Doubt Bradford will be in trouble this time around. I would be unhappy to see a recently sucessful side which has hit hard times recently be let to rot.

Cas & Wakey for me

hope Halifax get it. They should be reasonably good, but unlike Widnes their ground actually has some character and isn't just a copy of the JJB.

It won't be Catalans, Harlequins or Crusaders (I suspect) so of the others here's my brief critique:

Castleford and Salford seem to be well on with their stadium plans, which although that alone doesn't guarantee a place in SL, it's a big benefit. I'd be a bit surprised to see either of them drop out, and don't necessarily believe that a "newcomer" would offer more to SL.

Wakefield also have plans for their new stadium, and also have a good youth setup with their own kids regularly coming into the first team. This is their major plus, although they have been in and around the top 6 for a few years. Would a newcomer replicate their on field record within 3 years?

Bradford have a good history in SL, but that's exactly what it is "history". It's been a little while since they have been really competitive, and with falling crowds they should be looking over their shoulders. One thing in their favour is their return to producing their own players again via the academy structures, which is really good news after dropping this a few years ago. I'd be surprised to see Bradford drop out of SL.

For mine, I'd actually be surprised to see any of the possible newcomers displace any of the current incumbents as they wouldn't offer enough potential to make the change worthwhile. I hear what the RFL have said, but I'm not convinced that they will actually see it through.

Care to back up that comment with evidence ?

Sports grounds safety licences tend to be issued by the local authority, so I suggest you direct your investigations in that direction ....

By the way, 2009 saw the LOWEST EVER annual total of workplace deaths in the UK ... Perhaps there might be a reason for that ?

Waht about Toulouse in and have a Catalan Vs French derby ?

Crusaders out - Widness in.

It's also worth noting that the article says [i'AT LEAST ....'[/i and could quite easily mean two or even three clubs are off to the National League.

Maybe Cas, Wakey and Salford out and Toulouse, Barrow and Halifax in ?

I don't think the RFL would have the nadgers for that AH.

I'll lash my pants if Wakefield dont get a licence. Basically because their moderators are self manipulators.

who would quins play at MM?

Ambitious. That's what I'd like to see. (But realistic ?)

Not read all the replies so don't know if this has been mentioned. If the licence applications are due in next year, how can the RFL be certain that all current SL teams will not meet this criteria by that time? Or is it already predetermined that one current SL team is going to be sacrificed for yet another RFL experiment? Expansion is and has to be the future of the game but at what price. Widnes on the last application springs to mind. Even if the application are due in by the end of this year it still seems a bit presumptious that the RFL know at least one current SL club will not meet it?

Just kick Cas out and have done with it ....

It'll be wakefield I reckon, and to be honest, i'll be glad to see the back of the f*ckers.

If the article said at least 1, that means it'll be 1 team MAX.

The rfl always over-exagerate things and never really fully follow through with it.

they've said at least 1 to put the sh*tter up a few teams, but really it'll be no more than 1 team, if anyone loses their place at all.