If the NL1 clubs allow the inclusion of Toulouse to be a success by using it as a positive selling point for media, sponsors, spectators and players it will be a success. If they spend their time saying how terrible it is, bitching about the quota & relegation exemptions, complaining about away fans & travel costs; the decision to admit Toulouse will be seen as a mistake.

I wonder whether the NL1 chairmen want to make it a success, or whether some want a failure to make the RFL look stupid?

No chance once again we bend over for foreigners, if Tlouse had started in nl2 and worked up that would have been acceptable a bit but all nl2 clubs rejected them so nl1 teams showed how lily livered they are.

So:
- If they are included straight into SL it's unfair because they bypass the Championship.
- If they start in the Championship it's unfair because they bypass Championship1 AND it's too expensive for the other clubs to play them.
- If they start in Championship1 it's too expensive for the clubs to play them.

I suggest you either:
- Figure out a way to include a French club into the higher division which avoids the above problems.
or
- Admit that no matter how it happens you will be opposed to it.

Yes leave them where they are , unfortunatley they might not have anywhere else to play from now on as they seem to have p155ed off the other French clubs

What reasons were given for them not being allowed into the Lord Derby cup ?

I understand that the reason they couldn't enter the Lord Derby was that another team had been voted into their position which meant that the usual 32-16-8-4-2 format couldn't have been continued with.

So the Elite clubs we not willing to inconvienience themselves to help the club that has expessed a desire to move to a supposed better competition

Better hope they are a success or they might not let them back in if things dont work out