The biggest shock about this is that people are surprised...

If I was the Chp clubs now I'd refuse to play them until the situation was clarified. This is basically handing them a meal ticket to SL and there's not a damn way they're better than Widnes

RFL press release, posted on their own website, at the time of Toulouse joining the Championship.


Quote: It has also been agreed that in the event that Toulouse wish to make an application to compete in engage Super League in 2012, the clubs must satisfy the same on-field performance criteria as other Co-operative National League clubs and appear in a Grand Final in either 2009 or 2010.

Cracking decision, despite the dubious tactics involved. Catalans have proven that French involvement in SL can be vibrant and attract bigger crowds than the Mickey Mouse teams would. It also directly aids the international game as it gives France 2 fully professional teams to draw players from instead of one.

The fans of teams outside of Super League need to look at why they were there in the first place. They obviously weren't up to SL and I don't see many having made an improvement since and for me none of the 'traditional' teams are ticking any boxes. None are well supported bar Widnes and they were financially ruined in SL, so it's hard to justify their inclusion.

For me the next SL franchises should be given to:

1 - Leeds
2 - Hull
3 - Warrington
4 - Wigan
5 - Huddersfield
6 - Catalans Dragons
7 - Bradford Bulls
8 - Hull KR
9 - St Helens (Subject to stadium)
10 - Castleford (Subject to stadium)
11 - Wakefield (Subject to stadium)
12 - Salford (Subect to stadium)
13 - Crusaders (Subject to location being finalised, crowds being acceptable and finances being in order and with realistic chance of survival)
14 - Toulouse

Now, that leaves 5 teams with question marks over them. I've cut Quins as I don't see their crowds improving. We cannot allow them to stay in SL with their crowds and I can't see how they can be financially viable in the medium to long term with those crowds either.

Of the clubs coming up there are only really Widnes and Leigh that I can see with the facilities and the setup to come up. But neither are strong candidates as neither managed to make a go of it when they were in SL previously. Widnes are the stronger of the two but their financial history will no doubt cast doubt over their validity. It's not like the Co-Operative Championship is full of well run clubs with the potential to contribute much to SL is it. Can you honestly say the clubs there at the moment would make any more of a go of it than a Toulouse franchise would or even a cashed up Paris franchise which has been rumoured to be interested in applying?

I wouldn't like to be making these decisions to be honest.

What and SL if full of well run clubs? Looking at that list - it would suggest not.

Saddened, it's a decent idea, if they had told everyone 18 months ago!
Teams have been busting a nut for what will be basically nothing just for a team who have been, lets be honest, crap to walk right though.

I agree, it's not what was envisaged when it was set up.

Leeds, Hull, Warrington, Wigan, Catalans and Huddersfield are strong.
Bradford, Saints, Cas and Hull KR would join that elite group if their facilities were better.

The rest need to improve.

Saddened and MrPhilB, you are members of the RFL board and I claim my £5. As long as your clubs are ok eh! It beggars belief how little fans of SL clubs care about the game in general. Come on SL fans, don't be afraid of ridicule from your peers. You really should care about the game in general, otherwise you may not have one in ten years time...or less

exactly - if the plan was to let Toulouse walk into SL in 2012, why make the point of announcing that they were operating on the same rules?

Good for you. I'm sure the RFL will consider your case thoroughly. Tres bien mon amis.

ive been saying this would happen

good on the RFL for doing it.

decades from now when RL is a much bigger sport it will be because of richard lewis.

not admitting toulose into SL next time would be stupid

well done RFL.

One thing i need to ask is why are fans thinking Widnes deserve to be in SL?

They havent won the coop championship as of yet, hence imo cannot be considered any more worthy of SL than Toulouse.

I also think that as the championship clubs wont let Toulouse into the northern rail trophy, it is unfair for that competition to be used for promotion purposes.