why there isn't a Cumbria team in the Super League?

Now before there are howls of we let a French, London, Welsh team in.
I'm a strong believer in expansion but this way : heartland and expansion and hoping that the NRL goes this way West Bris and WA with a plan for Sunshine Coast and Wellington.

Probably something to do with it having a seriously low population density, and the difficulty of existing loyalties?

I mean to have a population greater than that of a town like Warrington you need to include the top 5 ssettlements, and the hundreds of miles between them.

There was and they got relegated. There could easily be a SL club in the Copeland area if the local RL people wanted it. But until they do its noones fault but theirs that there isnt.

how about a new cumbrian franchise based in carlisle with barrow,whitehaven & workington acting as feeder teams...?


for me thats the only scenario in which we'd see somekind of cumbria team in SL

Simple really one has to be established up there. The RFL tried to create one in Wales and it failed miserably on a few occasions but now hopefully will be allowed organic growth.

Cumbria is a huge RL heartland. BUT no crowds near 2,000? Not one stadium near fit for purpose (Whitehaven building but capacity of about 5,000?). I don't think there is a full academy up there? (shoud be a jointly funded one between Haven & Town).

Simply of you want a Cumbrian SL side someone has to build one!

Because none of the existing clubs are up to SL standard and no-one has put together an SL bid. Simples, really.

Bradford are relocating there

Oh dear.

If there was enough want for a Cumbrian team in SL, there would be one by now.

But there wasn't, so there isn't.

Didn't Barrow apply last time around? What were they planning to do stadium wise?

Can't argue with that.

Barrow is Lancashire.

What year are you in?

It either needs someone or a business with some cash, then it would have a chance of success.

Realistically unless a club can draw around 8000 crowds they can't be long term sustainable without significant private backing. Which cumbrian club could achieve that?

There's enough interest and people to have RL represented as a sport in the area. There's just not one spot big enough to support a SL team in terms of finance and that would be able to attract fans from the entire area to support a club.

I would love to see a team from Cumbria in SL as I think our heartlands should all be represented.

The reality is though it isn't going to happen any time soon. There is too much parochialism between the three Rugby towns
of Workington, Whitehaven and Barrow and there isn't a good enough stadium or financial support. A combined team might be the way forward and look appealing with each of the three clubs acting as feeders but there isn't enough money in the game to do this. One of the three clubs has to meet the franchise requirements and improve thier stadium facilites and capacity to do it. Its the only realistic way.

Although the amateur game has been traditionally strong in the area one of the biggest often over looked problems is the terrain and logistics of the area. There is no train service between Barrow and Whitehaven and Workington on a Sunday, which means its either bus or car to travel between the towns and from everywhere else if matches were to played on a Sunday.

To put another thing in perspective the distance between Barrow and Whitehaven is 46 miles and it takes 1hour 25 mins in the car. (Anyone who travels the route between the two towns knows why.
As a comparitor, the distance between St Helens to Huddersfield is 48 miles but it only takes an hour in the car.

Unless the logistical transport issues are improved in West Cumbria the idea is also a dead duck.

I actually wonder if Stobart might be the key to backing a SL team in Cumbria based in Carlisle.

Then we could try and push on to Scotland.

It may well but it would end up being a Carlisle Team and not a Cumbrian one. The heartland of the game is on the West Coast of Cumbria. ask yourself why the Carlisle club went out of existence.

The problem of wherever it is is logistics. Cumbria is a huge geographical county with a low population density and poor public and road transport infrastructure in many areas . If a SL club was to be based in one place in one stadium, then wherever it is the supporters/people from the rest of Cumbria would have to travel a considerable distance to get there.

If Carlisle was the location for a franchise or new club, its a 1 hour 50 minute journey from Barrow. Its also 55 mins from Workington and and hours drive from Whitehaven.

Two solutions:

1. Whitehaven and Workington amalgamate as Cumbria and share fixtures between their grounds

2. Barrow make progress

Regarding transport links; has there ever been any discussion of a bridge/tunnel linking Morecambe and Barrow or are we more likely to see hover cars first?

My view is theres a big enough population and lack of competition for attention for a Copeland SL franchise. A cumbria club that tries to also draw support from barrow and carlisle is a non starter. It would be great if it ever happened but seems unlikely sadly.

yeah, great idea so why not put a team from the Bradford area in SL ?

oh, ehhrr .... wait a minute !

Barrow were certainly looking like the strongest of the teams/clubs up until recently and logistically its now easily the easier of the three areas to get to from the rest of the RL clubs in the north. Spreading the fixtures out between the clubs might work but its down to all the stadia being improved and the transport links greatly improved as well.

Sadly, the chance of a Morcambe bay bridge is nill given the state of the UK finances at present and for the foreseable future.

And your point is??????????



Bradfords problems are nothing at all to do with the discussion of a SL club in Cumbria.

my point is very clear

Bradford IS in a so called RL heartland,with good transport links and a large population within it's catchment area to attract the fans and make a very viable business - all the ingredients are there

if THEY can't make a go of it what chance has a Cumbria based club have FFS ?