They'll go well as a reserve grade for the Dragons.

Really hope they make a go of it this time around.

There are more French players in SL than I've ever seen before, and the quality in the younger players coming through at catalan seems to be improving year on year. We might not have seen that filter through to the national side yet, but it has to have an impact in time. The vast majority of these players wouldn't be in SL without a French presence.

Glad they are coming in at Champ 1 level. What's the salary cap in league 1? I seem to remember clubs had the opportunity to spend an additional £100k if they could prove they could afford it - which I assume Toulouse could. Can they be competitive against the lower championship clubs when the split occurs? I know the championship salary cap is £1M but i assume those at the bottom of the championship are no where near spending that?

I believe that it is £400,000.

Doubt any of the heartland clubs are worried about Toulouse's inclusion, though ofcourse that depends on what sort of shenanighans go on in terms of loan/dual reg and "exceptions to the rules"!

In fact if I owned Oldham, York or any of those clubs, the travelling costs would be my biggest concern, though I guess they're a concern for Skolars, Hemel, Cov' and Souths too!

I wish you did own York. Anyone but the egotistical idiot currently in charge. Well anyone but him and Marwan.
If only travelling costs were York's biggest concern. Travelling to the likes of Coventry is probably cheaper than York playing at home at the moment.

Oh come on!

You know as well as I do the finances in RL are rock solid!

We were told do by " the esteemed leaders" that the SKY deal was the greatest thing ever and that everyone would benefit.

Why anyone should doubt this is beyond me!

Once again, what on earth are you on about?

This guy gets it!

*High five*

Really short sighted by the people at the RFL.

Toulouse are double the size than all clubs in lg1 and as big as some top champ clubs.

Yet by putting them in lg1 they will again see Toulouse be crippled by losing players to a decrease in the salary cap and travelling expenses.

Only way it would work is to do what Catalans were able to do and give them a SL place with a full time professional squad and a chance to find top sponsors and a TV deal to fund the club.

Good on Toulouse for giving a go again

I don't know, what is Toulouse' current wage bill? Can't see them spending £400,000 as is, so why would they be having a salary cut!

I find it weird that in 2006 the took a massive gamble to include Catalan into SL without any way of knowing how it would turn out. With no prior club from the south of France ever playing in English club rugby and the only other French club being a disaster.

Yet fast forward ten years they are only willing to let Toulouse into the third tier even with Catalan being nothing but a complete success story. And Toulouse arguably have everything you would think to even surpass Catalans successes