My interest is already waning now that promotion and relegation has gone. Should the RFL's decisions to award the next round of franchises be as cut and dried as the last lot (whoever gets to finals etc) then I'll most likely be spending my money some other way.

Isn't the guy in charge or involved with the franchise decision last year now 'employed' by Gateshead - Rod Findlay

aye

Toulouse and Gateshead it is then, but they (RFL) have to get them to a GF first or NRC win. It was also stated if I remember that Toulouse still have to earn the right to qualify like the rest of us.

RFL2011 - We said that? Nah you must be mistaken. Now go away and go bust. We only want 8 English teams in 'our' European Superleague in 2015.

If they can't make a European League happen in football, how the hell is it affordable in Rugby League

They probably could, but football actually has strong organisations running the sport, rather than being virtually run by the clubs themselves.