according to league express toulouse will be back in the french league next year. i for one will miss the annual booze up in the south of france, although as a widnes fan im in the position of having perpignan to go to now.
is this a shame? inevitable? or both?
i dont think the 'sexing' up of the championship really happened to be honest. i believe there are stronger and more deserving teams in the french league, toulouse were never the right choice IMO.
Its also mentioned that it is as yet unconfirmed if they will be fielding teams in both the Elite league AND the Championship startiing next year, surely not? they are struggling in the championship as it is, i cant see fielding two teams will improve the situation.

Hopefully to be replaced by Lezignan

Certainly more deserving and certainly a 'Bigger' club in every way.

Toulouse's big problem in terms of player recruitment stems from the likes of Lezignan being able to offer three times the wages that Toulouse can, whilst also cutting out the fortnightly trips over the Channel, oh and leaving your summer free to enjoy the sunshine as well instead of getting smashed about for 80 minutes. And the one big similarity between the English and French cultures is that nobody wants to watch a losing team every week.

There were big rumours when we were there at the weekend that Lezignan will be looking to take Toulouse's place in the league, so it will be interesting to see how the RFL play that one. I can see the potential in Toulouse given the size of the place, but the football team can't even get a look in behind the rugby union, never mind RL, whereas Lezignan is a much smaller town but with a particularly rich RL history and support.

That said, I've got a very light pocket and sunburnt shoulders from the past weekend and I'm sure I could achieve summat similar in Wakefield!

Not read the League Express, but surely the article must imply that Toulouse will be fielding a second team in the Elite League? How can it say in one paragraph that Toulouse are struggling and going back to the French leagues, and the next say the club will be running two sides?

Of course the Championship has been ' sexed up ' with Toulouses inclusion , the fans have been flocking down to watch them play over here

That's the impression I got from the article.

i was wondering about that myself. it makes very little, if any sense.

If the RFL had the money and the FRL had the will I'd like to see a shortened regular season and a cup featuring clubs from both side of the pond.

That'll speed up the closure of Championship clubs , excellent idea

Bully for you. Do you support and actively go to watch a championship club?

Thought not.

The vast majority of those who do aren't interested in watching their team play French sides.

According to Ralph Rimmer (RFL) who was speaking on the radio prior to the 9's comp last night, the Championship will remain 'as is' for 2012 with just a few 'tweaks'.
Crowds are down and clubs are only guaranteed 12 home games. This is clearly unsustainable. All clubs should be guaranteed at least 15 or 16 home games.
If another French club take the place of Toulouse next season, will they also get the 3 year 'protection' from relegation ?? This protection hasn't helped Toulouse in building a competititve Championship squad for the last 3 seasons.
2009 - 10th
2010 - 8th
2011 - 11th (so far)

No french team in the Champ and use the £200k+ saved on travel to france to subsidise supporter travel to away games for all 21 Championship clubs

Or just give the season enough structure so clubs get a decent amount of home games and can make more than the mentioned 10 grand through the turnstiles, over the bar etc etc.

The clubs wouldn't get the £10k - it could only be used to subsidise travel. Extra away supporters would help increase income.

But I'm in total agreement with you regards league structure. Regular home games throughout the whole season are needed. Having no home game for several weeks is madness: people get out of the habit of going and easily find other things to do in the summer. (Late) changes to ko times and dates don't help - I haven't bought a season ticket for a few years now as I when buying I wouldn't know how many games I'd miss cos they'd been changed to thursday night!

Spot on , something I have advocated for before , the lack of away support and localised marketing are two area's the RFL could really help the Championship clubs with

I must've been seeing things when I looked at the LER 1 results this season and seen Toulouse/St-Gaudens mentioned every week in the win-loss column.

St. Gaudens have indicated that they're now in a position to go it alone again - Adam Innes announced as the new coach, not clear where they're going to recruit a competitive squad from. The joining of the two clubs was only ever a short-term fix - it made about as much sense as merging Sheffield & Huddersfield

So the question is whether TO drop out of championship, field a reserve side in LER, or join up with Toulouse Jules-Julien to field a team.

Yep jonM, it's complicated mate.

I'm on your side mate all the way.

I don't really understand the aim of some of this. Whilst I wholeheartedly support Catalans inclusion in the Super League, what is the aim for french rugby league? Is building a competitive league in france not the answer? I don't understand how creating multiple european leagues (toulouse in the national leagues etc) is helping the game grow in France?

Can anyone shed some light on it?

I think the original plan was to create a performance pathway beginning with players in the Elite league, progressing to the Toulouse side, being picked up by Catalans and then ultimately being picked for France. Nice idea in theory, but as France don't play (m)any games anyway....*





*Don't want to start another Exiles vs France debate

So essentially, good french players go to toulouse. Catalan pick them up if they're better than first thought and then they go into the France team? So all this is doing is creating multiple levels of feeder teams which doesn't grow the game in France.

Pretty much.

France are supposed to play Ireland & Scotland this Autumn and it looks like they're planning for France v England at Avignon on 21 October (Friday night game). Not sure whether that's going to be a full England side in a warm-up for 4 nations - or "England Knights". They got 14000 at Avignon for France/Ireland last year - hoping to get 17500 capacity for England match.

(France are playing England in an international tomorrow, as it happens - first of a 2 match women's rugby test series).

It would appear Toulouse have already decided what's happening

They are 52-0 down at half time at Fev

Toulouse for SL anyone ?