Couldn't agree more, it's very similar to the number of homegrown players in a squad in that respect.

Catalans has worked as they have a long RL tradition in that part of the world.

I don't think Crusaders are a lost cause, there is already a hardcore fanbase being formed there (they brought a coach load to Hull on a Friday night, which is one of the longest trips on the calendar) but it'll take years of investment to make it work in Wales.

Quins are a complete lost cause, there is absolutely no interest what so ever down there.

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 456539.stm Dont judge Quins on crowds i seem to recall?

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 456539.stm Dont judge Quins on crowds i seem to recall?

Look at the wider issue and growth of interest in London RL in general in the youth and amateur leagues. Get back to fishing or is that also a lost cause and I am wasting my taxes on your dole money and another flat earth society member.

Right, I dont really want to get into the argument and politics, but I have one question. Why is the London club not based in somewhere like Shepherds Bush, where all the aussie ex pats/tourist/backpackers live thus tapping into a potential fanbase who migt just want to follow a club for the time taht they are here?

slightly different, but I see where you're coming from.
Finances are reliant on crowds and/or a benefactor.....the London Lot have a benefactor and therefore are OK. The homegrown player issue is more about the growth of the game internationally....it all depends on what's important to you as an individual...club or country. Personally, I would like to see all clubs with 5 overseas players and a minimum of 10 that have come through their own academy.......but I am a game first, country second and club third guy.....

Well, there are a number of reasons, it was a public holiday. All Harlequins fans are asthmatic, and it's currently not safe to go outside due to the current smog warning level. Also, would you go to quins when you can get the Doritoes in for Leeds vs Reading? And, I don't think you're understanding here 'Dave', you are being very racist towards the french, people in france, especially in the South, cannot afford to go to the capital this week. It's also, obviously Friday the 13th, isn't it?

Idiot, how could you not know?

No one cares about RL in London, sorry, except the 3 million kids playing at school level before they join the peckham boys or whichever gang.

I Still dont believe the rumour that has no evidence what so ever, from the 35 london fans that SKy say there has to be a london team. They should be kicked out before Wakefield

And quite a few here would like to see you merge with Cas, try sticking with something you have clue about.

only 3,008 at wrexham today and half of those were in the away stand.
i suppose it's not a concern for the RFL and sky as long as they sell satellite dishes but surely less than 4,000 supporters of 2 expansion clubs is a major worry and doesn't do our game much good?

So a full THOUSAND more supporters in Wrexham than London.

Things at Quins are worse than I thought

Where are these 3 million kids who play RL in the capital that we hear about?

Yeh, but 9,000 turned up to see these two play this evening... but you are right, get em merged and turn this 9,000 into 4 or 5k overnight as many from both sides will not support a merged side... what bloody great idea, it seems that low crowds are all the rage with the RFL at the moment! Who needs these 9k x 2, 19k x 2 and 24k crowd derbies anyway, when we can have the league leaders playing in front of 3k at a nice ground in North Wales or Quins playing to 2k in one of the globes biggest city market-places!

No but I am sure the RFL know what they are doing... after all, the guys that runs things once turned one of the globes biggest annual sporting events into a slightly bigger global event than it was before he arrived... he is clearly a genius!

PS. I understand that this Sky want expansion at all costs is really and apocryphal tale... what they want is great games played in full stadiums and if that means Leeds, Wigan, Wakefield of Cas instead of 2k in London or 3k in Wales, they are happy!

The welsh franchise has been in existence for 2 years. The london one for 20 years

It is quite a bit longer than 2 years if you are crediting Quins with 20 years (actually, it is more like 25 years BTW).

I understand that the slight majority of this crowd were made up of the former league leaders supporters... as you would hope TBH. Still, Crusaders are doing well, they are unable to find a sponsor despite RL being the second most watched sport after football on the Sky platform and are owned by two people have taken the club into administration once and look increasing likely to do the same with another sports club that they own. They have a nice ground... well, at the moment anyway but that is possibly going to be up for sale soon.

having been to watch fartown at both london and welsh franchises i have to say that the fans of crusaders and quins are very enthusiastic about the sport and i hope these clubs can succeed,it's just a shame that so few people in those area's seem reluctant to support them. with less than 2,000 home supporters at wrexham and only just 2,000 at the stoop i feel sorry for those fans who follow the game whole heartedly

Only in your head, Katie/Barry/Whatever your next account will be called*
*[size=85delete as appropriate[/size

It was a poor crowd, and an even worse performance, there's no way two ways around it.

Catalan is always a poor drawer for us, the same goes for everyone else in this league. We've been in bad form, and have been playing boring, mundane Rugby for the past 4 years, so anyone who expects double figures are kidding themselves.

It's not that bad surely?

Lol, ha sorry meant to say 5 figures.

I'm sorry, but how can you compare those two games? Cas-Wakefield is a full on local derby, Quins-Catalan isn't and never will be. This is probably our least popular game with crowds, whereas Cas-Wakefield will be the highest. That's not a fair comparison to make.

A better one would be that Castleford had 4,000 to see them play Catalan. Now for a true Rugby League town, that's a far worse crowd than ours today IMO.

The comment about 9,000 was more to do with this silly merger idea and turning 9,000 into half that for no reason. So it was not really meant to be a direct comparison, so if it came across this way I am sorry. Agreed, it probably is your least popular game and I suspect that your most popular game will be against the Rhinos (or Wigan)... incidentally, this is probably both Cas (there will be 10k at Wheldon Road on Friday) and Wakefield's too (although I think Wakey v Cas may beat the Wakey v Rhinos gate later in the season.

I don't have that much of an issue with Quins, I attend the Rhinos game at the stoop most years... I do however have grave doubts and issues with Crusaders continuing in SL if they are to replace the resurgent sides of Castleford or Wakefield just for reasons of having a better ground!

Alright that's fine, no need to apologise.

Yeah, our biggest crowds are always against Wigan, Leeds and Saints. You guys always bring alot down to the Stoop, and those games definately attract more locals and neutrals to the game, then the usual regulars and hardcores. I shall see you down there in August.



Just wish we had a local derby match to enjoy/savour. That's what we're missing out on really, but alas there's nothing we can do about it.

Huddersfield and Wakefield fans knocking Harlequins RL for their crowds

how are they financially surviving? Even against teams with just 5 or 6,000 fans they would be 3/4mill down on gate receipts.

David Hughes put about 1.5 million into Harlequins RL.........this is how they survive....without his money they would not exist.......simplez