldnt care less about the championship teams its all abot super dooper league, despite the fact that most of the championship games on tv this season have been far more exciting than the super league games.