The game in London's in great shape. I play for Imperial college atm and because we'll stop playing after Easter I'm looking where else to go and try for and there are an amazing number of amateur clubs down here that are going well, fielding 2 or 3 (even in a couple of instances 4) sides regularly.

The problem is Broncos being at Twickenham, it's a bit of a bugger to get to and no one really wants to go to the Union heartland for a League game. If they moved elsewhere and concentrated on building more of a following they'd do much better.

And yes, I'd much rather have a London team or even another French side than the likes of Leigh or Barrow. Why do we need more teams like that? There are too many sides in the North for the player base as it is. The last thing we need are more teams that can't compete, drawing on the same player base, it does nothing to strengthen the game, or the national side. I'd shrink the Super League as it is, get rid of Salford and Wakey for a start.

I don't know if you're from London or how long you've been there but where in your opinion would be the best place for Broncos to move to?

The 20 million dollar question.

Unfortunately I've not been here long enough to answer it, and even blokes who've been here for ages don't know. Certainly away from Twickenham, where the game's never really been welcome. I've heard Fullham mentioned before but I don't know what really qualifies there over anywhere else. Certainly in a city of 7 million people you can find a few thousand to make an SL team work, and as I say, the work that's been done to grow the player base is magnificent, just getting the fans in!

Identify where the most interest is possibly by mapping out the amateur participants and trying to centralise it.

It's been discussed to death though on the London board with no definitive answer.

Is the London game a moveable feast these days? Hull FC for example are playing the Bronco's in Gillingham Is this a case of trying to find a support base in completely new territory, or where there is a strong amateur game, or is it a 'snub' to Twickenham?

Good luck in the South I say

Can I just say that referring to London Broncos, a club which has been established for over three decades, as "an experiment" shows a fair level of ignorance and arrogance.

Personally, I'm quite tired of the Castleford experiment - they're never going to really win anything, and have just been cluttering up the league since 1926. What's the point? I think on my say-so they should be summarily disbanded; bollox to their fans.

Can't believe anyone could be even the slightest bit critical of Catalans, fantastic club with passionate fans, SL is far richer for their presence.

hear hear!

The atmosphere at the HJ in last couple of seasons,has been poor even in the big games.Always seems flat even with a out of tune drummer.

Quins RU got 80000 for a league game 2 days after Xmas which everyone got to. They get 15000 every week for league games. Travel is a lame excuse. If the Broncos were attractive to watch and successful over a period of time fans would come and watch

If Warrington played away every 2nd week in Berkshire and Surrey how often to you think you would watch them away particularly on a Fri- We will see later this year as the Wire game is a Fri Night at the Stoop and thats once per year.

to answer the second part of your question, there will be more wire away fans at london later in the season (on a friday) than there were london fans at the HJ on sunday.

IT WILL BE ALOT MORE OBVIOUS NOW (away fan numbers) THAT A LOT THAT STOOD IN THE WEST STAND LAST YEAR HAVE CHOSEN TO STAND IN THE SOUTH THIS SEASON NOW IT'S BIGGER (sorry about the caps)

Thta deosn't answer the question though. That's once a season. The point being if that was the 10th such trip of the year how many would go?

Certainly more then London brought on Sunday but we are a team playing the best rugby it has for two generations. How many that might be if we were in London's current run of form could be indicated by the support we took to Hull under Anderson's reign.

Well, this thread started badly, got worse but has been saved by the more sensible posters.

Referring to London as an experiment, they've been around for ages. As someone said, if they're an experiment, so are Castleford, Whitehaven, Sheffield etc. There is some great work going on in the capital and I'm glad Yed and Wire in the Blood were around to tell us about it first hand. There's certainly an issue with picking the right location, unfortunately there always has been and land prices/rents in London are a bit higher than in Warrington or Leigh (did a guy seriously suggest Leigh? Jesus).

Catalans don't need any defending, they're taking the French game by the scruff of the neck and are a better-run club than at least half of the heartland clubs. They add an enormous amount to our league, even if their good reputation was slightly blemished last week due to a brain explosion by a council groundsman.

I still can't believe that in 2012 we're still measuring the viability of clubs by the number of away supporters they bring. Rogues was right (aye, I can't believe it either): it's up to home supporters to make up the numbers and create an atmosphere, away fans are a bonus.

Top post.

the atmosphere at the HJ is poor, seems to be that a few people start to sing an chant then give up after everyone just doesn't join in, its a persons choice at a match if he wants to sing or not but it will create a muh better atmosphere an maybe a better game every away game i've been to it's been mostly a lot better atmosphere than at home even at crusdaers.

i like the way they take their shoes off when they score a try.

Catalans is not expanionist it is simply inviting a well established team into the SL and should not be considered the same as London. SL is better for Catalans involvement.

The London Broncos are not an experiment, it's an artificially subsidised RFL vanity / folly which for over 30 years in various guises and locations has failed to attact the support base and interest it needs to become viable as a pro top tier RL side. Branson saw that and quickly exited and that was nearly 10 years ago now.

How are London Broncos, who get the same SL TV monies from the RFL as all the other SL clubs, subsidised by the RFL? Or are you suggesting that all SL clubs are subsidised by the RFL? London are subsidised by someone that's for sure - but he's nowt to do with the RFL and, just like the fella who bankrolls the Wire, devoted to his team.

Why do you apply different standards to London compared to those applied to other teams in the league?

Check back on the special dispensations that London have had over the years. One subsidy comes from the revenues generated from live games (i.e away supporters). The subsidy occurs because every single SL side take more fans to London than is reciprocated. An inbalance in gate receipts for starters.

I keep seeing people saying they think lots of good work is going on around London but aren't sure. Here is a very useful website: www.londonrl.com/ I've lifted the following headline figures off there, which are from last year so presumably will be even better now: Quote There are 3000 registered club Rugby League players in London, the South East and East of England. Over 10,000 children played rugby league in school in the region in 2010. 29 London raised players currently represent either Harlequins Rugby League in the Engage Super League or London Skolars in the Co-operative Championship 1. Over 1700 participants played Touch, Tag, Masters or Wheelchair Rugby League in 2010. Over 35% of junior club players in London are from a BME background. 540 volunteers currently support the development of Rugby League in London, the South East and the East of England. 280 teams took part in the Carnegie Champion Schools Competition in 2011, including 74 girls teams. '"

I keep seeing people saying they think lots of good work is going on around London but aren't sure. Here is a very useful website: www.londonrl.com/ I've lifted the following headline figures off there, which are from last year so presumably will be even better now: Quote There are 3000 registered club Rugby League players in London, the South East and East of England. Over 10,000 children played rugby league in school in the region in 2010. 29 London raised players currently represent either Harlequins Rugby League in the Engage Super League or London Skolars in the Co-operative Championship 1. Over 1700 participants played Touch, Tag, Masters or Wheelchair Rugby League in 2010. Over 35% of junior club players in London are from a BME background. 540 volunteers currently support the development of Rugby League in London, the South East and the East of England. 280 teams took part in the Carnegie Champion Schools Competition in 2011, including 74 girls teams. '"

When you look at the figures, its obvious that the game seems to be doing well in the south.... It would be great if the Broncos could get a decent following for the majority of their home games.

Good to see them back as the Broncos, hopefully they can push forward and build a decent sized fanbase.

Playing Devils advocat SEB even though we sing from the same hymn sheet on this, playing doesn't equate to watching or having any further interest.
An example being i play badminton and i really enjoy it, but have no desire to watch it or get involved in any other capacity.

That is quite possibly the worst argument I have ever heard.

Based on the "atmosphere" point, how much atmosphere do you expect in one sided games that are pretty much won by half time??

It is not just in RL. In every sport atmosphere can be a big problem, particuarly for the more successful clubs. You go to Anfield or Old Trafford to watch a normal premiership league game and you'll hear a huge roar when the teams come out and within 30 seconds of kick off it is almost a deadly silence.

Some games create atmosphere because they become classic games, wheras other games create atmosphere because of what is at stake such as knock out games (challenge cup, play-offs etc).

You tend to find that once fans get used to success and expect to win games, the atmosphere is never as good, especially in those run of the mill games that you find yourself miles ahead early on.