Interesting piece here on the LRL website :

[iClubs excluded from Yorkshire Cup

Doncaster chief executive Carl Hall has confirmed that both his club and Sheffield Eagles were not invited to partake in the newly formed Yorkshire Cup, report League Express.

The revival of the competition will take place in pre-season, commencing on January 5, with it ending on January 20. Batley, Bradford, Dewsbury, Featherstone, Halifax, York, Hunslet and Hunslet Club Parkside will all compete in the competition. Hall told League Express: “The long and short of it is that we were never asked, simple as that. My only opinion is how can they call it the Yorkshire Cup? Good luck to them. It’s not an RFL thing; the said clubs arranged it between themselves. They won’t be playing for the original Yorkshire Cup.”[/i


Have we found the teams who sided with SL in the recent power grab then?

Exactly how I read it.

Interestingly, they are also two teams who benefited quite a bit from their Dual Reg arrangements last year. But I'm sure that's coincidence.

Yeah it's all politics at the moment. There was a list on the fax board of championship teams that sided with SL. Donny, Worky, Sheffield, Rochdale were definitely teams that sided with SL from what I remember. As Hamster said, I'm sure it' coincidence they sided with SL and that they benefit heavily from D/R. Them even calling it the Yorkshire cup is just trying to wind the SL clubs up I think.

There's a power vaccum at the moment due to RFL incompetence and chairman from all sides are trying grab it.

I hadn't considered this but it's an excellent point.

Has the game ever been more divided?

We need strong and stable leadership from the rfl.

There I said it! You were all thinking it but I said it!!!!!

Stable and strong? At this time of year, donkeys spring to mind for some reason

r

It is reminiscent of the old row between BARLA and the RFL. But it is more serious.
I know Andrew Chalmers receives a lot of stick on here for his " incendiary" comments but I have to say, the points he makes about the Superleague grab for power find favour with me. I am in agreement with his opinions regarding the blackmail leading to the restructure and the unilateral rule changes announced by Elstone,

The RFL must be the most ineffective " ruling " body in sport with the latest error being the disgraceful demands for bonds from Toulouse, Toronto and Catalans .

That was my first thought

Is the Yorkshire Cup a round robin?

What if we get nicked out first round?

Each club will end up playing three fixtures guaranteed. There is a plate for teams knocked out in the first round, and presumably any exiting after this its just a simple agreement to make up the fixtures through friendlies.

So for example (purely surmising as an example):

Week One - 5th/6th January
Yorkshire Cup 1st Round:
York v Hunslet Club Parkside - York Win
Dewsbury v Featherstone - Fev Win
Batley v Hunslet - Batley Win
Bradford v Halifax - Bulls Win

Week Two - 12th/13th January
Yorkshire Cup Semi Finals:
York v Featherstone - Fev Win
Batley v Bradford - Batley Win

Plate Trophy Semi Finals:
Hunslet Club Parkside v Dewsbury - Dewsbury Win
Hunslet v Halifax - Fax Win

Week Three - 19th/20th January
Yorkshire Cup Final:
Featherstone v Batley

Plate Final:
Dewsbury v Halifax

Friendlies:
Bradford vs Hunslet Club Parkside
Hunslet vs York

Cheers for the clarification

Talking of donkeys.Tony Adams named new RFL President.That organisation becomes more bizarre by the hour.

Eeaaw to that.

I'm not sure I agree. The role of RFL President has been occupied by a few people with no previous links to RL. E.g. Andy Burnham. If it's more of a figurehead role then what's the problem? Adams at least has a sports background and might be a useful link to his Sporting Chance organisation.

Also, when was the last time you saw RL on the back page of the red tops? Never mind in mid-December. It's brought intrigue with it, and as mentioned it's hardly like he's running the game.

The story about Tony Adams even got mentioned on Sky news.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cnHUTDYpAc New training methods "how to get back 10"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cnHUTDYpAc New training methods "how to get back 10"

couldn't the super leagues been allowed to enter a 19s side that would of made more respectable as to the name of the competition

Who knows?

Are you seriously suggesting that after pulling up the drawbridge and screwing the champ and lg1 clubs the sl clubs should now be allowed to devalue their attempts to try raise their profile and earn money?

your are a bitter person aren't you, it isn't me that makes the rules

Of course I’m bitter you would be too if you supported one of the clubs on the wrong end of that sh177y vote brought about by lennagans motley crew. Which includes that gobe that runs your club so I don’t expect you to see it the same way.

yet when you was in super league and enjoying the success you had no other consideration for clubs below you and enjoyed that domination,
I'm a big believer that clubs coming up should be protected from going straight back down for a year to get up to speed, I also think two clubs should be allowed to come one automatically and the bottom club in a play off to encourage clubs to grow from the lower league as I said I don't make the rules,
I also think there is a lack of trophies to aim for as like there was in the past a reason for the drop in attendance as once your half way through the season there is jack to play for but survival,

as for that gobe you say you should have a lot of admiration on to how he's turned this club around, he's only now protecting his investment on the time spent rectifying some bad management in the past, I'm sure had it be you that had put the money in you'd probably do them same unless your a gambler

Absolutely spot on.