There's been an issue ever since it was annouced Stobart would not be continuing with the sponsorship of SL, 18 months or so ago.

You would assume that it would be announced at the same time as the confirmation of the structure. Company X would like to be be part of the bright new dawn, working together with RL to move forward to a better future, proof positive that the new structure is attractive blah blah blah, and conveniently avoid the fact that it is the uncertainty surrounding this that is causing the delay.

Maori TV shows it here with Maori commentary which is slightly better than Eddie and Stevo!

The announcement may not have been made as the SL clubs haven't yet voted on it. They have a meeting next week so we may hear something following that.

Isn't the issue with having betting or alcohol companies the fact that they're not allowed to be advertised in France? So Catalans wouldn't be able to adopt the title sponsor. When Wigan had Mecca bingo they had to play with an alternative shirt sponsor, same for football teams playing in European competitions who have alcohol/betting companies as sponsors.

It doesn't stop Heineken sponsoring both the RU European Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.

Fair points, though I think the Heineken cup is referred to as something like the H-Cup in France, and there will be no posters/shirt sleeve badges or anything depicting the Heineken logo. And the champion's league has Heineken as a partner, but it's not actually the title sponsor of the competition is it. Either way, I can see why this would put companies off, and also why the RFL may be less inclined to take a deal from alcohol or betting companies, when one of the teams can't use the main title sponsor. Wasn't it rumoured that there was an offer on the table from BetFair when they took the Stobart deal?

The Tetley's Challenge Cup? To a lesser extent the Kingston Press Championships?

I'm merely speculating that this could be a reason, you sponsor a 14 team league and one of the teams can't carry any of your branding at their home ground. I assume it would also have to be blanked out on any French TV coverage as well. The CC is only going to consist of at most 3 games in France (dependent on Catalans being drawn at home for 4R, 5R and QF), slightly different to the title sponsor of the main league competition. And the Championship leagues haven't had a French team in them since KP took over the sponsorship.

Why no pitch sponsorships like in the NRL?

Rovers do.

They're sponsored by a green paint company. Their brand is all over their pitch.

Edited for accuracy

In due course, the sponsor will I believe be announced as either npower or e.on. Just can't make my mind up which I think it is at the moment.

Will the RFL have the right to suddenly increase the sponsorship fee several times a year due to 'market forces'

A blue-chip energy company? What sort of image does that send out about our working class, family orientated game in these times of austerity? It's a slap in the face to the good, honest, decent, hardworking, decent, good, hardworking rugby league fans everywhere.

There you go Gutterfax, Starbug, Leaguefan et al. Just copy and paste that in when the announcement is made. You're welcome.