I thought we did have promotion and relegation?

We do, but I was unclear, I,m implying that relegation could be as a result of occuring a couple of 48-0 losses via vaccination rules.

I also dont see the point of Catalans playing for the Superleague Champion title, when their chairmen said they won't play in a grand Final again unless its conditional of having a aussie. ref.

The league is a bit over 80% according to reports and Wakey are at exactly that based on Carter in the press so it's not them. I'd be very surprised if any club was 100% but there will no doubt be some more affected than others.

But contract renewal time will be tricky for players, especially this year, if they haven't had the vaccine. I can't see any club going for them except at a steep discount. Well maybe Leigh but they're the GB News of the league, and about as well run.

Catalans are now 100%.

I should imagine another 4 to 6 weeks here in the UK we most probably will have a fair amount of herd immunity, France another couple of weeks further down the line. Come mid season clubs playing in France might see relaxed rules its probably at the start of the season clubs (Wakey, Wigan,Hull KR,Giants) playing at Catalan and Toulouse could be disadvantaged.

With Catalan and Tolouse being advantaged. It’s really bad timing only weeks before the season starts as it doesn’t allow players to be vaccinated who may reconsider with the sudden change. Whichever way you look at it Catalans and Tolouse stand to benefit significantly based on the change in rules. Up until a few days ago Uk based teams expected to be able to field players (as last season) regardless of their vaccination status.

While I get this isn’t within the control of Cats, Tolouse it’s hardly a level playing field when promotion and league trophy’s are up for grabs. It’s not as if the unvaccinated players can be made to be vaccinated as it’s hasn’t become an issue till this change and in the UK it’s not compulsary you have to get the vaccine.

It’s just poor timing a few weeks before the season as even if the players were to consider being vaccinated they wouldn’t have time to get their second in prior to making the early rounds.

Not sure what the answer is but I’m sure there will be all sorts of debate on this on Thursday.

Maybe it’s to move French clubs home games to the latter part of the season allowing other 10 clubs the time and opportunity to get double vaccinated. I don’t know.

If a player is unvaccinated then they and their club and their fans have nobody to blame but the player themselves.
There is no scientific or logical reason for avoiding the jab......it's just petulance and misplaced arrogance.

Firstly it's only an advantage to the French clubs if they have all their players vaccinated. Otherwise it's disastrous. If they have then that's to their credit.

Secondly this was expected and had been trailed for some time so whining about it being some sort of surprise is not really true. Indeed I'm sure Carter and other club bosses will have been using the likelihood of exactly this when pressuring their employees to do the right thing.

There will be no changes to the fixture lists to accommodate players who haven't followed basic medical guidance. They will not be able to play and it hurts most those players' teammates, clubs and the fans of those clubs. That's unfortunate but actions - or inactions - have consequences.

But you cant force players to vaccinate. Maybe in France you can (I don’t know) but not in the UK that I’m aware. And I guess the clubs are in a position where when contracts were agreed that it was expected that unvaccinated players would be able to play in France like the whole of last season allowed. You cant guilt players into having the vaccine either because France have changed their stance on it 4 weeks before season starts. It only now has consequences due to this change that’s happened this week. It may have been trialed in France but it hasn’t for the uk or the uk based clubs.

Now if the RFL have stated all players must be vaccinated then that would be a different matter but I don’t believe they have. If clubs had been made aware of this possibility months prior by the RFL so they could consider vaccination on players they sign then that’s also tough if they’ve ignored it. It doesn’t appear that’s the case on the face of it.

It’s not any of the clubs fault but it does have an impact on the game. I don’t know whether anything can or will be done but in the very least it needs discussing as it will be no doubt this week.

I’m tempted to lump on for Catalans top of league finish with this news though. I had them down as 1/2nd place finish but if they’ll be facing teams at home missing a few players from each team it’s tempting to bang on a few quid.

What is the situation with other sports? Rumour is that novax = no play at the French Tennis.....is it the same for footballers, cyclists and union?

Nobody is saying you can, and no you can't in France either.
But like I said, actions have consequences.

If any club hasn't known this was likely for at least a month then they really aren't doing their jobs properly. Indeed I think the likelihood of it would have been circulated to them some time ago given this is not by any means a surprise move.

I guess we will find out as more news comes out. Whichever way it’s spun it looks as though cats and tolouse stand to benefit on the pitch (certainly for the early part at least). Certainly a huge boost to Tolouse it helps them get some early wins.

Whilst it appears Catalan have a high vaccine take-up I've heard nothing from Toulouse. We therefore have zero evidence that their squad, already thin, isn't going to be severely weakened by having to play all their home games without several players. It's bizarre to just assume this will be beneficial rather than deeply detrimental to them.

Having read that it applies to Toulouse and Cats players too then you may be right. It remains to be seen and we will get more news as the season gets nearer no doubt. I’m sure I read that Catalan have 100% somewhere.