Looking back Derek B handled the issues regarding the two deserters really well despite probably feeling quite bitter. Everything he wrote in his Observer column proved spot on.

No he can't. Did OK for his first game back.

That aside, if you wanted to attract new fans in a different part of the world by playing attractive rugby, why would you hire Brian Noble?

It seems that is an RFL stipulation to at least one new club every few years.

See Crusaders and Gloucester.

Thinking about this, and if the Canadians are funding everything it will cost them somewhere in the region of 1.5 to 2 million quid just in travel and visiting team subsistence. Thatvis before there own costs in coaches and players. Why?

For Rowley to leave in the manner that he did I would imagine that he must have been offered some serious money.

Also looks like we were spot on months ago when we said several of our players and some of our coaching staff were being 'approached' by Rowley even though he denied having anything to do with the Canadian bid at the time



Morals and ethics indeed

Is the physio going

Despite my morals and my ethics I'll do anything for money.

PM me if you are interested. But it'll be at least a £1. No timewasters please.

Oh and I have to be home by 11pm.

Just had a pm offering me a tenner if I would go and support the Pies.

Despite my previous post and the big money involved for someone on a fixed income. I replied loyalty was more important to me than money.

I knew that was you hanging round on street corners in Toulouse Frank

Rowls will only accept this particular post if the name of the new venture is called Toronto Ethics and Integrity.

They are the Toronto Morals

They will do a deal with an airline at x places per flight when the fixtures come out at about £10k for 25 seats return, it will probably be covered by a sponsor, maybe the airline themselves - worst case will be about £500k, and PT players would need 2 days off work once a year for an experience of a lifetime.

This is why we need two tens in SL and parachute Toulouse and Toronto straight into SL2 for the sake of the sport

I am bit worried with your use of , 'airline', 'flight' and 'parachute' in the same post.

Investment in a service? The product being Rugby League the service being the TV network.

Not seen any mention of a TV Network yet or even an airline. Can't see many Canadian fans coming over here or indeed coming to watch other teams as we can week in week out.

2 years max. Expand the game within our own shores.

Really does seem daft this Canadian idea. Two years ago the RFL was going about expansion the right way starting new expansion clubs in Hemel, Gloucestershire, Oxford & Coventry down at the bottom letting them grow naturally. Now before these clubs have even had chance to get their feet of the ground they're being hit with the massive expense of going to France & now Canada! Every penny of travel expenses would be better spent helping British League 1 clubs to develop. I've no objection, in fact think it'd be a good idea, to move the French league to summer & involve them in the League 1 play offs for promotion to the Championship where there's more money & the expense isn't being put on our smallest clubs. And I definitely think we should be having more internationals involving Canada & the USA, maybe even a 4 nations out there, 3 years between each World cup, a 4 nations in Europe, one in America & 1 in Australia. However despite constant failure it seems we've resorted back to the idea that if we plonk a club in some far flung outpost RL will suddenly become a major international sport.

Still not sure where our paymasters SKY stand on this - would have thought they would want domestic game and potential subscribers as a priority.

The 8's would be a nightmare for Toronto and Toulouse (and the sky broadcasting unit and commentators) if they have to play home and away for consecutive weeks.

Sky would not be at all interested in a Canadian team until they reach the Super League and even then they still may not be interested. I see no merit in this 'expansion'.

Agreed it is daft AND immoral and I hope it flops.

Frank, isn't it your 'horlicks & bedtime' now fella ?

Surely the way forward is city based franchises on top of 8 strong existing sides. It's worked for big bash cricket and slightly differently for Wasps. The future for family sports is more likely to mix a game with a meal or other entertainment. Grounds with good access to city centres would surely get a good crowd with the right marketing.

Totally agree Man City, Liverpool, Leeds, Hull, Toulouse, Toronto, Paris, London East and West, Cardiff, Newcastle and Sheffield would be a brilliant SL comp. Leaving us to rough it with Wigan, Wire, Saints, Widnes etc in a regional RL comp.

As we found out though under franchising there is no incentive to do well. Most teams are unlikely to win so they're better off pocketing the money & gradually declining year after year. The quality of the competition drops & competitiveness between the top & bottom teams disappears & interest in the sport trails away. RL has been there, done that & found it the disaster it could only ever have been. The way forward is for SL to have the best 12 (or however many) teams in Britain (or Europe or wherever) and that's it.

The RFL was on the right track a few years ago with the new English League 1 expansion clubs they just need more money (as oppose to being made to trail half way across the globe). Couple that with regular well promoted internationals is the way to grow the game.

Not sure what information you're going off here but this isn't some kind of RFL initiative, it's being 100% organized and funded by the Canadians including accommodation and away travel for the visiting British teams. As far as I know the only thing the RFL have to do with this is accepting their application to play in the UK competition, which apparently was unanimously voted through by the League 1 clubs.