I think Toulouse being in the Championship is good for the licencing process. IMO it would be unfair to decide licences based on various factors when teams are playing in different divisions. What I don't like is talk like that of Dally Messenger, who thinks you can just decide a licence purely on the back of location and population. As things stand at the moment, from a Widnes perspective, we should have nothing to fear from a bid from Toulouse. If there was just one licence place available, Widnes would (IMO) be the obvious choice, but some people always want to look past the obvious for something more exciting.

How the RFL offer licences is as transparent as a brick wall.

IF, and it is a big IF they actually applied the rules (Biased though they were) fairly throughout the game then certain teams would not be in SL.

Thee fact they didn't showed the whole thing up for the rigged farce it was and still is.

The RFL "systems" have screwed, Widnes, Cougars, Gateshead along with others in the name of "openess and fairness".

They change the rules as they go along.

There are 5 definite teams and 1 more probably whose grounds do NOT fulfill the SL criteria and will not by the next franchise offers. You can bet your bottom dollar that "excuses" will be made as to why so and so were reprieved.

With this in amongst other things the RFL's credibility is IMO open to question.

To put it in perspective, Richard Lewis has, IMO, made a positive difference to the game so imagine the shamble it would be without him and currently it's not great.

As far as I can see there is no long term plan for the game just piecemeal bits and bats with no cohesive thought or planning.

If there is it is well hidden or its implementation and actions are not working from where I stand.

The game will continue, of that I have no doubt, but in what format, system and organisation is anybodys guess.

The French Championship was extremely strong for much of its history.

As were the domestic clubs in New Zealand - especially Auckland (Ponsonby, Marist, Richmond and the like spring to mind).

Quote ="JonM"Both Mille & Lyon have won the league in the past, in fact. The Olympique Lyonnais story does seem to have a slight basis in fact - M. Aulas the club president did mention Rugby XIII in the context of re-developing the stadium. www.liberation.fr/sports/0101600 ... trop-payes'" Lyon and Mille were major drawcards in the French RL in the period 1945-1955 especially. Mille had the legendary Jean Dop at half and a brilliant forward pack; Lyon scintillating backs in the likes of Rey, Lecuyer and Crespo.

Quote ="JonM"Both Mille & Lyon have won the league in the past, in fact. The Olympique Lyonnais story does seem to have a slight basis in fact - M. Aulas the club president did mention Rugby XIII in the context of re-developing the stadium. www.liberation.fr/sports/0101600 ... trop-payes'" Lyon and Mille were major drawcards in the French RL in the period 1945-1955 especially. Mille had the legendary Jean Dop at half and a brilliant forward pack; Lyon scintillating backs in the likes of Rey, Lecuyer and Crespo.

You've learned nothing..

Though if TO make the GF it will be a different ketle of fish.

If the RFL do 2 up 2 down no idea whether the criteria will be used for both teams, I think it should.

The death of 2 clubs instantly

ill repeat SL has enough heartland teams from small towns that arent pulling their weight

if SL is to expand it should go to areas that can grow the game

the only way a current heartland club should be allowed into SL is by the place of another one that isnt progressing

Les Cats have achieved more in their short SL life than quite a few heartland clubs

france has massive potential, and lewis would be crazy to ignore it

Yes, but that's because we are awesome. There is no guarentee that another French side would be as awesome as us.

to sum up :

1. Toulose pop. > 1. million
2. lots of strong businesses there
3. existing RL infrastructure
4. strengthen international competition, an area RL is continually mocked. look at union, weak club competition in england subsidized by the 6 nations
5. france has in past shown what it can achieve in RL. older RL people here still talk about the france team of the 60s and the RL they played.
6. rich backer behind them with good connections to council

their business plan last franchise round was stronger than the one LEs Cats put in when they were accepted.

the population of toulose dwarfs peripgnan.

it wouldnt surprise me to see touloses crowds surpassing yours.

and the addition of toulose could well attract a TV deal in france whilst Les Cats on their own might not

Agree completely Dally although as it stands Wid are front runners.
Imo it will be Salford for Widnes and Wakey for Toulouse

yeah id back that.

but if salford do progress on their ground what then?

widnes are too good a club not to be in SL and wakey have wasted their position.

As starbug pointed out to me though, you cant have 15 in SL

thats why it might have to be 16 then ...

not sure you have the player depth for that but if salford sort their ground out they could be massive too.

Salford..I dunno..it's just not there.
I know a few who support Salford round here, from the old days, I personally think they've had their day. Just doesn't seem the interest

Do you just give up on Salford and the Manchester area then? It seems a little silly talking about expansion to places where there is little history of RL and little or no teams when one of the largest cities in England in Salford/Manchester, where there are at least some amateur teams and a history of RL, is largely untapped RL territory. Also what about the likes of Oldham, Rochdale etc do we also give up on these areas too because interest is on the wane?

You do realise the damage that will be done to any clubs dropped from SL

So it would seem , If Salford were to drop out of SL for 3 possibly many more years I seriously think it would end them ever being in a position to reclaim a place again


The RFL have already given up on Oldham and Rochdale along with many others

How many chances do Salford need? They have had one good season in the last six years.
On the plus side they are *finaly* producing their own players, if they keep it up then you can't see them being relegated.

15 sides with a bye, why not?

Magic weekend

Aye, though Barrow or Fax may be something else altogether.

Not the most important factor for the season is it?

How many do Cas need , they have finished bottom 3 years in the last 6 , why should they be considered any more tham Wakefield ?

How good or bad Celtic need to be to avoid being dropped , surely location cannot come into this , it's one thing refusing entry to Widnes because of location , it's another thing entirely chucking out a club 5/6 places higher with better gates to keep an experiment in

I think the difference is that Cas produce a LOT of their own players, including international quality players. Salford have managed one good player in the last six years.

If Crusaders and Salford both suck next year, but Crusaders bring through 5 Welsh players then they will be much better value than Salford.