For once i think we've got it right with this World Cup, having all the tournaments side by side, it seems to be creating a lot of interest nationwide, and the viewing figures are very encouraging. If England could actually win it, who knows, it's about time we did finally expand the game in the UK as a whole. Toronto was fun while it lasted, but what we need is a couple of Richard Branson types to maybe look at having a professional team in Edinburgh, Cardiff, but do it properly, to be long lasting somehow, i know easier said than done, but we've had well over 100 years to expand and failed miserably! I know there's a lot of development work in areas of the country where RL is obviously not well known. The untapped areas in England alone, like the North East, E/W Midlands, the South West, need tapping into seriously. It would be very disappointing in say 10, 15 years if we have no top flight teams in these areas, because i believe there is interest there, and schoolkids upwards need to know there's an alternative to RU & Football.

Richard Branson was involved in London at one point if I remember correctly and it didn't go well

It did in the short term, they got crowds nearing 10,000, exposure, they did well relatively on the field, but that's just it, interest wasn't maintained and it fizzled. When Fulham first started they got crowds of 18,000, but it was a novelty factor, why can't we get clubs properly up and running apart from in Yorkshire, Lancs & Cumbria?!! When Football & Union were 'invented' for want of a better word, they didn't have the geographical spread and number of clubs they have now? They have grown their games nationally, we haven't, this World Cup could be the springboard for something, but we've probably said that before numerous times.....

Isn't the crowd record for any of the guises of the London club still the 15k Fulham got against us in that 1981 cup tie?

Not sure, i had it in my head they got nearly 18 when they played Wigan? You may well be right though.....

Having done a quick Wiki check, you are indeed correct Sir, although at the top it says Leeds, but then scroll down to the fixtures and it was just over 15 against us.