Crusaders were League 1 Champions in 2007 and Championship runners-up (after extra time) in 2008.

Very, very cold (could be minus 20 plus windchill) and usually lots of snow. As I look out my front window, still no leaves on the trees and buds are just starting. Spring hasn't officially started yet. But July and August can be 90 degrees plus. Teams that come here early in the season will freeze to death and those that come late on will burn.

From a Canadian perspective, I have to say that's a great logo - just right for this market. The only question in my mind is whether games against Rochdale and Gloucestershire All-Golds is really going to grip the imagination. Still, 99% of people in Canada will never have heard of Wigan (lucky them) or Saints or Warrington either, so perhaps it won't matter much. I could easily see them being in the Top 10 supported sides in the British game by the end of next season. Not that hard at all if they replicate the great crowds they have had for the international games (even against semi-amateur opposition. They are very marketing savvy and have a good social media presence and contacts to build on. I hope they can find room for a few home-grown players. Enoch Wamalwa is a young hard-running second row/prop that I'd like to see given a chance.

Toronto v hull could be well attended seeing as there is a hull close to ottawa

For all those moaning about travel times

Quick Google search

Manchester to Toronto direct 7hrs 45min

Super 15s clubs for example

Sydney to Johannesburg 14hrs 30 mins

Guess we shouldn't moan too much lol

"no thought for the fans" is one of my favourites from the luddites this evening.

Being ready for Super League is about a lot more than just on field results.

There seems to be a belief amongst some that every RL fan has a god-given right to be able to make every game and be home in time for the antiques roadshow.

Read a suggestion elsewhere that perhaps two SL teams could go over and have a game in Toronto. Would mean one team willing to sacrifice a home fixture but could possibly have a double header at Toronto's ground with their match on beforehand. Could be something worth trying.

This is mint. I hope Saints draw them away in the challenge cup. I havent been yet but it will already be my favourite away game

Regards

King |James

wigan the best bet then

I don't see how that would be of any benefit at all. People in Canada have not heard of Wigan and St Helens any more than they have heard of Hemel or Keighley. If SL teams were doing that then they would be better off playing in Vancouver TBH, where there is arguably a stronger grassroots RL base than Toronto.

Regards

King James

I think this is potentially all reward and no risk for the RFL, the backers also seem like the sort of people we want in our sport.

My biggest question, and one which I have been thinking about in terms of Catalan, is what is the long term plan. While on one hand it's great to be welcoming new teams and markets (and in Catalans case it finally seems like new contenders) should we be happy with just the odd team from here and the odd team from there?

Imo the goal has to be to get them involved with our structure, make sure their competitive and well run, then send them back in a couple of years with all the information and infrastructure they've gained to set up a competitive professional league.

That should be the long term goal.

100% correct.
yet unfortunately our system puts teams in Super League based solely on on field results.

wouldnt suprise me if superleague ended up like the super 15s southern hemisphere union in 10 years time

clubs in 3 or 4 countries, we'll have uk, france, canada maybe usa

Seen an irate Warrington fan who thinks it's "ridiculous" that they've been allowed to have the name Wolfpack and the RFL should've made them change it as its too similar to Warrington's Wolves name.

Can't wait to see a picture of 3 Toronto fans stood next to a wall with the name "Wolvepack" written on it

"it's a cracker" !

Does Richard 'Geek' Lewis still work at the RFL ?

God help one of the SL clubs in the mid 8s next year. They'll probably be sacrificial lambs to the great god SKY.

No, having put the game on a path towards more than a decade of growth, tired of the internecine struggles and vested interests, Richard Lewis left for more pay, prestige and to run a competition with a world wide profile.

But what do we do with the likes of Oxford, Hemel, South Wales, Coventry, Gloucester, & Newcastle. Try and find those clubs a 'multi-millionaire' backer like Toronto have, and let them exceed the salary cap so they can go full-time, sign decent players etc ? IT'S NOT WORKING WITH THOSE TEAMS (where none of the fans wear flat caps), where should we try next, I know, Canada ! FANTASTIC IDEA.

its not working with the flat cap sides either.

There is more point in trying and failing with Toronto or Toulouse than trying and failing again with Leigh or Halifax or Oldham

If you or anyone else can find those clubs a millionaire backer or even any kind of backer then that would be great.

Newcastle has one, he just spends his money on the union team!

very funny. Personally I think the RFL should target Africa next, how about Chad ? Always wanted to go there, imagine (for example) Chad Invincibles v Leigh Centurions....BRING IT ON !