After all the hot air from them over the last 7-8 years, you would have thought there would have been a bit more fanfare about this?

Salford is a football city and as long as MU are successful it always will be, give it up RFL

But Toulouse are a Championship club and they haven't yet fulfilled the criteria to make them eligible to a apply for the guaranteed place in SL. I'm not saying Toulouse shouldn't get a licence, simply that if Toulouse dont tick the box this year then in order for them to be given a licence, 2 current SL clubs would have to be relegated - 1 place for the guaranteed place for Championship clubs and another for Toulouse. If Toulouse don't end up getting in SL simply because they never reached a GF, then thats just tough luck - they knew the rules before they agreed to join the Championship.

With the current French coach being from Widnes, I've heard that he's been telling people that Paris are ded certs for a SL spot next time - apparantly its already done and dusted.

Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish!!!!!!!!

I work in a school right in the middle of Manchester and whilst football is massive. 25% of kids wont do anything else. 15% wont do anything and 60% of kids are interested in allsorts and will try new things cos they arent good enough to get into football teams. I started rugby there and its been a massive hit!

Manchester is massive and so are the two football clubs, but there is more than enough rugby potential too. Manchester also has professional Ice Hockey, Baskteball, Netball, and Rugby Union. Should they all give up too?

i meant keeping them in SL, drop them down until they can prove people are interested

There are no major Rugby Union clubs in Manchester.

Sale (Stockport) Sharks aren't that much closer to Manchester city centre than are Oldham or even Leigh.

Sadly doesnt work like that. People are only interested in the version they see on TV, especially seeing as they can see all the other sports that are in Manchester on TV. Thunder, Phoenix, Sharks, and all the football in TV (dont think the Giants are on, ive not seen em). Salford need to be in SL to get the growth they need.

I know, but Im sure you catch my drift? My school is in Trafford and Trafford schools are major sources of support for the sharks (though only the Grammars, not the secondary moderns - thats where league can really kick in!). My school isnt a Grammar BTW

Why not create 2 leagues then

West and East

That way you get big teams in two different leagues.
All games are local, surely that would approve attendances.

Not sure if it would improve the game though.

[size=50I'm joking with this idea[/size

I still think we should dump them down. Just my opinion

So does every other club. Every other club will fight for a license on the same basis as Salford. What might happen in 20 years time is irrelevant to the process. Clubs should be judged on the cards they declare at the table in 2011 and not some woolly fantasy that might happen in 2030.

They haven't done it so far though, and now do not look like they are strong enough on or off the field to compete in Super League any more.

I dont see how Paris can be ded certs for a SL spot next time. They will not be playing in the Championship this season so therefore cannot qualify by winning the NRC or competing in the grand final come the end of the season.

Do Paris still even have a professional team in the city??

wrong! not every club will lie through their teeth like salford have done.


brilliant win for crusaders.

I agree headhunter.
Switch for Widnes and see where they are in another 3 years time

No doubt those grammar schools have been playing RU for decades, daddy has been along to Twickers on an office freebie and there's plenty of disposable income to allow the family to tootle along to Stockport in the V90. In other words they are perfect material for the rugger buggers to target.

The same can't be said of families with more modest incomes who have no connection with rugby (of either code) and whilst we shouldn't give up on them in terms of development there's no likelihood that they will flock to RL in their thousands anytime soon.

Probably in Salford

Shut up you


You know what I meant

Not really , they might be at agecroft sharing with Swinton

No. There is Corbeil but they are not in the Elite nor close to it.

There are rumours of Stade Francais starting a rugby league section and the loopier expansionuts are convinced that they will be in SL in 2012 despite not existing.

More level-headed folk e.g. Cliff Sprackley say that they may well be running a team in the Elite League.

I couldn't believe Salford were such big favourites for this. I thought all my christmas' had come at once when I saw the bookies had given Crusaders a 12 point start.

the irony of your position on salfords ground given faxs problems in finishing a single stand

it took your club over a decade to do one stand

so by the standards of your club salford have 40 years to get their ground

man utd could go broke at any minute.

if thats true - and its only rumour - the RFL will go to 16 teams.

in will be widnes, toulose and Paris

out will either be salford or wakey

so well be judging fax on crowds of 2000 then.

and turnover of 1 million pounds in the championship doesnt support a SL side?

oh hang on - youll allow fax to do business projections based on being a SL side and whatever potential that has, but not other teams

It wont be 16 teams. They've already said its staying at 14 til the applications the following round.