Having been there myself I would support your huge over-estimate of the crowd. There is clearly some politics involved here. For a 19,500 capacity stadium, we estimated 8-10K based on what we saw. For a revised (??) crowd of 14,800+ to be given is clearly taking the pee.

It was still a marvellous occasion though, despite a lack of local interest.

I saw the whole stadium during the match and 14,000 was my prediction. Both main stands were virtually full for a start.

Yep and look how that ended.

Do you expansionists never learn, how monumentally stupid and easily swayed are you sheep. How many paid anywhere near full price and how many would actually turn up week on week, get real.

Seriously you want to jettison a real club like Cas for a fantasy team like Tolouse - people on the VT, press and Redhall won't be happy until they have finally destroyed this great game.

Billy was being sarcastic Vasty. But I get your sentiment.

He said licensing is a good system that keeps clubs ' safe ' , this lying coniving,cheating licence system has damaged RL possibly beyond repair

Agreed. I predict that the sport will die within 18 months unless we bring back automatic promotion and relegation immediately. Also Catalans and London must leave Super League for us to have any chance of regaining the sport's former glory days of the 1970's.

The sports Glory Days will never return with or without P and R or licencing, most sports are witnessing the same, RL however doesnt have the numbers to lose any of its members, still 8/9 clubs will be sufficient to put together a team to lose to the Aussies every year

Good post. Lets look at it objectively (rfl ish...)...The English national team need a good strong French national side to provide similar intensity to state of origin, yeah right, its Catalans in disguise.
Support...a couple of students from leeds with a catalan flag.
London broncos, harlequins whatever, what have we got since Fulham...Louis McCarthy scarsbrook.
Also I did,nt realise Toulouse was the major central capital of everything that is going on in the world at the moment, no wonder fev, fax, leigh and Sheffield have,nt got a hope...

FYI, Cas had 3k at one game this year In all seriousness i like Castelford, one of the best junior developments in tha game. Play entertaining rugby and great atmosphere at their ground.

However i can't see why Toulouse shouldn't be allowed in. They probably won't get 15k every game, but even if they get half that, that is a lot more than a lot of other heartland clubs. It will also help the French national team which will in turn help the international game which will make the sport stronger.

I also agree with Headhunter, unless we bring back P&R, the sport will be in a lot of trouble.

I think they have been OK - I wouldn't say they have been a revelation. After all, since their inception in 2006 they've finished bottom of the league twice and only a couple of seasons have they looked capable of challenging.

I think having one French team has been a good decision in the short-term, however, I think the ONLY way that France will progress as a national team is a strong domestic competition.

If Toulouse and Catalan can draw a TV deal playing in a professional competition like Super League, I am sure they will be equally drawn on a fully professional French competition along with sponsors.

It may take time but Super League is hardly a glowing blueprint for a competition. But aspiring French kids have only got Catalan as an option to showcase their skills. Imagine having 10 clubs to choose from across the South of France with real derbies.

I think the longevity of the game relies on strong domestic competition - not some ill-thought out plan to parachute random European clubs in to this competition.

Not necessarily Castleford. I'd rather see the RFL remove poorly run clubs that have previously cheated the competition by spending their cash on players rather than their tax bills. You know, like Wakefield.

Not necessarily Castleford. I'd rather see the RFL remove poorly run clubs that have previously cheated the competition by spending their cash on players rather than their tax bills. You know, like Wakefield.

If you're willing to invest the €30,000,000 needed to create a full-time French Elite competition then go ahead

I think he was taking the p*ss, fella.


So without any info whatsoever, you've made your mind up. Why get real when you can just bag any good news instead?


In what way are Toulouse a fantasy team? Last time I checked they've been around since 1937 - a whole 11 years less than Castleford.

Were Catalans a fantasy team too? Are Castleford more of a real club than them?

I could understand if someone was suggesting Paris again, or Edinburgh or Dublin. But Toulouse is an established RL area with a club that doesn't have a competition to meet its ambition. They aren't a pin on a map.