i know the RFL recently said it would stay at 14 teams, however the wildcard is Stade francaise and a potential TV deal with French TV

i read somewhere where toulose entry into SL was conditional upon getting a tv contract from french TV.

so what if stade francaise and toulouse manage to tie in a TV deal which costs zero from sky funding?

it would still leave widnes to replace the worst current heartland club

potentially a SL with 3 french clubs, plus wales and london

that would be massive for the game and achieveable as well

It isn't going to happen though. If you read between the lines Toulouse have basically been shafted in favour of avoiding legal challenges by the flat cappers so won't get in.

Salford or Quins will go to be replaced by Widnes.

Oh look, another week, another chance for people to sling mud at each other over franchises...

Why are they "flat cappers" for pointing out that if Toulouse went into super league, under different rules to everyone else, it would be unfair?

If it was your club losing out to a team playing to a different set of rules to everyone else you would be playing a different tune.

The criteria are in place to strengthen super league and make a more balanced competition. When a club is allowed entry without meeting the criteria that just weakens the competition amd makes a mockery of the whole thing.

Ask yourself - are all the clubs in super league meeting the criteria as they are, and are the clubs that aren't the ones that are struggling?

Quins will never leave Superleague.

Stade will not launch a bid.

No, Toulouse have been told that the same criteria applies to them as everyone else: get into a Grand Final.

It would be a pretty crap league with only 3 teams in it

=#0080FFWell they can do their bit for RL expansion and allow another European team in to make it 4. I nominate Wakefield.

They've been royally stitched up. Not allowed into the Flat Cappers Rail Northern Whippet Cup, which is being used by certain clubs as enough to qualify for a franchise application.

Toulouse should be let in. It's time we made some difficult decisions in our game and forget about these failing towns in Yorkshire. Castleford and Wakefield could both go and nobody else would miss them. We have big clubs around them so there os no need for them to stay anymore.

Leigh should be nowhere near Superleague, they are a minute town next to an alreadu established big Superleague side. There would be little point bringing them in.

Same goes for Widnes, small town near a big established Superleague side.

Another French team who actually make an effort is the way forward.

I agree that this makes it unfair for them.

Toulouse will make the GF this year, Catalans will send a heap of their players to them to help out because Catalans are safe



Catalans Squad numbers from 18 through to 25 or 27 have been made available to them.

If there is any truth to that, it's not much different to top sides loaning out the "almost" players to get competitive experience. The lesser players are more likely to be French, and Catalan have a duty to promote French rugby league and bring on domestic players.

Do they? Isn't that the duty of the French RFL?

I would think that the duty of Catalans Dragons is to promote Catalans Dragons.

It’s to be hoped Warrington don’t win the Grand Final!

You’ll be wanting the likes of Bradford out next.

Talk about ‘I’m alright Jack’.

if widnes get in under the current rules that satisfies them

if the french clubs pay their own way and dont cost a championship spot a place, why not?

Quote ="Slugger McBatt"If there is any truth to that, it's not much different to top sides loaning out the "almost" players to get competitive experience. The lesser players are more likely to be French, and Catalan have a duty to promote French rugby league and bring on domestic players.'" here you go mate. Quote Speaking of recruiting, you will qualify for so-called "dual". Can you tell us more? Yes, it's all new. Now, the Super League clubs can pay some of their players to Championship clubs, provided that they have less than 23 years and they do not appear in the top twenty of their squad. Regarded as "duals", players receive a dual license that allows them to move either with their club in Super League or Championship. Thus, these young people will have time to play in bringing us thereby experience the highest level.'" www.ffr13.com/1-14317-Detail-d-u ... php?Id=819

Quote ="Slugger McBatt"If there is any truth to that, it's not much different to top sides loaning out the "almost" players to get competitive experience. The lesser players are more likely to be French, and Catalan have a duty to promote French rugby league and bring on domestic players.'" here you go mate. Quote Speaking of recruiting, you will qualify for so-called "dual". Can you tell us more? Yes, it's all new. Now, the Super League clubs can pay some of their players to Championship clubs, provided that they have less than 23 years and they do not appear in the top twenty of their squad. Regarded as "duals", players receive a dual license that allows them to move either with their club in Super League or Championship. Thus, these young people will have time to play in bringing us thereby experience the highest level.'" www.ffr13.com/1-14317-Detail-d-u ... php?Id=819

Salford will be out.


Halifax, Widnes, Barrow and possibly even Featherstone could have a case to get in. The first two are the most likely.

Harlequins should be chucked out, but we all know they won't be.

Im assuming Quins should be thrown out due to the size of the crowds. What crowds do you think Fev, Barrow and Fax will bring to the comp?

Never ASSume anything, because thats what you have done. I'm sure there was a plan for them to enter it this year, but the RFL couldn't work it out as it wasn't as simple a problem as frigging the franchise process.

Yes, it's that Widnes team that your were on about earlier have won so it's a good job winning it makes you eligible, don't you think?

the RFL gave france another chance, same with wales

i dont think theyll easily give up on manchester

in their current guise salford dont deserve a SL license.

but the fact they are tendering construction gives me hope it will start construction.

they have a year i think to sort it out. certainly if work hasnt started by the time the next round of franchises is decided they are gone.

Not allowed by whom ?

Did they ask if they could participate ?