Toulouse themselves want to stay in the championship. It's up to the RFL now apperently. Also aren't they aiming for two 12 team leagues? Keep reading different numbers. But if 12 that means three new teams. I have no idea which clubs are the most prepared to step up but going purely on expansion I'd like to see Coventry or Nottingham to see rugby league reach into the Midlands. CPC Bears to keep the ball rolling in Wales and give South Wales a derby. Plus Hemel Stags to give Skolars a derby.

Who would be the most prepared to step up out of that bunch?

Hemel Stags have submitted an 'Expression of Interest' for 2012.

Put Bristol Sonics in SL and leave the rest out. What do the Warrington Wizards offer in terms of expansion?

I heard something about the Wizards relocating a bit further into Cheshire to tap into a new market. That would be expanding the heartlands.

Bristol Sonics in the SL? Are you having a laugh?!

Surely there couldnt promotion from semi semi pro championship 1 to semi pro championship, eh, tb?

there were more than those 8 though who submitted expressions of interest...at least 13 including some from outside England.

where? dublin.scotland france by any chance?

Hope Coventry get in, would push on from the good work already put into the midlands area.

I'd like to see Bristol make the step up, I'd say they're the strongest side in this area for sure. All in all, whoever steps up, it's a good initiative.

You are sure to need a few pennies if you want to follow your team in championship 1.

London Skolars
Whitehaven
Gateshead
South Wales
Workington
Doncaster
Keighley
Swinton
Rochdale
Oldham

Then add teams from France, Coventry, Bristol and another London club.

If that sort of expansion is to take place , they need to find a serious sponsor , or some fairly hefty central funding , just for clubs to cover team travelling costs , its a good job the RFL dont force 1 st team squads to be paid minimum wage isn't it ?

Drop Leigh out of the Championship, (they've already been relegated but never had to play in Championship 1 so it's fair enough) and maybe Barrow, and then these teams will have stronger opposition to make the step up and also you'd think some better crowds than if the bigger teams were not there. Make Leigh a sort of training team whereby teams like Coventry use them as a stepping stone to make the next step.

Chris - that has to be the worst trolling attempt I have ever seen.

Back to reality - surely Championship 1 should operate on a regional basis with 2 Conferences and a GF play-off between the winners of each Conference.

Champrionship is already pretty much a regional comp without Leigh and Barrow anyway!

That is the plan for the RLC when teams switch to summer, but there's no reason for the Championships to operate in that way IMO. The point is to avoid segregating expansion clubs.