‘The sport is seen as a special case because of its social value in mainly northern communities and the risk of it being wiped out.’

So said the government ... IN NORTHERN COMMUNITIES !!!

But that’s not true any more is it ?? Money will be going to Toulouse, Toronto, Catalans from our taxes to keep small pockets of the game alive on distant shores.

I’m sorry it’s time that Rugby League protected it’s Northern heartlands where the youth of our game develops no money should go to France or Canada nor should these teams be allowed to temporarily re-base to the UK as their borders are closed.

It’s time Rugby League realised that expansion brings nothing but cheap newspaper headlines where’s the big TV deals bringing money to the whole game surely the only purpose of this expansion theory ?? This could just as likely wipe out the game too.

On you tube there is the 1977 Lancashire cup final between Workington Town and Wigan packed house Wigan big favourites fists flying quality hard rugby league great atmosphere... why a Toronto why not Workington ??

Oh Workington won 16-13 .. what a day for their fans ...... what a day for Rugby League.

The government has said only English teams will get a share of the money and maybe the Welsh teams will not get it has well

No problem with any UK teams getting it and hope most of it goes to the Championship League 1 and the community game.... My main point is in today’s world after Brexit foreign expansion is nonsense...

Why Toronto and not Workington? Having been to both places quite a few times i think it's pretty obvious. Although, if a billionaire wanted to buy Workington perhaps we'd see them in SL. Unfortunately, I doubt any billionaire is even aware Workington exists.

Your first point was that some of the government money would be going to teams from France and Canada...You were wrong.

The RFL have explained that the community clubs are able to access money/help, and have accessed money/help via schemes that were already in place before this loan was awarded. This money is for English clubs in Super League, Championship and League 1 (they can't access the same schemes as the community game). The most money will go to the clubs which have the greatest discrepancy between required money for running costs and actual income still coming in. A lot of people won't like it but it is likely that the larger amounts will go to the largest clubs as they have the greatest fixed overheads. As long as we still have the same number of clubs at the end of all this as we had at the start I don't care who gets what personally.

I can’t find any reference from the government about northern clubs like the OP said. Can anyone else?

Another anti Toronto whinge by an insular northerner. It's pretty obvious why Toronto are where they are and not Workington. Fourth largest market in north America compared to a town nobody has really heard of.

Plus, why shouldn't they be able to be based in the Uk? If you actually thought about it you would realise that it would help the Uk economy, filling hotel rooms etc.

Filling hotel rooms

Donnyman gpt an alternate account? Fartown since 1961 is clearly not a fan of facts...

Your point being?

Majority if not all live and based in England so what hotels are they using

Catalans?

what about Catalan your original argument was about Toronto but you've realised what a stupid comment you made, now you have added Catalan team as there will be no fans from either club would you like explain how a few thousand quid will help the UK economy

I was referring to the OP when Fartown said that neither Toronto or Catalan should be allowed to base themselves in the Uk, hence Catalan filling hotel rooms.

As for them having no fans, no team will have fans for the foreseeable future so not sure where you're headed with that.

yes same as you talking about boosting the UK economy when no fans can travel and Toronto is already based in the UK

Surely, as a RL fan, you must want RL to be played in every country on the planet and to one day be more popular than football or, are you happy to have "the greatest game" restricted to the North of England, a small part of the South of France, plus Australia, New Zealand and the South Sea Islands ?

It wont happen in my lifetime and probably wont happen at all but, it would be superb to have 20/30 genuine RL playing nations.
Who knows, if the game were to spread to other nations and it's profile significantly increased, there could even be a higher level of investment in the sport in England



I know this may be difficult to comprehend but, this should be where the game is trying to be.

Surely a game played world wide is better than what we have currently ?