Well done Rochdale welcome to the championship winning in France is an amazing feat. All those tosspots that are disrespectful to smaller clubs can do one after that

Well said, Jean & DGM have gone AWOL !

The biggest culprit is the club who showed arrogance and total disrespect. Holidays were booked and celebrations planned well in advance with no regard for their opposition who wanted to win more on the day.

This is ignorant ill informed clap trap. Rochdale are a fan owned club and a great example of how a rugby league club should be run. With a board of directors elected by the membership - including a fan liaison.

Not a rich mans play thing. Remember what happened last time Toulouse were in the championship? Probably not as this board aren't aware that there's life outside superleague.

Only one of the many dumb systems used in British RL!

Same system as SL. You could win the league by 10 clear points, but still not be crowned champions.

Oh sod off. This line trotted out by bitter fans of small clubs is both stupid and embarrassing.

It's like complaining that Man Utd fans aren't interested in the ins and outs of the Isthmian League.

You have to say well done to Rochdale, what a fantastic effort to go over to France and win.
However, the big question still, is just where do people want the game to be in 10/20 or 30 years time.

There seem to be 2 camps, split straight down the middle.

The first on wanting to keep the game where it has been for the last 100+ years and those wanting the game to expand, beyond 3 top tier nations and outside the M62 corridor.

Perhaps it's time to have a proper discussion and open review about where RL should be heading over the next couple of decades.

The one thing that remains is that, IF we want to attract serious sponsorship (mainly from TV but, from other sponsors) RL has to be a "bigger" sport than we have now.

I don't think a single person doesn't want the game to expand, just not at the expense of the heartland clubs, and not against the spirit of the game through cap and quota dispensations

So you don't want to see the rise of Toulouse at the expense of little parochial clubs like Rochdale?

If Rochdale made it to Superleague - if promoted correctly - the rise of fan owned club from possible oblivion to the elite would gain more column inches in the national press. Than just another gimmick like having another French team.

It's not that response just proves my point. Bet you're a full kit as well.

Are Leigh top of the middle 8's after wiping the floor with everyone so far or not? There is life outside of superleague.

Fair play to Rochdale. No other side has travelled to Toulouse this season and won.

Toulouse still have another crack at promotion, which they need to take, as otherwise they'll be battling vs a strong Toronto and the two Cumbrian sides coming down next season.

Odd comment, I don't particularly support Toulouse or have anything against Rochdale. I just don't come on here much at weekends, better things to do.

It sounds like the best team won, and Rochdale are the only side to take points from Toulouse this year, good on em.

It's a bit rich for a Bradford fan coming on here telling the world there's more to rugby league than Super League when 4 or 5 years ago they wouldn't have contemplated not being in SL.

Have you any idea how ironic your constant use of the word "parochial" in your posts is?

I'm a season ticket holder of a League 1 club and I give up roughly 3 days a week to amateur RL.



But I'm not daft enough to think everyone should know the ins and outs of every league in RL.

No it's probably not like Man Utd fans knowing about the Isthmian League, it's probably more like expecting Blackburn Rovers fans to know the ins and outs of the Isthmian League. Still daft isn't it?

not seen it anywhere on the boards today, but just in case anybody missed it with all the excitement of kr v salford, Toulouse won promotion to the championship today, beating Barrow 34-22

No, it's strange how the Toulouse haters have gone back into the woodwork. They probably won't appear again until the froggies struggle in the Championship in a few months time.

Why would your average BRITISH rugby league fan be pleased that Toulouse have gained promotion ? Unlucky Barrow...

Don't worry, they won't last long. Give them two seasons max in the Championship and they will throw in the towel until the next assault a few years down the lne. I suppose the TO haters will return with venom once they struggle against the heartland boys ? Do you all resent London , Oxford etc also or is nationwide expansion ok ?
And we won't even mention Toronto...

Rochdale are simply not up to standard if their game against Toulouse is anything to go by.

Have a look at the tapes. The time wasting tactics from Rochdale would have had them receive far more yellow cards from a suitably experienced ref. Toulouse would have won by another 20 points. On top of that Toulouse did not play well either. If they had been on form with a decent ref the game would have been a 40 point margin.

Barrow are a way better side. It will be interesting to see how better refs deal with Rochdale in the Championship if Kilshaw keeps his style. Hat's off to Kilshaw - he got the result. But now my respect.

Barrow have my respect and they should have gone up with Toulouse based on form and skill.

I think this was the season to win promotion cos' next season will be a lot tougher with the three Cumbrian sides plus Toronto and the other hopefuls like Donny, Cougars, hopefully York and Hunslet. There will be some cracking games between that lot.
Barrow would have been my favourites but they will be losing some good players next season and will need to recruit well to compete I feel.

Sadly I think we may not see York next season. Off the field they are in a complete mess with no immediate solution to their problems.