They're a real team. Sure one of our Canadian Leythers on here was involved with them & I remember the club sending them some old kits when they were just getting going, hence the familiar logo.

Thought with the greatest half back ever to play Rugby League (in his own mind) leaving we'd be done with silly rumours.

I do think it's a mad idea to put a Canadian team into the British system. Despite this weekend's result I still think it's mad to have Toulouse in a league were teams can't afford to play each other home and away (the French league should move to summer & be involved with the League 1 promotion playoffs). Still can't deny there's an appetite for RL in Canada they do seem to get good attendances for internationals. Think we should consider having Canada & USA national teams in the European international Championships. Also perhaps a small end of season transatlantic cup competition between Canadian, American, French & League 1 clubs, could be something like:
A: GB 1st V Fr 2nd
B: Fr 1st V GB 2nd
C: Ca 1st V US 2nd
D: US 1st V Ca 2nd

Semi 1: A V D
Semi 2: B V C

With the semis & the final in Canada or the US. That'd promote the game over there & in France while giving them someone else to play without the huge financial burden of trying to incorporate them into a league of teams just about surviving on a shoestring budget.

I agree

No wind up. Just search Toronto Centurions Rugby in Google if you think the link provided was a clever wind up.
I am not sure how the Canadian Team is going to work and if it is to be affiliated with an existing setup or be a completely new entity.
One thing I do know it that you guys are closer than I am to a Toranto based team

They have an affiliate membership.

You may find some information of interest on the Toronto Wolf Pack Twitter Account.

Ah yes, those famous Toronto Wolfpacks



That account was set up 3 hours ago and then immediately announced Beswick, Annakin, Kay and Dixon as players as well as Rowley, Noble and Steve Ferres as getting involved too.

Also, if the person running it is Canadian, they are very familiar with small regional Journos like Jack Dearden from Radio Manchester and Mick Gledhill from Bradford.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that it MIGHT not be an official twitter account and will turn out to be a wind up!



I can't see anything online to suggest the the Toronto Wolfpacks actually exist. They don't have a website and a google search brings up nothing.

Think somebody has gone fishing with this one!

Would be Toronto RLFC Nozzy..

That twitter account also claims that the "Toronto Wolfpacks" have signed Chris Annakin from Wakefield Which is impressive since he has just signed a new contract... with Wakefield... today! www.loverugbyleague.com/news_216 ... -deal.html Whoever set up the account needs some better bait!

That twitter account also claims that the "Toronto Wolfpacks" have signed Chris Annakin from Wakefield Which is impressive since he has just signed a new contract... with Wakefield... today! www.loverugbyleague.com/news_216 ... -deal.html Whoever set up the account needs some better bait!

Considering no one can be approached till May 1st, they are not exactly starting off with the RFL on the right foot. Unless of course Wood is letting money blind him again.

Oh and let's not forget Rowleys ethics and morals

It will be interesting to see what, if anything, actually happens with Toronto as far as Championship 1 is concerned. I have to admit I am a bit skeptical - if Leigh struggle to promote a game against Rochdale Hornets, can you imagine Toronto doing it, and Hemel Hempstead or Gloucestershire All Golds as well?! Most Canadians couldn't even pronounce Gloucester! Most would never have heard of the towns of Wigan, St Helens, Warrington, Huddersfield, Widnes etc. - one would think the best approach would be to do what they started doing, a strong international game being used to attract interest with local clubs being developed underneath it. A long term strategy but the international crowds were excellent.

The international focus seems to have been switched (low-key away games mainly) and the Canadian clubs seem to have been left to their own devices whilst the previous financiers focus on this UK bid. I can see the logistics working out OK as long as someone is funding it, but how long will the money last?

A quick search of "Toronto star Canada rugby league team" will find an article in that newspaper from October 2015, outlining the plan and people involved.
A search on Wikipedia now also throws up Toronto RFLC, showing Director of Rugby as Brian Noble, expected inaugural coach as Paul Rowley and CEO as Eric Perez.
I would post links but I'm not that tech savvy I'm afraid.
It certainly seems to be a distinct possibility now, but I am not convinced it will be financially viable in the long run. Especially with the proposed idea of playing runs of 4 games in a row in the UK and then 4 in Canada (and so on). Tough to build a core loyal following with those regular large home game gaps, let alone a larger crowd over time.

Canadians like grid iron and hockey. The end.

Has anyone thought about the players when they came up with this stupid idea. Toronto may stay 4 weeks over here. But British teams have to travel to Canada play a game, fly back, deal with jet lag, train and play a game the following weekend.

Absolutely crazy idea. I would imagine the cost to fly out a British team to play over there would be upwards of £25000. So half a million pounds to support this.

Paid for by the Canadian backers as I understand it. Although I have to say I struggle to see how this works apart from the initial profile it will give RL

how are part time players going to be able to play in the games.Its a lot of time off work

Quite right, they are not, without the risk of losing their main source of income. Its all well and good if the backers say they will cover the players losses but employers won't put up with them having at least 3 days off per fortnight. I will be writing to the RFL with all these questions. I wonder if they will have any answers even if they do reply.

Does anybody else find it ironic that we are in 2016 and still talking about Broken Time and potential loss of earnings for players? The shrinking world and technological developments apart I wonder what those involved back in 1895 would have thought of this?! Plus ça change!

They probably have some very big sponcers in the pipeline, wouldn't surprise me if one was an airline.Timezone is the same as New York -5,expentant stay is Friday play on Saturday return home Sunday.Possibly up a couple hours earlier than normal Saturday/Sunday but not really an issue.

Thing I find amusing is how they think American footballers wont have a problem adapting to the game.

Stupid idea. Not bad for Toronto though, play a team at home each week for 4 weeks whose players have been awake since 2am Canada Time every week. Then they get a 4 week stay to acclimatise for their 4 games here. Stupid idea.

Forgot to add, how many players would have problems getting VISAs to go to Canada. Its difficult if you have a criminal record. Drink driving is a no no. Although you can get in if you pay em $200

Rubbish thinking from a game which was started to look after the welfare and rights of players. Imagine a part-time 17stone prop sitting on a coach to Heathrow for 4 hours 3 hours checkin and then 8 hours in economy seat before being ground to a 70-0 defeat getting you in good shape for 15 hour return journey and work on Monday if you can make the Saturday night red eye back to Blighty.

Oh and then there's postponed matches and challenge cup and complexities of the playoffs. (and it can reach 45c in summer)

remember the good old days when players had to get off the coach and walk the last couple of miles to the ground

Better walking 2 than 3500 though

And baseball! In theory, Canada is ready made for rugby league because they like physicality. Getting it known and understood is the issue. 99% think rugby is rugby union.

I would also be surprised if a major Canadian sponsor was waiting in the wings to spend a shedload of cash. Surely there are more sure-fire ways to get an ROI than that? They have been able to get Fosters on board for the international games, though, don't know how much $$$ are involved.

To respond to another post, American Football players are nowhere near fit enough for RL and the vast majority would probably struggle to adapt to the spontaneity of the game and the ball handling.

can recall Blackpool having a American football winger playing for them for a few seasons his name was Chuck Wiseman

Personally I would fly from manchester in about 7 hours to avoid the Heathrow journey. If they are funded and bonded then I wish them well, Canada will love RL