It might well come down to which of the possible 12th teams is prepared to take on the risk of almost certain relegation after all the expense of a likely disrupted SL season

I want the 12th team to be a well run club with sound finances and that won't be whipping boys if they do come in.

I don't know enough about the club's mentioned to pass judgment.

London were probably the last team to almost make a fist of it when they did come in, but ultimately it suggests that we don't have the quantity of quality players to be able to support the 12th team although I'm happy to be proved wrong. They had a very good coaching set up, a decent owner, players with the right attitude but ultimately just not enough quality and their fan base was not great.
If they could make that 'quality' adjustment I'd be happy to see them back.

Toulouse would be good as I'd fancy a 2nd trip to France and I know they've recruited some good players, but don't know enough about them. (If they are backed by a Bernard Gausch / Simon Moran type figure then that would be a positive).

York are going places, but may be it's a bit early for them.

Bradford - great history and fan base but how stable are they?

Featherstone - made a lot of noise over the last few years and compete well in their current division but not sure they'd be capable of stepping up. And from memory their ground is hardly SL standard (mind you that could also be said for Wakefield since SL began (does anyone think they'll ever get a new ground?)).

Leigh - again not sure about their stability. Hot and cold.

Newcastle - would quite like that but honestly don't believe they are at the right level at the moment

Quote ="fez1" Featherstone - made a lot of noise over the last few years and compete well in their current division but not sure they'd be capable of stepping up. And from memory their ground is hardly SL standard (mind you that could also be said for Wakefield since SL began (does anyone think they'll ever get a new ground?)). '" Featherstone's stadium now is a very different proposition from what it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Chairman Mark Campbell and a team of volunteers took two stands from the defunct Scarborough football club, dismantled them, transported them to Featherstone and rebuilt them, whilst the playing surface (which had always been on the short side) was increased by 12 yards and the slope flattened to a degree. There have been plenty more improvements since then and it's generally considered that the stadium totally outclasses the likes of Cas and Wakefield these days, not that that would be difficult. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMRyk12w2YY

Quote ="fez1" Featherstone - made a lot of noise over the last few years and compete well in their current division but not sure they'd be capable of stepping up. And from memory their ground is hardly SL standard (mind you that could also be said for Wakefield since SL began (does anyone think they'll ever get a new ground?)). '" Featherstone's stadium now is a very different proposition from what it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Chairman Mark Campbell and a team of volunteers took two stands from the defunct Scarborough football club, dismantled them, transported them to Featherstone and rebuilt them, whilst the playing surface (which had always been on the short side) was increased by 12 yards and the slope flattened to a degree. There have been plenty more improvements since then and it's generally considered that the stadium totally outclasses the likes of Cas and Wakefield these days, not that that would be difficult. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMRyk12w2YY

Featherstone or Toulouse for me.

Big Nigel Wood has a degree in corruption,and it's all set up for Bradford who will also be given a license to make it back to the big time again with their strong fan base. This is not sour grapes from me ,as I would rather Leigh earn the right next season for promotion,and if we fail.......Tuff Titty.

Quote ="The Phantom Horseman"Featherstone's stadium now is a very different proposition from what it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Chairman Mark Campbell and a team of volunteers took two stands from the defunct Scarborough football club, dismantled them, transported them to Featherstone and rebuilt them, whilst the playing surface (which had always been on the short side) was increased by 12 yards and the slope flattened to a degree. There have been plenty more improvements since then and it's generally considered that the stadium totally outclasses the likes of Cas and Wakefield these days, not that that would be difficult. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMRyk12w2YY'" Fair play TPH. I hadn't realized that about the Fev ground. Happy to be corrected.

Quote ="The Phantom Horseman"Featherstone's stadium now is a very different proposition from what it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Chairman Mark Campbell and a team of volunteers took two stands from the defunct Scarborough football club, dismantled them, transported them to Featherstone and rebuilt them, whilst the playing surface (which had always been on the short side) was increased by 12 yards and the slope flattened to a degree. There have been plenty more improvements since then and it's generally considered that the stadium totally outclasses the likes of Cas and Wakefield these days, not that that would be difficult. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMRyk12w2YY'" Fair play TPH. I hadn't realized that about the Fev ground. Happy to be corrected.

We should 100% let the French team join, I don't see what there is Toulouse

Flat cappers for me there ground is miles better than cas and wakey and they have a good fan base and a good business model they’ve been banging on the door for a few years now

Is it tomorrow it’s announced or just a meeting to decide.

According to the 'font of knowledge' that is the VT it would seem that it was originally scheduled for the 16th but is now tomorrow

Either way we will know soon enough

Personally I prefer London. Poor media coverage etc is often justified by saying "well, it's a provincial, not a national sport" - that's difficult to offer a rebuttal to without a top-flight presence in the capital IMO.

If not London, then I'd prefer Widnes or Bradford, for the size of their fanbases and historical success.

Widnes? Fanbase? Hmm ok. Much as I'd like to see an RL team in London , I think if it is ever going to rise above semi-pro level it needs some aggressive, progressive and.imaginative thinking on behalf of the club and SL, and I've seen little evidence of that in their various guises

Toulouse for me, would also give Catalans a huge boost at the same time.

Decision tomorrow?

Bring on the Bradford Powerhouse

Chances are the brexit show maybe announced tomorrow, it may be a good day to bury bad news

you will get your wish
Toulouse has been nailed on for weeks

Had to check, but in their title-winning 1988-89 season that many would consider their peak their highest attendance was 17,323 vs. Wigan and their average home crowd was 8,483.

Not actually quite as much as I thought it would have been to be honest, but given that our average was 4,744 that season, it suggests Widnes have always been able to pull a crowd if they have a side worth watching.

I live out Chester way nowadays and the RL fans you meet out here are probably roughly half and half Wire/Widnes. Frodsham probably the same. Runcorn is definitely Widnes territory. Although that probably makes me biased because I'm much more likely to run into a Widnes fan than Leigh or Featherstone.

I’m still thinking the safe bet will be a Leigh or Bradford, although it would be interesting to see a team like Toulouse given the opportunity.

Having done a quick 'Google' it would seem that the population of Widnes is actually quite small when compared with Warringtn. St Helens, Wigan etc. Not 100% reliable figure as you really need to include local catchment / distance to next RL club etc (maybe should include Runcorn?) but still an indication. Their attendance back then tells you more about the fickle nature of fans and how they dwindle when you are not winning.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55300001 It's Leigh - I didn't see that coming.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55300001 It's Leigh - I didn't see that coming.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55300001 Bit surprised by this.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/55300001 Bit surprised by this.

Leigh need to make a strong bid for Latu and Akauola asap before somebody else snaps them up. They wouldn't even need to move house.

Apparently 3 NRL players can be announced now that its official.

Lots of Noise around Bryson Goodwin having 12 months but you guys got what we should have had. Lovely bloke. Lived close by to me in South Warrington. Don’t think it’s enough to keep us up if true but Leigh will be the most competitive out of the 6.

Well some of the other clubs in contention had signed some from SL

Was hopeful of Toulouse, With Catalan already in think a second french team would of been better.

I'm hoping that they will get promoted in the future and be stronger for that. Will be better when fans are allowed back, and of course when we can travel.

Leigh have even less time than usual to get a SL capable squad together.