I'm surprised it has taken people so long to get on to this, it was obvious we were going to struggle.

The location, the colours and the name are all a complete irrelevance to our real problems. The idea Twickenham is difficult to get to is a myth. The idea people would be more willing to follow a team called London is a myth. The idea we'd be better off in Milton Keyes or some other area on the periphery of the City is also a myth.

What are our real problems?
[1 Lack of organisation/good management amongst the back room staff (this is a huge one and explains almost all our failings from sponsorship, communication with new and existing fans, attendances and local awareness). We do have some sponsors now at least, but I haven't seen much evidence of the other areas being addressed yet. We didn't have a CEO for the best part of a year.

[2 Lacking a competitive team who put in competitive performances. Four home wins last year. Last in the play offs in 2005 on a Friday night in Bradford, last in a cup final in 1999. These are fading memories. As Harlequins our "best" finish has been 9th and a Challenge Cup Quarter Final on a Friday night in Wigan. It's obviously not enough on its own to have a competitive team (and I'm not saying we need to win the Super League), but a few home play off games or cup quarter finals might help.

[3 One major investor (David Hughes) having to foot the bill for everything.

The club needed good management when we became Harlequins, we didn't get it. To be fair we've never had it. What we have had at various points in the past (although not necessarily at the same time) is a competitive team on the field and more open communication existing fans.

Why not change the entire structure of the organisation and allow it to travel throughout London with a training base at one facility.

Then change the name so there is NO ambiguity as to what the team is say London Super League Rugby Club (LSLRC)

They then can probably obtain interest of ALL London without being defined to one area.

It may not work in other areas but South Wales Scorpions, Catalans Dragons etc possibly point the way.

Just a thought.

Hmmmm.... Quins Park Rangers then?

The only thing quins need to do is get more bums on seats, I dont see enough evidence of them trying to get this sorted! It's really annoying.

You're not going to get that with a team like they have. I have to say that Quins were one of the worst teams I have seen at Headingley on Friday.

When you think we have Purdham, Orr, Dorn, Temata, Gale, Wells.... missing therefore we had no experienced half backs , a hooker at half back, 17 year olds in the halves its probably not that surprising.



Its a change in strategy brought about by financial constraints. Players like Hill, Mclinden, Paul etc have left and been replaced by London trained youngsters which is one of the primary reasons relegation was scrapped to allow clubs to invest in and nurture English youth. In the past we were slagged of for having to many Aussies now for being poor when we have 20 London trained players in the squad-hmmmm-have you heard the phrase your are damned if you............. if so apply it here

You have no idea how annoying it is. The really worrying thing is that this year, for the first time in 10 years there is a marketing manager and a budget......problem is, you can have a budget of £1,000,000 a game, but if the person controlling the budget doesn't understand the problem, you may as well not have a budget at all.

Quins need to go down the route that Huddersfield went......if you are going to expect David Hughes to pick up the tab, then for gods sake, make sure the money spent is used wisely. I would give away 8,000 tickets to every game....bollox to devaluing the offer. People don't know we exist down here and if we were to give away 60% of the grounds capacity then even the myopic media down here would have to pay attention. Quins will struggle to get a 3.5k average this year (even with the double header gate that they will use to muddy the waters)......and that is unacceptable.
I have spent nearly 10 years defending London RL gates on these boards but I honestly can't think of any reason to continue to do so......Quins knew they needed to increase gates and they haven't....no excuses. I have no issue with the Management at the club, but if they aren't up to the task, then they should be replaced. Nobody told PB it was going to be easy, so he needs to roll up his sleeves and get on with it. We'd all love an easy job....but very few of us ever get one.

Quins' biggest (and Broncos' and Crusaders' before them) is clearly spelled out by Blanchard in the interview.



I suspect 'culture change' is the right word: from the outside looking in it's seemed that the London club has historically relied on League enthusiasts essentially volunteering for the cause, rather than building a commercial basis. At least it seems to be being addressed.

sorry....but (and I will be shot down by the faithful for being bitter) too little too late! The real challenge is to fill the ground every second week. Regardless of the team performance, there is f&ck all point in opening the gates for a crowd that equates to 20% capacity........you will never break even...ever! Fill the ground,.........I don't give a toss if it's £0,01 a ticket....or less, just fill it! Don't start fannying around waiting for the team to come good......fill it now! My first year we gave Halifax their only win .....god we were crap, but I still came back for the atmosphere.....don't use a 5hit team to blame tha failings of the last 15 years.......just get on with it!
I see this as the most important year in the history of the club. The RFL have made it clear we need to increase gates. F&ck development...we will tick that box as long as 1 kid laces up boots to play the game.....get bums on seats. Change in culture







it will never happen so long as we rely on 1 man for funding.....he is a saint, but he will not spend money on marketing


A sub 3,000 average this year and the RFL have their excuse to bin London........and who could blame them?

its funny how you always respond to my posts given some of your personal attacks

it must hurt having someone from another country knowing more about your game than you do

if only you didnt think about your own small club and the whole game, youd progress

current London RL fans = 3000
if they can get a link up with a soccer side surely they can get 3000 new fans

throw in away fans and thats a pretty strong franchise.

fulham was the most succesful London RL club. the problem was when Fulfham FC got promoted to PL and the yo yo existence of the RL team saw a loss in crowds

heck some of their crowds outside the top division were almost double todays SL crowds

the quins brand just hasnt caught on. so perhaps getting soccer fans in is better.

and brentford was just a ground share. im not talking ground share

I agree (god and it hurts typing that).....a tie in with a london Soccer club may work, but the reason the Quins tie in hasn't worked has NOTHING TO DO WITH UNION, GROUND SITUATION OR ANY OTHER LAME EXCUSE!
[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....there has been no [size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size.... and as such, until there is some [size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....the club will fail to attract fans. I know this is hard to grasp....but nobody in Twickenham knows we exist and if we haven't told the 250,000 people nearest the ground, then how the hell do you expect the other 12,000,000 in the area to know we exist>........
in case you missed it...
[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....is the key!

[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....
[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....[size=200M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G[/size....

sorrry.....it's just...I mean....., what I wanted to say was...oh wtf...MARKETING!

I seem to remember you guys getting a pretty healthy following some years back when you played at The Valley. Now Charlton are a 'lower league' team, maybe thats an option to look at and please drop the Quins name its crap.

FulhamCrusaderBroncoQuinBroncos....Rugby League you mean? Brilliant.........move fail move fail move fail.......sorry, but this is it for a SL team from London this time around. If we do get booted out, then it will take 10 years before they try again. Quins is a good ground, a very well known brand and they were very welcoming for the first 3 years.......the RL management on the other hand have managed to f*ck that up and we now pay rent (again) where we could have remained partners.......and all because we didn't build crowds.
How hard is it for people to see......or am I just the only one that thinks you need to market something before people know it exists?......

seriously if the club cant get union ST interested in RL in summer its not going to work

wrexham shows how it can work easily

so did fulham

no separate names, or colours. same as a soccer side and itll go fine

quins just seems like its too much of a struggle

if wrexham works out well, i expect more lower division soccer sides to want to do the same thing.

How many clubs do you expect to be up for sale, lock stock and barrel, for their chairman to buy (nb, it's an individual who bought the Crusaders, not Wrexham FC)?

it only takes one club

the economics for a SL club could be more compelling for smaller soccer teams than premier league

i keep going back to fulham being so succesful vs all the other guises london SL clubs have taken

So successful that Mr Clay sold it off and through them out of the ground?

as ive said before, the crowds fulham got OUTSIDE the top division were bigger than they get today in SL.

prior to fulham being promoted it was always happy days for everyone

there would be quite a few london soccer sides without realistic chances for Premier league

if wrexham continues as it is, im sure lewis will take note if quins fail

I think one of the problems Quins have is that there isn't that default fondness towards rugby league that you get in the north.

For example, Wakey have a hardcore, week in, week out support of 5,000. If we string together a few good weeks or have a decent fixture, a few more will come out of hiding and watch, because people in Wakefield like rugby league as it has been part of the city for over a hundred years, is played in the schools, and everyone knows someone who goes to games regularly and talks the sport. Salford is ths same. The hardcore support is lower, but people in Salford and Manchester are prepared to like rugby league. They have done in the past, and are aware of the sport. They just don't want to go to an iffy part of town and watch a poor game. When they move, there is every chance that the people of Salford and Manchester will turn up, as it will get good coverage in the North West and there is an inbuilt willingness to like the sport.

The problem the Quins have is that the average Joe Public in London doesn't have that default willingness to like the sport and thus is less likely to go along unless they have taken a keen interest in the television version. I'm not sure a successful Quins would have much of an impact either, for the same reason. A successful Salford would begin to fill The Willows, and may well fill the new stadium.

Having said that, I want Quins to do well. As someone has said though, would they do better hosting competitive Championship games? Would the game in the south suffer if rather than a failing London club there were more competitive and successful southern town clubs? As far as I understand, there are some real pockets of amateur success in the south. Would there be an appetite for a professional club?

I must admit that I lost interest in London when the Broncos brand was dropped in favour of Quins.

wow, another day, another article in the Times about RL dying off! Do they ever have anything positive to say about the sport?

I don't know why you would bother reading that ra ra loving trash!