After Relegation Widnes went bust chasing promotion. it took a steady hand and the benefits of licensing giving them the time and space to grow their infrastructre and youth systems to put them in the place they are right now.

Widnes also finished bottom during the franchising era, and the team they are putting out right now, the team that they have built towards would not be on the field in SL.

Or it suggests the people running it are doing a poor job of doing so.

Widnes went bust due to a combination of a SL only based lease and a very dubious owner, nothing to do with chasing promotion, going bust was the only way they could renegociate a workable lease

Yep, Widnes's stronger financial position has bugger all to do with franchising and everything to do with going bankrupt, having the slate wiped clean and getting cheaper deals out of all their previous partners/stakeholders etc.

Widnes, I WILL remind you, was one of the clubs earmarked for EXCLUSION from SL (the original plan from SLE was a "merged" Mersey Outfit, probably called St Helens).

So PLEASE, can you all STOP pointing at Widnes as your shining example of how well FRANCHISING works. They are an example of how clever people, thinking on their feet can wipe out debt and screw better deals out of Landlords/suppliers etc. Well done to them, I think it's great but is NOT an example of "franchising" success!!!!!!!!

Strange comment this, how can the village mentality of the fans kill pro RL? Doesn't matter what the views of the fans are, they have very little influence over Super League and RFL. Even if a fan is completely against expansion, they would still turn up and support their team if Catalan are in town. Or is it the village mentality of some fans and owners that are preventing fans from London turning up to watch their team? I would say its more the RFL's fault of not being able to implement a plan to expand the game that actually works. Fast tracking teams from Non RL heartlands to SL didn't work, franchising didn't work because it wasn't implemented properly. If Cats and London finish in the bottom two this year the only people to blame are the owners of those clubs and possibly the RFL. Village mentality of fans from other clubs is irrelevant.

I'm definitely in the 'if they're the bottom two, they go down' camp. However, although I think that the Catalans could make it back, I doubt if the Broncos would. I've never really believed that there's a market for top level RL in London, regardless of whatever might be spent on marketing (shut up, Fluttergax!) and it would probably be better for there to be two French teams in the top flight.

If Catalans did go down, where would they go down to?

Could the UK part time clubs in the lower division actually afford to have a French team in their league?

Good question. Could they also afford to have London in their league?

Widnes themselves argue they are an example of how franchising works. Im not sure 20 year old plans that never even came to fruition are much argument against that.

yeah, going bust the day after losing the Grand Final was just a complete coincidence

I'd worry about your own "super franchised" competition instead if I were you.

[uNRL Total Attendances Round 1 & Averages[/u
=#FF00002014: 126,590/8 = 15,823 =#FF0000<----------------------


2013: 158,678/8 = 19,834
2012: 149,888/8 = 18,736
2011: 201,205/8 = 25,150
2010: 165,554/8 = 20,694
2009: 168,483/8 = 21,060
2008: 183,627/8 = 22,953
2007: 185,051/8 = 23,131
2006: 161,353/8 = 20,169
2005: 159,614/8 = 19,951
2004: 138,214/7 = 19,744
2003: 123,405/7 = 17,629

I think the opposite. There's a massive market for RL in London because there's a massive market for sport in London, and particularly a market for new or 'event' sports as the Olympics have shown. However, it will take an owner who understands marketing and a governing body with a long term view who want to invest in it. You only have to look at the impact the NFL, or even major RU games at Wembley have in the City at drawing attention (and corporate sponsorship).

The problem with RL in London is there's been no ambition shown. Why the RFL aren't either taking Magic Weekend or a nines tournament to the Olympic Stadium, or working with the Broncos to take a double header there of teams that non RL fans will recognise (Broncs vs Leeds, Wigan vs Saints for example), to get in there before RU and create another showpiece to draw the attention of corporates (in addition to the Challenge Cup Final) is beyond me.

Unless RL cracks London it will not crack the media or sponsorship, and what pains me is that the RFL are no where near doing the things that are needed to come close.

It's a great idea to throw away years of investment on the roll of the dice of one poor season. Hopefully the refs will "favour" the dragons enough to see them safe and the development of the game in France not pished away.

Don't know if anyone saw BBC2's Mind the Gap: London vs the Rest? Worth a watch on iplayer, especially the bit at the end about the potential super city of Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds combined.

Less Groupon, Wowcher and BOGOF cheap ticket offers?

Oh, great idea!.

What if giving Catalans "favours" on the field resulted in Hull K.R down?

Keep out of the sun you clearly have subjected yourself to too much of it.

Rewarding mediocrity (providing favours for the chosen few) has always been the most significant tenet of the elitist franchising lobby.

I'd change the rules to keep them up.

Before people post these things, could we do some reading? The rfl have already answered this question here: www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/about_t ... reviewfaqs Quote Would clubs like Catalan Dragons and London Broncos be safeguarded from relegation under the new proposals? If the sport is to implement a league structure where clubs stand or fall on their on-field performances, then all clubs, including those in strategically significant markets such as London and France, would have to rise or fall on their own merits. '"

Before people post these things, could we do some reading? The rfl have already answered this question here: www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/about_t ... reviewfaqs Quote Would clubs like Catalan Dragons and London Broncos be safeguarded from relegation under the new proposals? If the sport is to implement a league structure where clubs stand or fall on their on-field performances, then all clubs, including those in strategically significant markets such as London and France, would have to rise or fall on their own merits. '"

The only way we could have the new system without destroying clubs like London or Les Catalans or any other club from outside the existing heartlands is if they dont lose the funding should they be relegated.

Quote ="Magic Superbeetle"Before people post these things, could we do some reading? The rfl have already answered this question here: www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/about_t ... reviewfaqs '" indeed, the RFL have completely given up on developing and broadening the game. It is a complete abdication of responsibility and the worst thing the RFL could have done. There is right now, no plan and no way to nurture and develop new clubs and expand the games horizons.

Quote ="Magic Superbeetle"Before people post these things, could we do some reading? The rfl have already answered this question here: www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/about_t ... reviewfaqs '" indeed, the RFL have completely given up on developing and broadening the game. It is a complete abdication of responsibility and the worst thing the RFL could have done. There is right now, no plan and no way to nurture and develop new clubs and expand the games horizons.

Agreed.

Unfortunately, a lot of RL fans look at London's attendances and think that Londoners aren't interested. This isn't true. Hughes has run the London club into the ground through bad decision making and a complete lack of marketing skills. Playing at the Beehive in Barnet, a small stadium quite far out of London, should not be a long term option. It's no wonder really that they aren't pulling in the crowds.

On the other hand, the amateur and schools rugby league down there is doing well and growing year on year. Nearly 70k attended the WC semi finals at Wembley - these are the things the RFL need to build on.

I think there is a plan (of sorts) which is to admit small clubs at the bottom end and hope they develop and grow either naturally or through a rich owner getting involved. Hence the likes of Oxford, Gloucester etc being admitted to Championship One.
I'd agree there's no definitive strategy though, which is disappointing and a big failure in my opinion. However I'd lay the blame at both the RFL and the clubs. The clubs, in general, still can't see beyond their own noses and are only interested in things which immediately and directly benefit themselves, hence a continual short-term policy.

The impact of the loss of a lot of Sport England funding shouldn't be underestimated either though.

The RFL seem to have completely given up on doing anything so that they can't be held responsible if it goes wrong, they are supposed to be the leaders of the game but have devolved any and all responsibility (but not power) away from themselves.

This and their admittance that franchising wasnt dumped because it didnt work, but rather that they werent competent to administer it should have seen a root and branch restructure and the removal of the board.