Barrow Raiders last weekend made a 7,000 mile round trip to Toronto to play their Championship game against the Wolfpack with just 14 players available to play in this fixture. Barrow said due to injuries and players unavailable they had just enough players for a team plus 1 substitute. If anyone had any doubts about the Rugby League losing the plot then this is proof and if you add in possibly New York and another Canadian team ready to join the league, the game as a spectator sport will cease to exist as we know it. Since Toronto entered the Rugby League any club visiting Canada cannot take players who may have fallen foul of the law and if in Super League next year this ruling will I suspect give Toronto an advantage as some teams will have to make team changes to get around the rules. After their long trip Barrow ended up getting relegated, with the way Rugby League is going I bet they are glad they will only have to go as far as London, Coventry and Wales next season.

Toronto was a stupid idea, is a stupid idea and will always be a stupid idea. 8000 miles or so for a league fixture is ludicrous for the travelling clubs and fans. Rugby League is like an elastic band, stretch it too far and watch it snap.

It’s always been an utter farce having Toronto hovering about, wouldn’t be bad if any Canadians played for them, but if they don’t pay their bills as reported then clubs hopefully won’t have to go there.

It's not a stupid idea, it's a great idea that was implemented by fools.

Toronto playing other Canadian teams = great. Toronto playing other North American teams = great if they can afford it. Toronto playing teams in Super League funded separately = maybe but only maybe. Toronto playing championship teams who are already semi pro = only in RL!

Toronto to place is also the problem because the climate eliminates a large part of the season. It’s would be a little tricky playing in sub zero temperatures and several feet of snow.
This means the early games would have to be played in the uk therefore how do you select which super league clubs would benefit from this and those that must make the trip and be subject to the Canadian immigration rules.

Like many I believe the likes of Toronto are welcome into the game of RL, but in their OWN league.
Absolutely stupid being in our leagues, France is stretching it but North America?!
What if the day come when there are only North American and French teams in SL - who knows what's down the line?

Like I say the early signs don’t do them any favours, hope they never see SL , play RL in Canada go for it. All they are are SL exiles creaming a good wage and most likely end up like Bulls.

The whole concept of Toronto, New York et al playing in a British league is sheer lunacy. If certain people want to promote Rugby League on the North American continent then why the heck don't they start their own league over there. By all means send Super League teams over there from time to time to play exhibition matches to help create interest but IMHO we would be better looking after the Barrows and Oldhams of this world.

Totally agree.

Really, the game wouldn't be better off at all. Besides, no Toronto wouldn't suddenly mean loads a dosh for existing struggling clubs. Falling participation numbers and an aging spectator base, the game needs to branch out. A NA league should be the ultimate aim, but that isn't going to grow out of nothing.

I've thought this all along. Separate leagues by nation, not hemisphere. If you want to play a foreign side make it part of the World Club Series.

No, Khlav. you're quite right, but RL development in Russia. Italy France etc didn't start by planting teams in English leagues. Canada and the USA are wealthy and savvy enough areas to start their own leagues, I'm sure. To see such once great teams as Oldham, Swinton and Workington struggling to exist whilst promoting clubs thousands of miles away is shameful. I could see RL in the USA going the same way as American Football went over here some years ago.

Dont agree with toronto catalan or toulouse myself

this reminds me of when our lad first started play rugby and we had Scarborough priates to play against, under nines played 20 mins each way, we'd travel 70 mile for game lasting 40 mins in which half the players wasn't interested in it some even didn't turn up ending up the side was short of players (no change there then) but we did decide to make a day out and was warmly met by the club but then the favour was never returned, the club never seemed to want to play away and it doesn't take someone long to realise the logistics of it isn't worth it

Suspensions and injuries reduce Barrow to 14 players because they have bugger all squad depth - blame Toronto

I do wonder with Toronto mostly likely on their way up if the SL clubs with bigger egos are going to throw a fit about scheduling etc and potential unfair advantages of a long run of home games to finish the season.

Does the away team funding also end once they come up? Imagine the fans will enjoy the first trip over there but some teams will end up going potentially twice in a season

it will be very interesting if Toronto do make promotion. Who is paying for the travel etc? as the point above states some teams will have to play them away twice, and they cant play in winter the weather is way worse than the UK. So the home matches will have to be over a shorter period.
Maybe it could be arranged like a magic weekend where Toronto play 3 teams on a Saturday and 3 more on the Sunday.

And back on subject its a disgrace how the RFL will allow established lower league UK teams to die at the expense of a team the other side of the Atlantic

In the not to distant future with American and Canadian teams bank rolled and in Super League the Championship teams will be as follows, Wakefield, Castleford, Hull KR, Salford, Huddersfield, Widnes, Bradford, Leigh, Featherstone, and Halifax. Let them get on with it I say, it would be like it used to be with proper teams not your plastic no history clubs.

Is it at the expense, would they have gone anyway?

I would think clubs like Wakefield Trinty will be pleased that a club like Toronto Wolfpack will make Super League next season
as they will not take any money from the broadcasting deal distribution that all the Super League clubs enjoy.
To replace a club taking their money out will benefit all Super League clubs next year.

At the back end of last season,neither Leigh Centurions or Featherstone rovers could muster the full complement of players - when they played each other,prior to intervention,and after other Championship clubs were short of players.

Maybe. Probably. What I meant really was the rlf should help Barrow etc and not just let them fold

It is a stupid idea and always was. It takes more players from the already small pool on the gamble that Rugby League will eventually take over Canada and they will eventually be developed. Besides the fact that we will already be dead by the time we see a significant enough rise in the sport in Canada, clubs over here will most certainly die and part of that will be due to reduced home gates against Toronto and other potential expansion clubs and the fact that they take players that could be plying their trade for them on loan or on contracts. It's a great holiday for a couple of players though. Another club with a multi-millionaire backer throwing his money at it and ultimately it will end in tears when he gets bored or realises just how long it will take for the concept to pull in enough support. The thought og going to watch my team against Toronto at home is not a very appetising one. Just like Catalan. Not to mention it is a heartland club that will have to make way for this charade more than likely. You can expand the game overseas but it will be at the expense of Rugby League fans over here. Guaranteed.

Not for me either...would much prefer to see a strong Cumbrian team...the likes of Toronto, New York etc will be the beginning of the end for bread and butter supporters IMO...what do us paying supporters know though...