Rugby League was re-named in 1996, and is now called [i"Super League"[/i.

The name [i"Rugby League"[/i still exists at the lower Championship level, but that is dying by the day and is regarded by Super League chairman as [i"a waste of time and money"[/i anyway. Pretty soon (20 - 30 years) the term [i"Rugby League" [/imay only exist at an amateur level.

Nothing outside of Super League has any importance or meaning any more. Even the Challenge Cup is quickly losing its lustre.

Very rarely do I use emoticons, but post such as these usually deserve the following two:

I dunno, there seems to be interest/hope in Championship 1 expansion.

That really isn't going to make much difference to struggling Championship clubs. It is just more likely to put an even greater strain on them, though extra travel costs and little or no away support.

Championship clubs are struggling to entice anything but the die-hard supporters, because there is no P&R and a system that will always be rigged in favour of expansion clubs.

This may well be the way to go for RL, but try and tell that to the supporters.

My initial comment may have been a little tongue in cheek, but it isn't too far wide of the mark. Rugby League [iis[/i Super League now.

Is that because it is the only professional level?

Below the top level we have always seen clubs struggling to survive and we have lost plenty of clubs over the years. When are these halcyon days of a healthy second and third tier of financially stable and growing clubs you are remembering?

So all these threads about the Four Nations are discussing Super League? I would have said they are discussing International [iRugby League[/i

Lower league clubs are struggling far more these days, with 2 or 3 clubs going into administration or out of existence every season. We are now in a situation where there is no P&R, and even being the best team doesn't gain a club access the the top flight. That does affect the way you can sell it to the public.

I am only stating the situation as you have done yourself, that lower league RL has become irrelevant. Well that is finally filtering down to the support of lower league clubs, and we are looking to be in a position when RL, outside of SL, will be played exclusively by amateur clubs. Without some source of significant central funding, it just doesn't look sustainable, even at semi-pro level.

There are clubs that have been at this level whom, via P&R are now contributing to Super League. Those days may be at an end soon.

I am not saying that the licence process is wrong for the sport as a whole, it could be the only route left open to us (I do admit that I prefer P&R though) I am merely stating the situation as I see it.

Aye, such as it is

I think that is massively disingenuous to pretend 2 or 3 clubs are going into administration every season since franchising, we have had only 3 and they have, unfortunately, coincided with a massive worldwide recession.

I have never argued the lower leagues are irrelevant and in the next few years we will have more clubs playing semi-pro RL not less.

Play it indoors , give them ' blades ' and motorbikes , along with metal studded gloves

ROLLERBALL

They could franchise it around the world to places Like Houston , Tokyo and Madrid

Stupid thread

Oikball.

Very appropriate.

open rugby