Are they gonna relegate teams or just keep the same bunch and make the league bigger? (or a mix of both)
if so (with the relegation) who would you money put the most to get the chop at this moment in time?

forgive me if this is a boring/overstated post but my levels of expertise in RL are at a very early stage!

1 team from The championship will be in for definate, will be interesting to see this time if they have the balls to drop anyone out.


For a full explanation send a PM to Starbug the grandad of the championship.

Same 14 + 2 more.

The RFL probably daren't kick out a current SL team with the announcement mid season because what would stop that team not bothering in games or the fans rioting/protesting/not bother turning up?

Wakefield, Castleford and HKR gone....due to lack of ground development
Skolars KR rushed in, together with tulouse wildcats and the glasgow tigers.
Saints warned that once fatty cunningham goes, they are in real trouble



Glad you asked now

Unless there is a hike in Sky money the SL clubs will not vote for 2 extra clubs otherwise they lose out.

The most likely option is 1 down and 1 up. Of those going down the C grades with poor grounds (bar the welsh) will be most vunerable. Could be 2 down if there are 2 clear poor performers.

When the licences were awarded the RFL indicated that 'promises / plans for a new ground' would not be enough next time.

If a few clubs still have poor facilities then their on field performances / gates / development / finances will be key.

They specifically said they would not announce any relegation mid-season in the case they have decided one (for the reason you mention). I think that the RFL will almost need to relegate a team if they want to maintain their credibility towards the clubs. If they don't, it could be interepreted as the fact that they won't dare relegate teams from what is de facto a close shop. As a result clubs would take the RFL recommendations less seriously. Relegating one club is the best way to ensure that all the other will follow closely the RFL rules and recommendations.

There is no better way to prove that relegation is a credible threat for existing clubs that to prove that it can happens in 2012.

Agreed.

BACK ON THREAD
Wakefield, Castleford and HKR gone....due to lack of ground development
Skolars KR rushed in, together with tulouse wildcats and the glasgow tigers.
Saints warned that once fatty cunningham goes, they are in real trouble.

You're so wrong

No relegation - current crop + Toulouse + Barrow

YES......now we have a thread!

ground been is been built at Cas what about Salford, Celtic, Saints have they moved in to brand new staduims yet or further on than us no so where your point.

I always though that the next franchise will incorporate an established M62 corridor team currently in the championship plus a French team. Nothing has changed my mind. 2014 could be very different IMO.

If Hull get an 'A', I'm suing school!

my top picks for the next round

widnes
widnes
widnes
widnes
widnes
widnes

send someone to hypnotize the rfl so they have widnes on the brain.

Are you that busy that you don't even bother to research the facts?
BTW, ALREADY, we've made more ground improvements than many established clubs.

but your ground was much much much worse than what should be expected, now it's just much much worse,

Wakefield and Cas are in trouble, one will probably go, hkr are also a unsafe, whilst doing ok on the field the rest is still miles behind,

Toulouse +1 to come up

With the East stand having been extended Northwards already and being extended on the south end at the end of the season and the foundation being installed for the new North Stand....please explain how things are worse.

It took you a long time to return but with Leeds going back third this weekend hopefully your absence will be longer still next time

No idea except the RFL will make complete cock up and show a distinct lack of balls as usual

So glad to see the amount of bites this post has got..

to return from where? And I can't believe that confused you, honestly

Doubt Celtic Crusaders will still be around, so that will be one place available at least

It's way too premature to be asking about the next round of franchises yet. Nobody will be able to make any meaningful predictions for at least another year, which is why the thread has devolved so quickly into predictable wind-ups.

With that in mind, I think crowds will be the focus next time around. Quins, and Wakey to go - replaced by Toulouse & Widnes.

the expansionist in me would like to see toulouse next time around along with widnes or halifax. the realist in me thinks it will be 14 teams -1 current SL club and +widnes. They should expand the Championship too by putting a major effort into Scoland, Ireland to get them a team starting in C1 with the aim of a SL team everntually.

Barrow could be worth a shot I reckon, then either Widnes or Toulouse, more likely Widnes.