The Challenge cup has already started.....the Carnegie deal was for 6 years, 2007-2012, with no extension announced, but the BBC still refer to it as the Carnegie Challenge Cup?

73 days to go until SL starts.....I can't think of any other professional sport in the UK that wouldn't have a sponsor for it's league comp announced by now......let alone it's cup comp that has already started



If sarries can command 8 million quid over 6 years, then surely to god the RFL can at least match it

Then what on earth is going on? Has this ever happened before?

I'm sure the Championship clubs will be distraute, losing all that money from the Co oP

Well if they can't find a sponsor, I may put a bid in!

£10 for the bewareshadows SL.

Spoiler alert

I hope it's Provident Finance and eagerly await all the guardians of morality at Wakefield and Huddersfield urging there clubs not to accept any money fromn the RFL on a point of principle.

Don't know about Hudds board but I haven't heard too many people on the Wakey forum say Bradford shouldn't have excepted the money. Negative opinions on what Provident do is another thing but I've read plenty of similar comments from your lot as well.

Optrex would be a good shout.

" Super League, Your eyes wont beleive what they're seeing"

Blimey how awful of some fans to express an opinion you don't like, especially one based on moral objections - whatever next

Speaking of Huddersfield, A paper dropped onto my desk today as i work in Hudds, £99 season tickets with the option of paying monthly, Still, I would prefer to rub Sh!t in my eyes than watch rugby seated in at the galpharm.

After the underhand deals struck by the R.F.L regarding Bradford last season, they make Provident Finance look like the National Australia Bank.

Well you should be used to it watching that crap at Fax every week.

Thank god for uncle Ken eh?

So how many of SL club sponsors are national or international??

I disagree. Last year the RFL was lambasted for taking the Stobart 'no cash' deal. They should not be in a hurry to take easy deals. In these straightened times I can imagine that there is sponsorship money to be had from payday loans companies, online gambling outfits and booze producers, but taking such cash would be a retrograde step for a 'family' sport. Premier League wendyball clubs long ago gave up any pretence at sense or morals ( how else can you explain Chelsea's sacking of a manager 3 months after he wins the 'Champions' Cup'? ) so it is to be expected of them to grab money from anywhere. Rugby Union 'sponsorship' is often really patronage. The chaps who run the finance and insurance brands themselves grew up with 'rugger', sell products to ABC1 types who grew up with 'rugger', and, no doubt, enjoy the corporate hospitality at 'rugger' that comes with the 'sponsorship'. These are the same companies, BTW, that destroyed the UK economy. Do I envy Union its income? Yes I do, but we're not going to get their type of sponsor into League any time soon.

It doesn't matter because in another ten years we'll all being watching Rugby Union.

I'm sure they've been saying that since the split!

Disagree, the NRL manages to attract plenty of blue chip, white collar sponsorships.

ABC used to cover RL mate.

They have.

Austraila is one thing, England ( and it is England really, not UK ) is another when it comes to sponsor interest in rugby codes.

England? It is the EUROPEAN SL isn't?

Only if this comes in:

Speak for yourself Rupert.
I've had the mis fortune to watch a game of yawnion at Leeds and I can honestly say that it was the most tedious live sporting event i've ever attended.
Having said that, if they do away with the lineouts and go for 6 tackles and a play the ball, then maybe its a runner

I have no problems with Line-outs, they are a far superior way of restarting the game than scrums IMO.

I think a hybrid game, could be a better game than each individually.

Given Bradford announced a RECORD RL sponsorship seal for Stadium name and shirts at 300k a year and Sarries get 1.5 million for the same deal.........AND the Aviva premiership deal was for 20,000,000 over 4 years, whilst stobart paid zip, I think bundling the "rugby codes" together is a tad churlish.