Controversial but i think if we don't get the crowds and we don't get in superleague in the next round of applying,I for one like Griff think we have missed the boat and will never get in,A serious thought would be to have a "South Yorkshire" team,Im a Sheffielder through and through but if the fans arnt coming from our city and the only way to get into the super league is through a franchised team then i'd be for it,It would have to be done right (Unlike lastime which was a joke and not worth talking about)South Yorkshire is a big area and has the potential,junior development big area (teams already in place),As much as it sounds like a no-no now,I seriously think it would be somthing to consider in the future.A South Yorkshire team in time could draw 6k + crowds,If the fans let it happen,Many won't and don't want it,Fair enough,It's not like football were we have the hate of Wednesday/United,I dont hate Doncaster,Put them together and other South Yorkshire rugby fans and lets have a super league club.It would in time still be our club,but bigger and better.Just a thought.With the dropping crowds in the championship it's going to get worse,Would this breath new life into the area and rugby,The Eagles are doing a great job but we need crowds,I think the next two years is make or break,Heres hoping the crowds come and we do get there on our terms,I fear we be forever chasing the dream.

No, no and never. I'd rather support a Sheffield team in the Championship than a South Yorkshire team in Super League.

as eso stated "i would rather support a sheffield championship team than a south yorks s.l team"that would be the stumbling block.i do actualy see where your coming from,but if a south yorks S.L was to be given a franchise,would both sets of eagles and donny fans follow the super league team or stick to there own teams.and i think that is where the problem lies.lets face it south yorks just doesnt want a super league team.so it looks its going to be the same old,same old.its shame realy!!!.

It's the best, maybe only chance of SL in S Yorks but it's never going to happen.

I doubt that you'd get a majority from either club wanting this.

Let's just hope we can get a regular S Yorks derby at some point in the future.

From a Dons fans point of view AGREED !

Where would you play ?

If you play at Doncaster, it's a Doncaster take-over.

If you play at Sheffield, it's a Sheffield take-over.

If you play at both, the team has no home.

It's a non starter and personally I'd rather saw my own arm off, I'm tempted to lock the thread.

Lock the thread

Good debate,As i said before if it was done right id be up for it,Theres only so much championship rugby you can watch,At least in years gone by you had a chance to get there via finishing top of the league,That gateway has been shut (wrongly in my opinion),The best days of the Eagles were in the super league,Beating saints,Leeds and Bradford quite regulary and beating wigan and winning the challenge cup,Im sure the dons fans will say the same when they had there season at the top.

But it wouldn't be the Eagles would it?

Depends on how it would be done.

This is a pointless thread, i personally would never entertain a joint club. Im from Sheffield and i support Sheffield, no one else.

And your plan is ......

Havnt really looked into the planning stage,If there was enough interest that would be a starter then a plan formed,Nobody wants it,roll on Swinton away 2023.

This.

No one wants it because there's no plan and there's no plan because no one wants it.

So what your saying is Griff,If someone did come up with a "plan" and it was good that may change peoples opinions which were against it at the start,(Cut arms off etc

) and could be a possibilty?

I don’t think for one minute that the words ‘Sheffield’ and ‘Doncaster’ are now ,or will ever be on the RFL agenda for Super League membership. I am happy to follow my team as they are now but if anyone seriously harbours any ambition of wanting a Super League club in South Yorkshire then a proper merger would be the only way forward. I don’t see why it would be a problem, after all I would not be a Dons fan following Sheffield, and you would not be an Eagles fan following Donny, we would both be South Yorkshire RL fans. I don’t think this would ever happen, but it is a shame because in the end both sets of fans will lose out. We will both rattle around the Championship and CC1 for the next decade or so until RL at this level fades away and dies. Anyhow I off now to look up B & Bs near Workington, Whitehaven, Barrow, Gateshead, South Wales, Gateshead and London….

Speak for yourselves, we won't be going anywhere near CC1 anytime soon!

With the rate that clubs at this level are getting into trouble financially we'll be lucky if there are enough semi pro clubs left in ten years to make up one division.

Agree totally,Some long journeys next year,Cant see crowds being great,ie travelling support next season,I can't see us ever going into CC1

,matter of time before were all clumped together into one big league.Clubs are also not going to carryon paying big wages for no chance of getting in super league,Like i say theres only realistically four clubs and they are only going to have the door shut on then so many times before they cut cost.

When i mentioned CC1 i was referring to the Dons.

Oh good

you really have got some long journeys next season rupert, we only have to go as far as Leigh

I was expecting that the RFL may put us in a London + Scorpions group for the NRC but as other posts have suggested we may not be having groups.

Leigh will only have one away match next season which is not in Yorkshire, which is against Swinton at Leigh!!!

Which will be like a home game. Bizarre.