yeah i agree, leighs only purpose in life should be the following :

1. not going broke
2. producing players for wigan
3. being responsible for the abolition of P&R via their sole season in SL.

...................not to mention that the UK software company involved in the production of the various SL video games (including the new one out in 2010) is based in Cas.

Will any of the lower clubs ever have the finance needed?

50 years is a very long time, I would hope we could have more than that in 50 years time.

Probably not , without a ' definate ' path to SL no Championship club will pull in the neccessary investment , and with the RFL's lack of idea,s on how else to build the clubs outside SL they will never build the fan bases to make the revenue

Will any of the SL have the finance needed? Judging by the latest financial results of a club that finished fourth - it would seem not.

It's still too early to judge yet but i wonder how many clubs (SL & non-SL) will go into administration during the next ten years.

Probably a few unfortunately

But things arent as bad as they are being made out. Wigan, Leeds, Hull, Warrington, Bradford are safe and sustainable. Les Catalans seem to be absolutely fine. Huddersfield have the backing they need. Saints seem to be very close to having a stadium sorted which will safeguard their future.

which is 8 of 14 who are absolutly fine which isnt a terrible ratio.

plus Wakefield are moving quickly with their new plan and it looks very encouraging.

the 2 expansion sides clearly need to improve their situation but that is always going to a longer term thing,

Which in a league of 14 only leaves us three who look unsafe and none of that looks close to being immediate

Swinton in a one team league then!!!











Geography not your strong point

10 years for South Wales to make it to SL. 10 years for Paris/TO to make it to SL or to stabalise if they both get there at the same time. It would be a brave RFL to introduce all three in 10 years, following the teething problems in Wrexam, so I would expect the three to take 15-20 years minimum. Then we need to find two more french teams, can't introduce them both at the same time and will need about 10 years each. So 40 years is a minimum for the 4 extra french clubs and 2 welsh sides. If any club fails to stay afloat add another 10 years to get it right.

Is it your view that the game has "made it" in London? Would be interesting to know where this region fits into your suppositions above [iby comparison[/i.

At who's expense? Barrow (a shoe in for SL 2012 IMO), Widnes?

The RFL set these guidelines/standards for the clubs to meet, thus creating them eligible for a SL licence. Toulouse haven't yet met any of them. If they get granted a licence ahead of clubs who have met the criteria then IMO it's a disgrace. The same goes for Stade Francais, they aren't even in the NL yet and they're on about a SL 2012 licence?

You're a bit wet behind the ears lad.

You still think its unusual for people to do things at hours you dont, well good for you, when you grow up you will realise some people lives and job commitments mean they are up at differant times to you.

Nah if i wanted to be asleep i would be, if while checking my emails and forum posts i can make an aussie look foolish well all the better, especially if its one thats not very bright.

dally doesnt know of much outside of sydney, you see, sometimes to pretend he does he will look up the name of an obscure rl team, then he will ask for praise for knowing the name of this team, bless him.

Which means they dont have to fullfill any criteria other than to convince the RFL it would be a good idea

As for Toulouse above Barrow or Widnes , well if they make the Championship GF they will have qualified , or they might not have to , the RFL are quite happy to make it up as they go along as they have demonstrated with the South Wales franchise

Just for the record , why Barrow ?

Cos they are bloody Champions i tell thee

They've won the GF and they were by far the best side in the Championship last season. The support up there for them is great and if/when they do get a SL licence, it will only grow. Cumbria is ready for a SL side and I think its about time the RFL gave it to them

EDIT - (forgot this bit

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Say if they got in ahead of Widnes (who have reached the NC final), they have not met any criteria - is it fair?

There'd be uproar. I'm all for expansion don't get me wrong, but the RFL are so hell-bent on it that they are ignoring the 'heartland clubs' such as Widnes.

If Stade Francais met the criteria, fine I would have no problems with it - but as it stands they don't and thus don't deserve/warrant a SL licence.

Their ground is crap. Not fit for SL purpose. Things could change very quickly on that front though.

Nor is Wakefields/Cas/Salford/Saints (although they are set to move for 2011)

One of those (excluding Saints) will be dropped from SL in 2012 I reckon.

Yes they won the league , as for the level of support , no , not enough , if they can add another 1,500 to it in the next 2 seasons then yes , then all they need is a stadium , so about 15/20 million should sort that out

As for ' fairness ' , this is RL we are talking about , since when has ' fairness ' had to do with anything , I remember a club deliberatley infringing the Salary cap to remain in SL , was that ' fair '

Stade Francais dont have any criteria to meet , they are not a current club , so any criteria can be set to suit them

Nah, Quinz suk and should get booted from SL. Boo to our hated derby rivals! I was mostly outlining why 50 years is a reasonable while still challenging timeline.

I was going to say - it takes thirty years [uat least [/uin my opinion. If we are serious about our game then this is what we should be allowing new clubs. All this gash about eight years? Not a chance. Patience is needed.

Neither of those, but your warm welcome to this forum is appreciated !

Anyway FrogRL , is it all a pre new Year wind up or not ? , you've done quite well if it is

Yes, exactly. The criteria of the RFL are for the Championship clubs. Clubs from outside the Championship do not face these criteria.

The last rumors on the French forum suggest that SF would bekeen to follow the Dragons example with the creation of a team in French Elite before applying to get into SL. It is said that they are planning a team for next year in the French Elite with a budget of 1 million euros (while the current champion, Lezignan has a budget of around 500k).