[urlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXatdrpwmFI&feature=player_profilepage[/url

The video features representatives from:
Bristol Sonics
Coventry Bears
CPC Bears
Gloucestershire Warriors
Hemel Stags
Mancunians RL
Nottingham Outlaws
Warrington Wizards

If the Championships are aiming to be two 14-team leagues, then if you move Toulouse back to the French Elite (where they'd probably do better than they are here), you could fit all 8 in. However, I very much doubt they're all ready to step up (or if the RFL are ready for them all!).

Would be good though. A South East derby (Hemel vs Skolars), South West (Bristol vs Gloucs), Midlands (Coventry vs Notts), Welsh (Scorpions vs Bears), a Manchester club proper (any number of rival opportunities around there in Rochdale, Oldham, Swinton, etc.). The expansion clubs have lacked rivalry, and now they could all come at once!

Toulouse themselves want to stay in the championship. It's up to the RFL now apperently. Also aren't they aiming for two 12 team leagues? Keep reading different numbers. But if 12 that means three new teams. I have no idea which clubs are the most prepared to step up but going purely on expansion I'd like to see Coventry or Nottingham to see rugby league reach into the Midlands. CPC Bears to keep the ball rolling in Wales and give South Wales a derby. Plus Hemel Stags to give Skolars a derby.

Who would be the most prepared to step up out of that bunch?

Hemel Stags have submitted an 'Expression of Interest' for 2012.

Put Bristol Sonics in SL and leave the rest out. What do the Warrington Wizards offer in terms of expansion?

I heard something about the Wizards relocating a bit further into Cheshire to tap into a new market. That would be expanding the heartlands.

Bristol Sonics in the SL? Are you having a laugh?!

Surely there couldnt promotion from semi semi pro championship 1 to semi pro championship, eh, tb?

there were more than those 8 though who submitted expressions of interest...at least 13 including some from outside England.

where? dublin.scotland france by any chance?

Hope Coventry get in, would push on from the good work already put into the midlands area.

I'd like to see Bristol make the step up, I'd say they're the strongest side in this area for sure. All in all, whoever steps up, it's a good initiative.

You are sure to need a few pennies if you want to follow your team in championship 1.

London Skolars
Whitehaven
Gateshead
South Wales
Workington
Doncaster
Keighley
Swinton
Rochdale
Oldham

Then add teams from France, Coventry, Bristol and another London club.

If that sort of expansion is to take place , they need to find a serious sponsor , or some fairly hefty central funding , just for clubs to cover team travelling costs , its a good job the RFL dont force 1 st team squads to be paid minimum wage isn't it ?

Drop Leigh out of the Championship, (they've already been relegated but never had to play in Championship 1 so it's fair enough) and maybe Barrow, and then these teams will have stronger opposition to make the step up and also you'd think some better crowds than if the bigger teams were not there. Make Leigh a sort of training team whereby teams like Coventry use them as a stepping stone to make the next step.

Chris - that has to be the worst trolling attempt I have ever seen.

Back to reality - surely Championship 1 should operate on a regional basis with 2 Conferences and a GF play-off between the winners of each Conference.

Champrionship is already pretty much a regional comp without Leigh and Barrow anyway!

That is the plan for the RLC when teams switch to summer, but there's no reason for the Championships to operate in that way IMO. The point is to avoid segregating expansion clubs.

don't know about that mate - the way they are going TO13 don't deserve it IMO - they are showing a total lack of ambition - maybe it's time for them to go back to the LER and allow Lezignan to step up,playing in Narbonne.

I was not trolling, I was being very serious. For the good of the game Leigh should be used as a sort of rugby league expansion coach to nurture the future so they will be ready to join us in the top league one day.

I think the RFL are planning to change the funding of championship clubs so that all travel costs are funded by the RFL.

If you mean Leigh kicking their a$$ at least twice a year, year in year out, like they've done to help prepare Widnes for SL then I can see your point.

No French teams should play in the Championship. It doesn't achieve anything.

Imagine Widnes being used for that daft purpose offered up by Dalto. Covenntry et al would learn nothing whatsoever. In a way, Daltons poor trolling attempt is a back handed compliment to Leigh because his own club certainly couldn't offer that kind of springboard.

what,you mean like the Scorpions ?

For some reason Chris is ' stalking' me



But at least the Mutants are kicking ass tonight , they have a 4 point half time lead over Toulouse

, and some serious bull...t from ToC about why they are struggling , then again Terry has brought a lot of these players to the Stobart , " All the other clubs are upping their game "

"Wignes" have scored again. They should put a commemorative red stripe in their kit.

Hatrick of Wigan tries for Wignes. Mutant Pies