I think the RFL would have to ensure that any Paris club was financially underwritten for the three years of any franchise before they go near the idea. Another PSG fiasco would be a disaster.

But... the French seem to have a way of raising corporate and local govt finance that we can't match. With the right financial guarantees, Paris is definitely worth investigating seriously.

As an expansionist, I would love to see a second French team, and Paris is as good a location as Toulouse, if not better. The success of Stade de France shows that with time and investment, rugby, and therefore rugby league, can succeed in Paris.

no it isnt, an impartial view is one based on objective criteria,

and that would be criteria that wouldnt be biased in favour of English heartland clubs or objective criteria that allowed for the intrinsic bias for English heartland clubs,

if you want to pretend all clubs are in the same position, face the same issues, have the same opportunities and challenges go ahead, but it does make you look like an idiot

You sad get

Self sustaining as in Breaking even , you know , like a REAL ' business , you pay money to your employee's , they provide a product , your customers pay for that product and your business doesn't lose money

Stop acting thick , you have no need to

For once in your sad boring life , answer a simple bloody question

no, i dont expect them to have to break even i their first year, or even second year,

i would fully expect that the first couple of years at least would be loss making

i dont expect any club promoted to be breaking even or making a profit within its first couple of years

had you meant the club were in a position where that loss comes from internal rather than external sources, then yes, i woudl expect the club to budget to make a loss, and already had this covered with comfortable wiggle room

Excellent , have you got that from the RFL 's Franchise section

You can't really expect a sport club to be breaking even in their first year (some in 10 years) of a higher division. It's not important that they break even straight away. What is important is whether they have plans in place to eventually break even, when that will be, and how much investment it would need up until that point.

What I would also find important is how attractive that business would be to be taken over should the current owner decide enough is enough (i.e. what is rumoured to be happening at Crusaders). If they're losing too much and don't look like they'll ever see a return, no-one will take it, and hence the plug is gone. At least Harlequins have attracted backers.

If there is a high risk at a club, maybe a guarantee of some sort would be a good idea? We can't take a risk too big with nothing to come out of it if something goes wrong. If Crusaders go under it would be awful, and the RFL would be foolish to take a similar risk again.