I don't know anyone with any interest in RL who thinks that Catalans inclusion in SL is anything other than positive.

You can have a view about their use of overseas players, but I don't think they're any worse in that regard than some English teams have been in the past.

I suppose part of that is whether you think English players count on their quota?

I think your right, they seem to have a lot of overseas, but no more than anyone else, and they at least attract a higher quality of overseas player.

They have the same number of overseas players as Widnes.

About sums it up. Like you say in a ideal far off world it would be great to have Catalans playing in a French version of SL, with at least 8 full time teams. If that were to ever happen it would do wonders for NH RL and RL in general.

The ideal situation although not likely to happen would be for Catalan to be part of a fully professional French league.

I'd love to see an English SL, a fully professional French league and a Celtic league consisting of Welsh, Irish and Scottish teams. The Challenge cup could then become a European Challenge cup with all leagues entered. We might even see a half decent international game if that happened. Unfortunately the sport simply doesn't have the required investment potential to even think about something like that so for now Catalan in SL is a must for the game. It's a great shame the Crusaders never kicked on in the south of Wales.

I always felt like it was an admission of defeat when the Crusaders went North to Wrexham. They ought to have been able to garner enough interest in rugby-crazy South Wales: if the NZ Warriors can do it in Union-mad New Zealand, why couldn't league gain a decent foothold in South Wales too? Back when the CCF was at the Millennium Stadium there seemed to be quite a bit of interest from the locals.

Interest is irrelevant if there is nobody to finance the club. Crusaders would've been a success in both North or South Wales if there was anyone there to put the money in.

I would love to see them in the GF. It would guarantee i attended this years final and i would be in the Catalan end no matter who they are playing

If at the end of this season Catalans get to the Grand Final, and Toulouse get promoted to the Championship (as I expect they will), it will be a huge boost for rugby league in France -- especially if French free to air television then decides to broadcast from Old Trafford.



If we do get those two outcomes, then the RFL must call for an application from another French club (my preference at this point is Avignon) to join League One in 2018, and a fourth French club (my preference is Paris) to join in 2019. If that happened it would then be theoretically possible to have four French clubs in Super League by 2021 -- just in time for the World Cup being played in the northern hemisphere.



The key for this to go from pipe dream to reality would be for Toulouse to put money into a junior system that will outstrip Catalans in production numbers. Those combined Catalans and Toulouse juniors would not only be the production line for French players for Catalans and Toulouse in Super League, but also for Avignon and Paris as they rise through the ranks. Both Avignon and Paris would need their own junior systems, but the Catalans and Toulouse systems, having been set up earlier, and likely having a surplus of players, would keep the two newer clubs supplied until their own production lines kick in.



The way for this to happen quickly is for the RLIF to put some funds into French junior development now.

Remember last year when Englands 3rd team beat Frances 1st Team 120-0 or whatever score it was. The rfl should put the money into cumbria because even Kells 4th team wouldnt lose 120-0 to England

Regards

King James

They might do if Richard Agar was coaching them.