Yeah cos if you're a kid growing up in London who gets into RL your absolute ambition would be to play for the Broncos. If they go their ambition and interest is lost forever. None of this kids want to play for a club like Wigan or an Nrl side or anything like that

The might have an ultimate ambition to play for Wigan or South Sydney, but most 15 year olds wouldn't look further afield than a reasonably local club as their starting point for a pro career. If only as a stepping stone before moving to Wigan. If there isn't a professional club in London they're more likely to give up or switch to union rather than consider moving up north. And how many northern clubs have established scouting networks in the south?

That said, it might be time to accept that professional game just isn't going to work in London.

As a number on here seem to believe there is no RL beyond Bradford I don't see it is much different for London kids having limited horizons.

That's what would effect amatuer rugby league in the south east not London broncos.

Goo way to lose the argument.

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Bit uncalled for TT.

I don't think you'll find it much different on any individual club's board to be fair. Let's be honest the vast majority on here come on to discuss Bull's matters and would naturally tend to have their metaphorical 'Bradford hat' on when they do so. I mean it's not the VT..[



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Whether the SL club is the 'be all and end all' as regards amateur players I don't know but it's likely to make a fair difference. No Broncos equals no local pathway into the pro game, so it will screw up the elite end in the southern counties, that's for sure. For those who are only looking at a recreational level maybe not as much, but I wouldn't put money on it.

Ahhh the London question...

Honestly, I think they would benefit from a few seasons in the Championship.

Let's face it, we all know that a certain amount of your fanbase as a sporting club is attracted to, and will only show up for, a winning side. It's an ugly sporting truth that we'd all rather didn't exist, but true none the less.

So here we have the (almost) perennial cellar dwellers of SL, and if they're not bottom, they're there or there abouts. That's not going to attract fans, or local interest. And without a Salford-esque influx of players and cash, this isn't going to turn around any time soon.

However, put them in the Championship where (with no disrespect to the Championship sides) the standard is a bit more thier pace. All of a sudden you have a team that's much more competative. Fair enough, they might not be competing for silverware at top level, but if they're WINNING silverware at another level, surely this is going to be better for them as a club? Not only that but if they start winning more games per season than you can count on one hand, as a Londoner surely you're going to start paying a bit more attention. SL or not, I would imagine it's more appealing to support a team who's winning and competing, than attempting to fight off the wooden spoon every year. And if they manage to win promotion to SL at a later date, good on 'em.

I'm not sure, however, what you'd do with the gap they've left in SL, or what Sky would do in terms of cash, but as a club that would be London's best bet in my opinion.