Its a slim chance but.... maybe the RFL saw the reaction and realised that this was going to be a PR disaster and maybe even worse.

It doesn't look like Mr Sadler wants to answer my question.

Sounds good to me , you lot merge with W1g4n , play at the DW stadium , call youselves the west lancs warriors , sorted

Not every club can be in Super League though, and nobody has the right to be there. FWIW, there was nothing in the original post that said Widnes would not come up as well or even that Toulouse were guaranteed to. It's just the same bunch of reactionary morons that give a bad name to Widnes and Leigh.

Home games won't be much fun with Crusaders, Quins, Catalan, Toulouse and Salford making up nearly half of them.

It's only one box less that doesn't have to be ticked. They will still have to tick the others, and by the sound of it, they will struggle.

Have you considered the notion that the RFL have done this to avoid being sued by Toulouse, as the RFL have set an unfair on-field criteria as Toulouse do not play in the Northern Rail Cup. By changing that rule, it stops Toulouse going to the courts, and the RFL might expect Toulouse to fail on the other criteria.

It's called taking a look at the bigger picture. If Toulouse cruise into the Super League, I shall hold my hand up, but I think it is a tactical and legal decision to stop the courts deciding the Super League make-up.

I'd do that.

Because North Sydney Bears, Illawarra Steelers, Sheffield Eagles and Gateshead Thunder are all evidence of the success of mergers!

You'd be one of 100.

Or mine

Maybe the RFL will

NIGEL , Here Nigel , over here , whats the deal with Carlos's statement

I have no doubt that there is somebody at the RFL NOW looking at this thread

So come on who is telling lies ?

I dont think so - i think it is an error - where one of the people at the RFL our governing body, didnt know what the RFL had previously stated. This is totaly unprofessional and i dont think anyone could defend that.

Games in safe hands eh?

Quite

Whatever. Once the bitterness had subsided everything would be tickaboo. There would be half a million people in most catchment areas, so the bitter few who protested would soon be swamped by the West Lancs Ultras, dressed in their famour red and white stripes with 'West Side' banners and flags, chanting death to the East Lancs Eagles.

You lot just lack vision.

Martyn Sadler

As a journalist, and while officials of TWO organisations ie The RFL and Toulouse seem to have got this wrong, you must be obliged to your readers to uncover the real truth and show us you are not in The RFLs pocket please

Martyn will reply to your kind request once I free him from his chains and allow him to get out from under my desk.

Regards,

Richard Lewis

Well, that was fun! And today started out so quietly. Ah well, all's well that ends well. Now let's all sit down and have a nice cup of tea...

What a fiasco. Mind you, the reaction on here just reminds us how devisive the licencing issue is. Long term Tolouse have to be in SL for it to start being a genuine european SL, but I don't think they are anywhere near ready yet. I think come licence time next year I'll book a long holiday somewhere where no one is interested in RL (What's that? Try London or South Wales? Hmmm... I might just do that!!)

I'm gobsmacked that you think the game's governing body could be that savvy.

Easy to call them that when you're not in the same position isn't it.

Personally, I'm inclined to believe the original statement and I believe that the retraction is merely a smokescreen aimed at placating the fans who are furious at yet more blatant lying by the RFL. This will avoid any protests or negative reactions until franchise applications are due to be decided when the original statement can be reiterated at a time when it will be too late to do anything about it.

How can you tell when the RFL are lying?

Their lips are moving.

Your all a bunch of flatcappers!



Not a good day today, this news made me furious, now im relieved and also suspect.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

over 50 dead here in France over the weekend, 2 mtrs of water in under 2hrs , 200km winds through the Pyrenees mountains , does seem a little extreme to be out at the match .

I think most on here agreed that we had a point with this today with the exception of one or two ignorant individuals feigning agreement with the RFL out of some twisted bitter resentment towards other clubs.

This seems barmy to me that some 'official' would make such an almighty cock up as this and that cock up would be supported by an official from Toulouse Olympique.
More's the point it was worrying how many people came out with the line 'this does not surprise me'??? Goes to show to what low regard the RFL are held in when it comes to dealing with integrity.

Why fast tracked ? it was what everyone wanted for Toulouse to play in the N1, they have done this and have been competitive. The RFL should never had said they must play or win a GF.!

The team is very young still, learning professionalism/tactics , body building , etc. NL1 is a tough league, even for a team been together for yrs and built on semi and x professional league players, why should Toulouse with a lot of young French 2nd rated Dragons players be upto an English GF right now, just after 2 years. RFL IS AT FAULT HERE

2 more years, will see them learn and build to be close to half ready for Super League.

IF Toulouse make the GF, they are still not gauranteed a spot, unless all or most criteria is met , and i believe it will be tough criteria, in these tough economic times .

cheers
Dave

You do realise that IF!!! and it's a =#BF00FF[size=200BIG IF!!!![/size the RFL/Soooperdooper League applied the rules for franchises and financial fitness then there would be very few teams left.

A lot of clubs are trading on SKY money and that is NOT guaranteed.

Look what happend to moronball when ITV digital went down.

If SKY decide to reduce the fee, are there other organisations out there ready to pick up the SL baton?

How many teams rely on a rich benefactor and how many would collapse should they not be there any more? That's not a rugby league issue - that's football, union, ice hockey....we're all houses built of cards, but it was the same before Super League, before Sky.