Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Can you be more specific?
I can try to guess what you mean.
Eastern:
1. Hull FC, 2. Hull KR, 3. Leeds, 4. Bradford, 5. Huddersfield, 6. Wakefield
Western:
1. Wigan, 2. St. Helens, 3. Warrington, 4. Salford, 5. Widnes, 6. London
French:
1. Catalans, 2. Toulouse, 3. Avignon, 4. Lyon, 5. Paris, 6. Nantes/Mille/Montpellier/Bordeaux
Is this your rough idea? When could you imagine that we could establish this new structure? 2018? 2021?'"
Something along those lines, yes. Although not sure about the French teams picked. Seem a bit "pins on a map". No Aude team? Paris? Aren't Lyon on their *rse? And unless something has significantly changed since I visited two years ago, Nantes are nowhere near.
When do I imagine such a structure could be established? Totally depends on France. The 12 UK teams are there. France have already got the established clubs. But for what would in effect be their own mini league, they'd need TV backing. If Bein Sport get behind the game, then the game will grow as much as they're willing to invest. Had they put in money ten years ago, who knows where we'd be.
The RFL are the only ones with the power at the moment to give them something worth buying into. The FFR13 don't have that power to offer them a decent product at the present time. They can't offer games featuring Wigan and Leeds and Saints, etc.
Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Maybe we can even think about a 24 team competition for a few years after that 18 team competition is established?
Eastern:
1. Hull FC, 2. Hull KR, 3. Leeds, 4. Bradford, 5. Huddersfield, 6. Wakefield, 7. Sheffield, 8. Gateshead/York
Western:
1. Wigan, 2. St. Helens, 3. Warrington, 4. Salford, 5. Widnes, 6. London, 7. South Wales, 8. London II/Hemel/Gloucester
French:
1. Catalans, 2. Toulouse, 3. Avignon, 4. Lyon, 5. Paris, 6. Mille, 7. Montpellier, 8. Nantes/Bordeaux/Lille
'"
Pipe dream. We don't need 16 English clubs, and won't be able to afford them.
Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"For the French conference to work it needs good TV money as you say, whether there are 6 or 8 French clubs. Bein TV is now on the scene so it is possible. But the problem is finding enough French players. We have enough French players to add Toulouse to SL in 2015, but I think then Toulouse must be very successful, especially with their junior development, if we are to have enough playes for more French clubs. I think that the French TV and some local governments have to provide money for junior development in the less developed rugby league areas of France, with the clear understanding, agreed by the RFL and the FFRXIII that we will soon have the professional clubs established there. If Toulouse works with Catalans in SL then I think anything is possible to follow in terms of this plan. But in my opinion we will have to work very, very hard to make the 6 team French conference, so no point to think about the 8 team French conference at this time.'"
If they're built up one club at a time, and each in produces its own players through an academy, I believe the player base will grow. France is such a large place, they won't be stealing each others junior players.
All comes down to money in the end though.
Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Do you think that the RFL and the English fans would like this idea, especially of the 6 team French conference?
How would we structure the playoffs?'"
I think you'll always get some whinging English fans that don't like change or the foreign! But most will see the benefits of growth.
He RFL won't like the idea unless there is extra TV money.
The playoffs would probably be something similar to the current top 8 system.
1st in each conference ranked 1-3 (team with most points 1st, etc)
2nd in each conference ranked 4-6.
3rd in each conference ranked 7-9, with 9th placed team not qualifying.
Pipe dream though if there is no TV money.
