See below:-


Clubs are all compared against a set level of criteria and not against one another.
The grading system includes all aspects of the club’s business, All applications submitted for a Super League licence for the period 2012 to 2014 have been assessed against A Grade criteria. There are over 60 in all, covering five key areas:
Commercial, Marketing, Media and Community.
Facilities.
Finance.
Governance and Business Management.
Playing Strength and Player Performance Strategy.
While some people are saying the system has failed, it’s important to take a few things into account.

The country has just endured the most difficult economic climate in living memory and there can be no doubts that the sport would have experienced more financial trauma had clubs been making the short-term decisions associated with promotion and relegation. Licensing has brought stability as evidenced by the increasing numbers of club-trained players to make their Super League debuts in the last three seasons – 118 so far and still rising.

We have also seen new stadiums being constructed at St Helens and Salford and huge improvements in the facilities at clubs like Hull KR. The numbers of A Grade and B Grade licences has also increased, despite a more rigorous assessment process. The fact that the licensing assessment process led Crusaders to realise the inherent weaknesses of their business demonstrates the benefits of the vigilance associated with licensing.

As background, the implementation of the licence system was brought in largely on the back of clubs which in football would be known as ‘yo-yo’ clubs, asking for some support. Prior to licensing, clubs getting promoted from the championship (which is semi-professional) into the Super League (full-time professional) often employed a completely new playing staff to compete in the higher level.

See the article here which shows that Rugby Union are experiencing similar issues and they are pushing for a licence style system: www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/ma ... -neil-back

Regards
The RFL


My response was:-

Thanks for your reply but one thing people of the game not just Halifax fans are tired of is the changing goalposts and lack of openess and honesty from the RFL, I highlight below your own words (set level of criteria) which NOBODY actually believes, plus how can a non SL club be fairly compared to a SL club when they have to operate on a budget of around 1/3 tops to that of a SL club? We accept that the gap between SL and below is huge but with some system built in such as a one off extra allowance to that club to cover the additional costs for going into SL like the parachute payment when a club goes the other way (relegated), then a well run club with good facilities such as Halifax could bridge the gap, why not give them a try you did Crusaders??? What happens when all SL clubs tick all your boxes then no club outside SL will ever get in! What good will that do the WHOLE game?
Sorry but the integrity of the game has been lost and your efforts to convince me with a cleverly worded response like this is kidding nobody, how about telling us the truth about the Franchise system and Crusaders who have not been paying their players!

XXX

PS. Don't try smoke screen that the Crusaders were weened out by the Franchising system, really? Why put them in then in the first place was that not down to the Franchising system??? We are not stupid Nigel, you must sit down and work out what to say to try cover yourself and your fellow RFL cronies for hours, you are good at bullsh*t, please quit before you totally kill the game, especially outside SL open your eyes pal!

See below:-


Clubs are all compared against a set level of criteria and not against one another.
The grading system includes all aspects of the club’s business, All applications submitted for a Super League licence for the period 2012 to 2014 have been assessed against A Grade criteria. There are over 60 in all, covering five key areas:
Commercial, Marketing, Media and Community.
Facilities.
Finance.
Governance and Business Management.
Playing Strength and Player Performance Strategy.
While some people are saying the system has failed, it’s important to take a few things into account.

The country has just endured the most difficult economic climate in living memory and there can be no doubts that the sport would have experienced more financial trauma had clubs been making the short-term decisions associated with promotion and relegation. Licensing has brought stability as evidenced by the increasing numbers of club-trained players to make their Super League debuts in the last three seasons – 118 so far and still rising.

We have also seen new stadiums being constructed at St Helens and Salford and huge improvements in the facilities at clubs like Hull KR. The numbers of A Grade and B Grade licences has also increased, despite a more rigorous assessment process. The fact that the licensing assessment process led Crusaders to realise the inherent weaknesses of their business demonstrates the benefits of the vigilance associated with licensing.

As background, the implementation of the licence system was brought in largely on the back of clubs which in football would be known as ‘yo-yo’ clubs, asking for some support. Prior to licensing, clubs getting promoted from the championship (which is semi-professional) into the Super League (full-time professional) often employed a completely new playing staff to compete in the higher level.

See the article here which shows that Rugby Union are experiencing similar issues and they are pushing for a licence style system: www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/ma ... -neil-back

Regards
The RFL


My response was:-

Thanks for your reply but one thing people of the game not just Halifax fans are tired of is the changing goalposts and lack of openess and honesty from the RFL, I highlight below your own words (set level of criteria) which NOBODY actually believes, plus how can a non SL club be fairly compared to a SL club when they have to operate on a budget of around 1/3 tops to that of a SL club? We accept that the gap between SL and below is huge but with some system built in such as a one off extra allowance to that club to cover the additional costs for going into SL like the parachute payment when a club goes the other way (relegated), then a well run club with good facilities such as Halifax could bridge the gap, why not give them a try you did Crusaders??? What happens when all SL clubs tick all your boxes then no club outside SL will ever get in! What good will that do the WHOLE game?
Sorry but the integrity of the game has been lost and your efforts to convince me with a cleverly worded response like this is kidding nobody, how about telling us the truth about the Franchise system and Crusaders who have not been paying their players!

XXX

PS. Don't try smoke screen that the Crusaders were weened out by the Franchising system, really? Why put them in then in the first place was that not down to the Franchising system??? We are not stupid Nigel, you must sit down and work out what to say to try cover yourself and your fellow RFL cronies for hours, you are good at bullsh*t, please quit before you totally kill the game, especially outside SL open your eyes pal!

Wasn't the end to last seasons premier league one of the most exciting in its history? Sport is ment to be comptetive the team that wins the league/ grand final should be awarded with promotion and the team that finishes bottom of the leaguse should be punished with relegation. Simples!!!

Wasn't the end to last seasons premier league one of the most exciting in its history? Sport is ment to be comptetive the team that wins the league/ grand final should be awarded with promotion and the team that finishes bottom of the leaguse should be punished with relegation. Simples!!!