I'll agree to disagree except to say the timing was somewhat fortunate.

If the RFL had been honest about what it planned for Celtic (and now Toulouse) do you still think 'bellyachers' would be going on about the 'franchises' 12 moinths down the line or do you not think they may have thought, its a risk but one that the RFL can't ignore, especially as SKY backed them.

I feel the future of Championship clubs is a grim one unless things change (have gates gone up this year- and if so have gate receipts matched those increase in gates......)
Next year we have the 'dual registrations' so we may have the scenerio of clubs fielding 5 or 6 players from who they had the last time around or clubs losing players for vital games (or gaining some).

I'll critise the club for many things Public Relation wise, but to be honest AT deserves a medal for investing in the club when he see's whats going on within the game these days - and lets not forget he'll see a lot more than any of us know of these messageboards.

Just watched B n A

Spot on phil Clarke

A total lack of respect for the RFL by fans and officials of non SL clubs

That is exactly what we have

Not usually a fan of Mr Clarke but well said that man.Stevo got me annoyed as usual

From the report on the BBC website

One aspect of this that hasn't been discussed is why Aussies are banned.

They fought with us in two World Wars, losing millions of their citizens. They share our culture to a large extent-it seems bizarre but I know they treat us in the same way!

(Presumably something to do with the EU)

depends on the granparents. If they were born inside the UK (includes Ireland where most of them came from anyway) then their grandkids can work here. The rest need to apply as non-EU citizens for a work permit. The lack of international caps is often a stumbling block with wendyball players and I imagine it was the same here.
The lack of right to appeal is, I believe, a breach of their Human rights and has been, in the past, successfully overturned, though I doubt they will be too bothered. They have their wages and will be going home as the Austalian Summer kicks in!

It's not because of who they are, which is what people are getting confused with.

It's beacuse visa's where done falsely, doesn't matter where your from or what you do, if you lie on your visa your in big do - do!

Thought they have the right to appeal, but only once they have left the country. Isn’t it only people, who have claimed they are under threat in their native country, that have the right to appeal whilst remaining in the UK?

They have been refused a basic right of appeal. The right to appeal a ruling is ingrained in UK law and the expulsion, being part of the original judgement is what is being appealed against. Therefore, a lawyer could argue this case to death and the players could remain here until the appeals process was complete......but they would be barred from receiving a salary during that period.
As has been commented on before, if one of them had hooks for hands and spouted anti western rhetoric they would be fine for another few years in a council house on 4k a week benefits


Makes no sense and I will be suprised if the UK boarders agency even bother investigating any other club in any other sport.....this was an "intelligence led " investigation meaning someone grassed them up.

Guilty as Charged!

Good! Bout team we cleaned up our own act and return to our status as most honest sport!

The Most Honest sport


Is that harking back to the days when we all left our front doors open, thieves got a good hiding from the local hardman and the pits were open?

Salary cap breaches, players up on assault charges, fans kicking off with stewards at games, plastic (or other) bottles thrown on the pitch.....and you worry about 6 guys earning a living, paying taxes and trying to help the game grow


You may live in Widnes, but I doubt you represent Widnes.......least I hope you don't.

Excerpt from the RFL's Operational Rules:

IMMIGRATION STATUS
C1:4:4 The RFL will not at any time accept a registration application for an "overseas Player",
nor register the Player until it has received a copy of the Player's work permit or
satisfactory evidence that such a permit is not necessary in which case the Club must
provide a copy of the relevant immigration documentation. In cases of dispute relating
to work permits or other immigration documentation or the need therefore, the RFL will
consult the UK Border Agency and/or the Home Office as appropriate and the Board
shall take their comments or advice into account but the Board shall be entitled to
determine the matter concerned.

Now then, is it not true that the fine for being an employer to illegal immigrants is £10,000 per person?

I'm sure this is something the crusaders could do without!

Anyway its all irrelevant as it would seem ALL is fine and Dandy in the world of SL and sod everybody else - a point that seems to be even fine with some of our 'own'

This is the problem....

it's Superleage v the rest of the world is it?
FFS, the game needs to grow and to do that, clubs get pushed aside. The only 2 clubs with genuine reason to be pi55ed off are the cougars because London replaced them and Widnes because Catalans had a safety net......the rest of the "deserving" clubs are all working on ifs buts and maybes


The game needs SKY.....SKY want expansion.....therefore the game expands or dies.
Simplez

I’m confused why/how have they been refused the right to appeal against the judgement? I would imagine in the case of illegal’s in general, if they left them in the country pending appeal then they’d never find them again. That’s why they can only appeal from outside the country.

There was a Police programme on TV the other day, and a Driver (a Chinese) was discovered to be an illegal, it said at the end of the programme that Mr Wot Hi Dun Wong was detained and deported 48 hrs later.

The game might die in London but it will always be played in this town, something your lot seem to overlook with your collective 'mightier than thou' condescending approach to it all.

At what level tho? Back to the level b4 sky bailed the sport out etc
Also why won't it be played in London too ? RL was played in London before sky.....or are you one of those who think RL only began in Summer era ? (sorry had to be done as this is used so many times against those fans that are new to the game and dare comment on such a institution as RL



)

Do you mean the Sky money that after 15 years has not produced ONE world class British half back?

I agree with this to a certain point. As I was disappointed about how it was done, especially with reasoning as it just fueled the mis trust of RFL clubs like ourselves. Though I think right decision was made, and had to be made.
Its just unfortunate that economic climate has turned (Man U for 1st time had season tickets available still as of last week), and also this latest embaressment for RL
The future of Championship clubs have looked dim for a while. The mindset has got to change by the clubs and fans. Risking the clubs future to get promoted is not "earning" it.

If we get a bigger pool of RL potential players then we have better chance of getting more competitive players on the international stage surely. Having lots of FT clubs in top flight servicing a small area (therefo less people) surely isn't going to get us anywhere.
The sport has changed so much since 15 years ago. The players with the pop bellies are now disappearing and are called athletes

Personally, I think this is getting rather emotional and confusing. CC were awarded a SL 'franchise', and I don't think they were ever in competition with us (Leigh) for that franchise. Unfortunately, the RFL were 'economical with the truth' about how the franchises were to be awarded - if they'd said that they wanted a Welsh team, that would have been fine. Let's face it, we weren't anywhere near ready for a franchise. (in my opinion)

Surely, what we have here is six individuals (and probably their employer) who have broken the law? The individuals have been deported, and CC will also be punished. (if found guilty) Of more interest, is whether the RFL will punish CC. (if found guilty) My bet is that the RFL Operating Rules will not have a punishment to fit this scenario. And no, that's not a CC 'conspiracy theory' - that's exactly what they found when Hull broke the rules (twice) with Jamie Thackray.

and when London went bust half way through the season thats why we now have the points deduction rule.