This is taken from the SL website

"Will a club from the Championship definitely be awarded a licence?

Yes, at least one Championship club will be awarded a Super League licence, provided it meets the minimum criteria"

rlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/page.php?id

To say my post is stupid and then say that (in bold) in the same post is hilarious!

Last time I checked, the Racecourse Ground is in Wrexham, North Wales. Check a map. It is a vastly superior ground to Castleford's. So there is one reason.
Another reason is because they are an expansion side, and are underpinning development of the international game with the work they are doing in getting Wales up to scratch (look at the interest Wales getting into the 4N has gotten off the back of Crusaders good year in SL). And also, if rumours are to be believed, Sky want them in, which means more money from our biggest backer. Something that few of the smaller traditional clubs would ever be able to achieve.

Again, Harlequins are another expansion club that Sky want and are underpinning the development of the game there. If they went, we lose everything there. If Cas/Wakey/Salford went, it'd be picked up by one of the many SL clubs in those areas.

And not to mention anyone that thinks Catalans don't bring much to SL shouldn't really be taken seriously! How can you have a whinge about people's grounds and fans compared to Castleford when they beat them on both counts (even with a reduced capacity due to ground redevelopment work this year).

But yeah, my post is stupid...

I know they had a rule to allow overseas bids, but I thought they had to apply at the same time as the Championship clubs?
Do we know if this is the case or not? Any links anywhere?

Plus he called me stupid. Not happy!

This is RFL ' operating rules ' we are discussing here , they are vague by nature [ allowing a ' subjective ' decision on them ] , and seem to change almost daily at the moment

I thought I'd read that championship clubs who met the criteria could apply and one of them would be selected at the start of April. Then all of the SL clubs plus anyone else who fancies it (including the aforesaid championship clubs who didn't make it first time round) could then apply in April and the decisions of that round would be announced in July.

Can't find any links to back this up, though. And in any case, they make it up as they go along.

There's been newspaper interviews with Toulouse officials in the past few weeks stating that they expect to know what's happening in 2012 in July - so they are certainly intending to apply. And they are using it as leverage to get the city council to commit to ground improvements.

The RFL Operational Rules state

I do recall this actually.

So basically, you are always in with a shot, but for the best chance to get in you need to win the NRC or reach a GF to be able to apply in the "guaranteed" window? So could say Sheffield and Leigh theoretically apply in April?

If that's the case, then to be fair it isn't actually that bad a system. In fact it's a pretty good idea in that it rewards the clubs that have performed well by giving them a far greater chance of a license (which people argued for) whilst still giving hope to those clubs that have built a good business but didn't quite make it on the pitch and also expansion sides (which is something that people were arguing was a flaw of the "NRC/GFinalist" route to a license"icon_wink.gif. Licenses should prioritise those who have achieved targets on the field first, and then look for clubs with "potential" in addition to, not in replace of. Seems a good idea (which probably means I've got it totally wrong!).

Alrightie then;

1. Wigan
2. Saints
3. Warrington
4. Leeds
5. Huddersfield
6. Hull FC
7. Hull KR - although I would suggest a possible ground share with FC (sorry)
8. Crusaders
9. Castleford - if they can get a stadium, I would suggest allowing Wakefield back in if they groundshare.
10. Bradford
11. Widnes
12. Salford
13. Harlequins
14. Catalans
15. Toulouse - if Mimmes can get upgraded a bit, go for it.

1. There is only 14 places. You can't just put 15 in. You're going to have to kick one out, don't be indecisive
2. Hull KR won't be sharing the KC. They had their chance at the start, but I very much doubt FC and City would allow it now (they have voting power on decisions like this).
3. Where's Mimmes?!

No , the only way a british based Championship club can apply is if they have satisfied the on field criteria

No and No

A british based Championship club can only apply if they have satisfied the ON field criteria of winning the NRC or making a Championship GF

A club outside the british Isles can be ' invited ' to apply by the RFL

Why is it pretty much nailed on?

If Wakefield are playing in a fancy all seater stadium at the start of 2012 would you still think that?

Didn't think that was the case
Would it be better if it was that way?

i.e. guaranteeing a place for one of those that satisfied the on-field criteria, and offering a possible additional place for anyone that may have an outstanding case (as difficult as it would be, but if they wanted it to be easier they've had the chance on the pitch)?

No I wouldn't think that.

But I'd say it's pretty much nailed on that they won't be, which is why I think it's pretty much nailed on that they'll be the ones to go.
But that's only "pretty much nailed on". Still leaves room for "extremely slim chance!"