because the ground would be empty,whats the point of trying to convince people we are a credable sport when they turn on the tv and see no bugger there,I bet joe public says....I bet they have got the council to guarantee them the money

Well, both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers are in the consortium. They're confident of selling tickets. Between them they average 25,000 fans per week. Bristol Rugby (Union) are partners. Bristol City Council and South Glos Council are on board, if the bid is successful RL will be showcased at around 20 major local festivals between now and 2013. The local tourist agency is part of the bid, too, as is the County Sports Partnership, and the local authorities in Bath & North Somerset. And Street Games. And Acccess Sport. And the local NHS. And the Local Education Authority. And all the RL Clubs in the West of England Division, and the SW Division, and all the student RL clubs.

Filton College in Bristol is also part of the bid - they've just appointed an Academy RL Coach and aspire to play in the NYL within a couple of seasons, and the SL Academy comp beyond that. They have a track record... when they launched the Bristol Flyers Basketball team, it was the only club in Bristol. They won the EBL League and Cup double this year, and their junior club is 450 strong. Filton's Womens Football team hold one of 8 Superleague licences... the others include Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton.

There are over 2500 regular ticket buyers to Magic, Wembley and the GF in the South West alone. There are a couple of thousand RL players in the SW on top of that. There are 4 full time RFL staff in the region. We have a partnership with Leeds Rhinos for marketing and promotion. Bristol Sonics are part of the Championship Review. Bristol is 30m from Cardiff on the train, so the catchment includes South Wales as well, where there are thousands of kids playing.

There's been continuous RL competition in Bristol for 20 years - we are a developing sport, there, but not a new sport, and not something being imposed from up north. There are almost 1000 touch rugby players in Bristol alone. In case you hadn't noticed, the RFL has £30m being spend exclusively on development from Sport England. The RL world is nothing like as small as in was in 2000, despite the small-mindedness of some of its heartland supporters.

aye that small in 2000 we had bumper crowds,fast forward to the next one and no bugger on,aye 33'000 on in the bad heartlands on a midweek night against fiji.

so what happened I'll tell you what the same happy clappy numbties who proberley voted lib dem last election took over and dragged our game to places no bugger wanted to watch the sport

sorry should 95 not 2000

Don't worry about the usual responses you get on here. It's great news and with so many partners on board it has a great chance of succeding.

The more games we spread around the country, that are legitimate and not just played somewhere for the sake of it the better.

It will help spread the RL word, increase the coverage of the World Cup, increase publicity, increase credibility and in a round about way will increase attendances for games in the heartlands- as there will be less games across the m62 corridor for people to go to.

Great news and good luck

If there's confidence enough tickets can be sold for the fixture not to look embarrassing this is great news

Assurances that this will be the case is the key

quick duck..................a flying pig

Maybe there is a flying pig. The fact that this is being bid for and not arbitrarily allocated on a whim makes a huge difference.

I hope this works out and proves to be the catalyst in the ways w71 suggests it may.

give me a break..pray tell what transparency will there be in this process.

My own personal opinion is that you don't use a World Cup game as a marketing tool (who do we think we are - FIFA?). It would have to be one of the matches with the big name teams for them to bother going...and surely they will be held at one of the bigger northern grounds with a capacity crowd. IF RL is so big down there why don't they get a team playing in Champ 1 and take it from there - or are they just glory hunters?

Like i've said on the VT, the whole point to bidding is to put forward what you can bring to the tournament, if Bristol can bring a lot, give them a game, if they bring nothing, don't.

Sure Wurzel and the gang will be happy though!

Leigh and Wigan have also put a bid in haven't they, if so I know where I prefer to get it!!!!!!!

I live in Bristol.
Most objections seem to be on the basis that it will be a failure. Well we don't know that yet.
I think is it positive news that they feel able to put a good bid together and we should wish them well in trying to expand the game.

Bristol is a great place to visit with lots to do and see here. So a WC game could work.

I think it will mostly depend on which fixture they will get.

Personally, i think it is a little too early for Bristol to bid for a WC game, but I am glad they are putting a bid together. Hopefully it will brings some positive publicity for RL down here.

I think expansion of RL is more viable in the SW than London. they like thier rugby down here and a summer version may be a way to attract spectators.

If its spreading the word of league then it can only be a good thing surely

Its a bid. No ones saying they're going to get it but its nice to see they've got some partners on board and lets just see what they have to offer.

Sonics are in the Championship Review process. We're not rushing o any false promises, we're building from the grassroots up. The 16-18 Academy starts in September. Not looking to run before we can walk... Scorpions not Crusaders is the model.

Btw, professional American Football failed in London, but a one-off game can sell out Wembley. Not saying we'll get 80,000 to Tonga v USA, but I find it hilarious that you'd presume from your heartlands abode to know what support we'd draw in Bristol. Do you know anything about the city? When were you last there?

Me, I was there on Monday. At the. South & West County Championship RL. Hampshire won, ahead of Devon, Wiltshire, Somerset and Gloucestershire.

Visit St Pauls regularly, great midweek offers.
Good luck with the project.

That's a great website you've got W71 (southwest rugby league) - shouldn't you be using that in your sig?

The more I think about this, the more I think it's a great idea. We're FAR more likely to be embarrassed about the attendances at some of the early round games if they're held, say, at the LSV than if they're held somewhere like Bristol where you'd be guaranteed an enthusiastic crowd.

How many do we think would actually turn up at the LSV to watch Tonga vs USA?

I bet Bristol could rustle up the same or probably more and that would be a success.

Likewise, and I agree.

You raise a good point. That sort of fixture at the LSV is hardly going to get people to come out in their thousands. What does RL have to lose? I'd imagine a few people who aren't particularly familiar with RL might turn up out of curiosity and enjoy the spectacle, whereas fans in the heartlands might not be so impressed with the standard of rugby.

Edit. That's not to say that I don't think Leigh should host a game. It'd be great to see the Kiwi's or the Kangaroo's get a hit-out at the LSV.

Probably



I'd settle for NZ vs Cook Islands

Wherever they're held i'll be going to as many games as possible! A nice p*$$ up tour round the country sounds good to me.

Hi - I think you'll find by looking at my avatar that I live in a place that could be called expansion territory! Great to see things developing down there in the SE. No issues with playing Tonga/USA or similar level down there, its the big ones I would be worried about.

No problem with that.... though Wales is just across the bridge, half an hour by train to Cardiff....

www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0 ... 94,00.html City launch at Hull City game tomorrow...

www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0 ... 94,00.html City launch at Hull City game tomorrow...