Clubs play in Toronto once a season, all expenses paid. That means that a player would need to take 1 maybe 1 and a half days off work. Once a year. Every player has looked at this fixture as soon as its come out because this is the scenario - either (a) Travel to Toronto with all your mates to play rugby staying in a hotel and having time to prepare for a game as a full time professional club would with a captains run Friday and video and and full days preparation for a game Saturday at 5pm or (b) work on a rooftop or in an office or on a building site Thursday and Friday knowing your mates are all over in Canada and then watching them on Premier Sports on Saturday whilst you're at home. There is not a single player in Champs 1 or 2 that would sit and moan that 'We don't get back til late Sunday and I'll be jet lagged for work Monday'.

Look at Darts 15 years ago - and now. There are people across the country shouting about what a game RL is, it's popularity in the South West is massive, for example. Gloucester have recently had a RL v RU Masters match and there is another very soon. Wigan and Saints have ties down there. The spectacle of RL is phenomenal but it is marketed completely wrong and those that direct the sport, and unfortunately a large percentage of fans are stuck in the past and won't budge. Toronto is a fantastic step forward and will cost clubs nothing other than time - which they are all more than happy to give. There is no negative, and if it doesn't work, Toronto go away and no-one is any the worse off. But there is constant moaning about 'why would you bring them in rather than Manchester Rangers who are in the heartlands'. Because they haven't the pull to get full Live TV coverage for the country, because they don't have a large budget to grow the team, because they will never sell over 7500 season tickets (which the wolfpack are now up to), because they don't have the marketing and vision of an innovative staff.

I read yesterday, again negative comments, about why RL would have Prince Harry as its Patron??? "he's never shown any interest in RL" "he's always at Twickenham" "We don't want to copy RU" "We don't want acceptance by the establishment"

Everything that is wrong with RL. Harry loves the sport of rugby. He loves the camaraderie, the contest, the challenge. He is arguably, the most popular royal with those under 40 and wants to be involved in RL. He has a worldwide appeal. And we want to tell him to do one?

Love him or loathe him, Barry Hearn has taken a non-entity and turned it into a spectacle. And we have a game light years ahead of a darts match.....it's not rocket science.

Cheers the weekend package sounds perfect for me-i'm not a real travel buff.

Do you know if it's feasible to visit New York from Toronto?

I've not done it myself, but I imagine so. You'd be able to get a flight, which takes only around 90minutes (or a 9hour drive, which isn't as horrible as it sounds).

St Catherine's is on the way if you chose to drive, which is a big wine producing region if you're into wine. Then you have Niagara Falls, I wouldn't recommend staying here, the town itself is a bit Blackpool-esque. Then a drive through New York State.

When I went over there in 2015, we landed at Boston & hired a car and did a loop back to Boston over a couple of weeks via Montreal & Toronto. The roads up there are big and pretty much empty outside of the cities, and you're driving through virtually untouched forest/countryside.

Completely doable Hudd Shay. Did it myself last month. NY for 9 days then one hour plane journey to Toronto. Coach to Niagara for the day, great experience but agree it's pretty commercial but unforgettable. Took in a Blue Jays baseball game and couple of nice beers as well.

CHEERS! Food for thought.