Have no real problem with Bulls and Gianst coming in to Calderdale. However its the way they have hardly promoted themselves that well in there own area. There are basically no new amateur clubs or much growth in playing numbers in Bradford and Huddersfield since 1996. Both are not Rugby areas and both clubs know its easier to get youngsters from a rugby area like Halifax than try and develop properly the game and the club in their own area. Both do a little bit of promotion in their own areas but clearly not enough.
Whilst Halifax have been lazy as well as being poorly run in that area and that has given Bradford and Huddersfield an open invitation really to make contact with Schools and even more so the amateur clubs. Things have changed but this will take time sadly for many to become regular fans of Fax and want to come down to the Shay.

London is huge. It can produce great players for a hundred and one sports.

But not Rugby LEAGUE, unfortunatley!!

To name but 5 , from how many MILLION ?????

RAH-RAH.

Think you have no idea on Rugby League in London as this is whats happening and probably more people are playing League in London than many other areas like Manchester, Liverpool, Bradford/Keighley/Skipton, Huddersfield & South Yorkshire which have Pro sides in the area or are very neat to Pro sides. I guess because its not talked about especially in Northern League circles many RL fans are in the dark as to whats happening in London and just see Quins and Skolars struggling but do not see the work underneath thatLONDON LEAGUE 2009
In 2009 the following teams are scheduled to participate in the London LeagueLONDON & SOUTH CONFERENCE DIVISION
Above that is the London & South Conference Division
London & South
Guildford Giants
Greenwich Admirals
Kent Ravens
Oxford Cavaliers
Southampton Spitfires
Swindon St George

RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE PREMIER SOUTH
Then above that is the Rugby League Conference Premier South
Bedford Tigers
Elmbridge Eagles
Hainault Bulldogs
Ipswich Rhinos
London Skolars A
St Albans Centurions
South London Storm
Portsmouth Navy Seahawks
West London Sharks

Then there is a Junior League System running-http://www.londonrl.com/tables/london-junior-leaguerl

HEMEL STAGS
Hemel Stags have been around for nearly 30 years and play in NL3.Hemel are currently involved with six schools in the Dacorum Borough. These are Adeyfield, Astley Cooper, Cavendish, JFK, Kings Langley and Longdean. Each of these schools receive coaching from the Stags both as part of the school’s curriculum and as an extra-curricular activity at lunch times and after school.Hemel Stags currently run three Age Groups for Rugby LeagueSOUTH LONDON STORM

South London Storm were set up in 1997 and in that short space of time have one of the best Junior set ups in Rugby League as they have basically have 5 different Junor clubs set up around South London!

First Grade (Rugby League Conference Premier)
Second Grade (London League)
U18s (London Youth League)

South London Storm run the following junior/youth clubs:

Croydon Hurricanes:* U7s, U8s/9s, U10s/11s, U12s, U13s/14s, U15s/16s
Brixton Bulls:* U9s, U11s, U14s
Wandsworth Whirlwinds:* U14s
Thornton Heath Tornadoes: * U11s, U12s
Addington Lightning:* U9s, U11s, U12s, U14s
South London Thunderbirds * A newly formed all-girls club.

There is more teams in halifax than the london league

There is alot played in London and still harlequins cant attract fans

Probably due to London Transport system and road network being a pain in the especially on the weekend! It can easily take well over 2 hours from many parts of London including South London to Quins as its a hike from the nearest Underground and Bus Journey is a nightmare. Driving in London is a joke!That said Quins should get bigger crowds!

Doesn't seem to affect quins union crowds that. I suspect that many in london dont know RL exists, partly due to lack of effort by the club but mainly due to lack of interest by a union bias media down here

But how long have Quins been around and playing at one venue? The problem with Quins, Broncos/Crusaders/Fulham is that they have never really stayed anywhere long enough to build up much in the local area for a number of years. As far as I know they have played at Craven Cottage, Chiswick Tech, Barnet FC, Brentford FC, Charlton FC (Two different eras!), Stoop, Crystal Palace (2 Different eras!), Hendon FC as well as the odd game at Chelsea FC and Wealdstone amongst others. No team is going to properly develop under that-and I am surprised Pro RL has survived so long as it is a joke to attempt to run and develop a club when virtually every 2nd year you move to a new ground with no officies to properly run out of!
Really Pro RL in London and other "Expansion" areas has been done on a shoe string budget and run by a group of clueless people! Paris SG, Southend, South Wales, cardiff Blue Dragons, Mansfield/Nottingham for example. If the game and the RFL are going to do expansion it should be done properly-but never is sadly and why Expansion is often laughed at.