Taken from sporting life
The Co-operative Championship could be expanded from 11 to 14 teams in 2012 with entry dependent on clubs meeting minimum standards, if proposals put forward by the Rugby Football League are accepted by the clubs.

A consultation paper which will form the basis of a shake-up of the divisional structure below Super League for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons has been circulated to Championship clubs and the RFL hope to have final ratification in March and to announce the make-up of the league in September.

The size of the Championship will determine how many clubs participate in Championship One but the RFL say they will seek expressions of interest from clubs currently playing outside Championship level to join the third-tier competition.

It is proposed that promotion and relegation between the Championship and Championship One will continue up to 2014, after which the RFL could also consider promotion and relegation between Championship One and the Conference Leagues.

Cup competitions, including the Northern Rail Cup which kicks off this week, will remain an integral part of any new structure but are likely to move to within the Championships season.

The RFL say that, although central funding will continue, under the new proposals the size of hand-outs will be more performance-related to factors such as a club's contribution to the sport and its business management.

Ralph Rimmer, the RFL's chief operating officer, said: "There are indeed some radical changes in there but I have no doubt that these proposals will allow the RFL to maximise the return on its investment and improve the stability of clubs by encouraging stronger business management."

In other words, The Championships are to become Franchises?

I wouldn't particularly want franchising but we need more home games so increasing to 14 teams is a good idea

It sounds like the championship is.

I think champ one is to remain the same with P&R to the next league down.

The way I read it:

- up to 2014, only promotion/relegation between Champ and Champ 1
- after that date, ALSO, relegation possibly between Champ 1 and below

There will be a one time reshuffling at the end of this season, where some franchise type criteria will need to be met (as opposed to simply finishing in the top 3 or 4 of Champ 1.) But there have always been certain minimum requirements to go up anyway. All sounds reasonable to me (can hardly believe I am saying that).

The actual statement from the |RFL therfl.co.uk/news/article/20862

The actual statement from the |RFL therfl.co.uk/news/article/20862

It'snever what the RFL say its what they leave out that puzzles folk

Fred , everything they ever say puzzles me , and the rest of the world as well , they talk absolute bollox , then you have the ' Emporers new clothes ' followers who pretend to understand , but are just as confused as the rest of us really , they are just too arrogant to admit it

Another way to prevent Tolouse from getting relegated !! LOL!!!

You raise an interesting point Snowy - is it possible that a second French club could appear in the Championship. To Fred's point, what they DO say, does not rule out that possibility.

Also what this appears to be saying is that there will not be promo/relegation from our league this season, which does make the Champ 1 season a little less meaningful...

I imagine Whitehaven are chuffed to bits.

Not half..what a time to go tits up.
I hope they can regroup and get back in this league.
A strong whitehaven would make this league even better imo.

I'd love them to apply that rule to SL clubs. Most would stuggle to get tuppence.

Who is Ralph Rimmer. Just another overpaid professional justifying his existence by coming up with a lot of nonsense. Fact is that Rugby League is 2 divisions of 14 with one up and one down each season. Simple as that.
Until the powers that be realise this then the game will continue to decline.

He is just the mouthpiece , the monkey to the organ and its grinder

Currently the Championship is the most competitive wide open league in RL.
Basically on field it works.

Off field clubs struggle massively for support and media coverage.
By closing the league are we led to believe that the clubs and the RFL feel this will force gates up and increase media exposure, equally will adding 2 clubs increase the intensisty of the competiton



For me those 2 questions are very important and ones that the games governing body and the club chairmen need to look at in great detail before making any kind of decision.

In other words, the fall guy, for when the **** hits the fan over the latest franchises. (e.g. if Widnes don't get in; or when a SL team gets "relegated"icon_wink.gif

Championship One could get exciting, if no new clubs show an interest. With 14 in the Championship, we'll be down to 7 in Championship One.

As for Toulouse, I suspect they weill lose interest in Championship RL, fairly soon, especially if their SL dream is not realised.

How about tinkering with some of the finances?

I've just done a few quick sums.



The Championship average last season was 1670 per game or total of 16700 for 10 home games. Obviously.

The average cost per ticket is about £14 not including discounts. I keep hearing folk in this town say 'for a quid more I can watch SL rugby'. Fair comment.

If a 50% RFL subsidy was granted based on historic averages, then that £7, over 10 league games would add up to just under £117k per club (using last seasons crowds).

For 11 Championship clubs thats £1.3m a season. A full division. Not one club, 11 predominantly heartland clubs in towns that help feed the game as a whole. It's peanuts compared to what gets given out in SL.

So, what is best spent....£1.3m subsidy to one SL club to p*ss away on foreigners and journeymen or [ihalving the cost[/i of watching Championship rugby which in itself should make the game far more attractive to latent fans and newcomers?