It made me laugh and roll my eyes. Just read an article in League Express about the play offs. It states that the Canadian High Commision has stepped in and told the Canadian boarder/immigration to grant visas to all players who have to travel to Canada for the play offs. This is after SL teams have been moaning that players in the Championship have been refused visas if they have had minor police convictions. So during the season proper teams have traveled without players or less than 17 because of the Canadian immigration policy. Along come 4 SL teams who may get relighted or can’t take their full squad because of the said immigration restrictions and suddenly someone speaks to the Canada House in looks like it’s all sorted. Thatnks RFL for shafting the lower leagues again.
It also made me laugh that Rowly has said he and the team are looking forward to coming home as they have been away for 9 weeks. I thought you were a Canadian team Paul, you are home!

Laughable! Beyond a joke.

I've also read League Express and the Rowley comment also made me laugh (quite literally, I did

when I read it). Further shows what a total farce it all is. He also goes on how some of the Toronto players are ready to see their families again. It won't be long before more and more of the Toronto players cool on the whole project ………….. a blind man can see that the Canadian "satellite" club is unsustainable long term. And at least Catalans and Toulouse have some French players and consider their respective towns as "home".

Apparently, some of the squad are suffering 'welfare issues' because they have been away from home for so long. Shame on the RFL for making them play all their away fixtures in one block, followed by all their home fixtures in another block! Oh, hang on a minute.......!



On the issue of visas, it has been a big problem for visiting sides. Last weekend, Rochdale only had ELEVEN players who initially obtained visas. Fortunately, the rules were relaxed in time for another SEVEN to make the flight. Not only are visiting teams having their flight times & destinations dictated, plus their accommodation, and training facilities, the Canadian entry rules have ensured that all visiting teams, up to now, have been unable to field their strongest squad. That can't be right, surely?! Luckily, Fev should now benefit from the visa relaxation, but I wonder what the outcomes might have been, had London, Barrow, Leigh, Batley, Dewsbury, and Sheffield been able to field stronger sides at the Lamport? Certainly, in London & Leigh's case, there might have been a different outcome.

Apparently, now that the Canadians have relaxed the rules, I am led to believe that Toronto shouldn't encounter any entry problems to Wigan Metropolitan Borough, or the Peoples' Democratic Republic of West Yorkshire, should they make it to SL next season!

I just so hope this charade of a club get promoted so all those SL fans sledging championship clubs for moaning will get a dose of reality. Bring my back licensing so they can keep the Wolfpack!

Assuming we beat Rochdale (don't under-estimate them!) then I would love Fax to play Leeds at home (for obvious reasons) but secondly Toronto at home, just to show what a sham their shammy home fixtures are. Their last away fixtures before swanning off were ………….

23-12 win at Dewsbury
26-18 win at Batley
24-22 win at Toulouse
24-16 win at Fev
18-17 win at Rochdale

OK, all wins, but where's those thrashings? Bring it on, get Toronto down the Shay!!

Yes onward and upward for the Wolfpack, but hopefully get a bit of kicking at the Shay before that. Oh but they start moaning about jet lag if they have to play home and away consecutively.

A post on the Total RL Fans Forum suggests that the RFL are considering the Twp Fixtures as follows
AUG.2 Games AWAY
SEPT. 1&8 HOME Games
SEPT.15 AWAY Game
SEPT. 22&29 HOME Games

I dont know how some of these players cope when i was in the RAF i was regularly away from Home for extended periods in one instance for 9 months but somehow managed to cope

Although of my own making, I have lived outside of the U.K. For almost 10 years, I have missed my family, friends, the Fax etc, but somehow managed to survive with e mails,Skype, and other forms of communication, boo Hoo for 9 weeks, like Bentlyman says , serving personnel in the armed forces do it for several months at a time.

When the England cricket team are touring through the winter they are away for months.

I thought they took their families with them. What's more, they're representing the England nation but the Toronto argument is that their players can't wait to return so one could also argue where their attachment is for Toronto as both a place and a club?

All of them? The ones with children?

No - they come out for a couple of weeks holiday, maybe. Hardly practical for the kids to miss half the school year, is it ?

No need to laugh and roll your eyes