Is it absolutely certain that at least one current Super League club will lose its place and that at least one Championship club will get a license? The Wikipedia article cited above simply says that Championship clubs which win the cup or reach the Grand Final are eligible to apply not that they are guaranteed a place. People occasionally say that the RFL has promised that at least one Championship club will get a license next time around but I can't find any official statement to that effect.

there was def a comment to that effect. Seems crazy to me, what if teh Sl club is stronger than than the CC1 club, what would be the sense in relegating one to repalce with a weaker one?

That's not the case though is it? There's about 4 SL clubs on a weaker footing all round than Widnes and about 3 behind Leigh. Plenty of scope for kicking out. And that's how it should be. That's the whole point of the system - not only to improve those clubs without licenses but also to make sure those with them don't sit back and fart their privilege away. 2011 will be a wake up call for some clubs and rightly so.

You have been smoking something seriously bad for you, if you honestly think that!

Get a grip! No matter how many times people post dross on here, it doesn't make it any more truthful or likely to happen.

There certainly is room for improvement, but there are not 4 clubs that Widnes could replace (and the RFL haven'the balls to get rid of the one they could).

There are no clubs that Leigh could replace.

...... and sure enough - the first reply from a fan of one of those clubs

Yes, a fan from one of those clubs that aren't behind Widnes (and definitely not behind Leigh).

There are about 12 such clubs Sherlock!

I can see no obvious reasons.

I think they'll announce all 14 successful applicants for licenses around June/july 2011, just as they did in 2008, whether those clubs are in the Championship or SL at the time.

A club moving into SL for three years from the Championship needs time to prepare, true – but so will any club moving into the Championship for three years from SL.


riots? wtf??

=#8000FFYeah, you've seen how Cas fans get after a few bad refereeing decisions so how do you think they'd act at games if they got kicked out of SL?

The difference being that they weren't removing any clubs from SL - just adding 2 new ones. The only controversy was Crusaders ahead of Widnes - whether you think it was a good reason or not, there was a logical argument for this. The Widnes club reacted with dignity, and there is a good chance their patience will be rewarded this time around. Depriving a club of their current status is going to be more controversial, and it is going to ruin the last 1/3 of somebody's season, throwing players' futures and that of the club into doubt. There is no way around it and riots is a bit ott, but there will certainly be anger.

The RFL have confirmed that at least one Championship club will get a licence.

They have never said that a current SL club would lose it's place in order to accommodate them.

However, the recent decision by the SL clubs to remain at a 14 club league kind of means that's now a certainty to happen.