According to my research, the following Welsh based clubs all played professionally, and competed in the Northern Union or RFL- Aberdare, Barry, Ebbw Vale, Merthyr Tydfil, Mid-Rhondda, Treherbert, Cardiff 1951/52, Cardiff 1981-84, Bridgend 1984-85, Pontypridd and South Wales 1996.

In addition, the following Midlands, North East/West and Southern based clubs have all played professionally, yet eventually disbanded Acton & Willesden, Streatham and Mitcham, London Highfield, Kent/Southend Invicta, Carlisle, Newcastle upon Tyne, Coventry, Mansfield, Scarborough and South Shields.

Add to this the recent nomadic nature of Fulham/London Broncos/Harlequins and Celtic/Crusaders, together with their low attendances, one would have thought those powers that be, would have long since concluded that, professional RL does not work in Wales, the South or far North.

Someone woke up Headhunter, he's angry you know

Yes great moderator is Headhunter, only resorted to personal insults twice

Anyway, heaven forfend for actually stirring some serious debate as opposed to which bus I'm catching to next weeks game, I'll see you around folks

Ralph Rimmer stated, in an interview in League Weekly a couple of months ago, that without a London Club the deal on offer from Sky would be worth around half it's current value. So direct from the RFL you can put a figure on it. Now try taking away that proportion of the Sky money from each of the Super League clubs and tell me which ones would survive as full time professional.
I'd doubt Bradford would be able to so just from a selfish point of view we need that presence in London.
Unless of course we cut the money available to players or you have an alternative suggestion for funding the current level of wages?

I have to agree with Frank...get the game sorted in the areas that do give a toss and then lets start to expand in a structured an progressive manner. Not by planting a team in a random area and expecting it to be an overnight sensation.

I've often said it's like taking an RU franchise and getting it to play in Hull and expecting the local sports fans to turn out en masse to support it.

I appreciate that there needs to be a presence in London but the current set up isn't working and needs to be looked at before it's too late.