Spot on , something I have advocated for before , the lack of away support and localised marketing are two area's the RFL could really help the Championship clubs with

I must've been seeing things when I looked at the LER 1 results this season and seen Toulouse/St-Gaudens mentioned every week in the win-loss column.

St. Gaudens have indicated that they're now in a position to go it alone again - Adam Innes announced as the new coach, not clear where they're going to recruit a competitive squad from. The joining of the two clubs was only ever a short-term fix - it made about as much sense as merging Sheffield & Huddersfield

So the question is whether TO drop out of championship, field a reserve side in LER, or join up with Toulouse Jules-Julien to field a team.

Yep jonM, it's complicated mate.

I'm on your side mate all the way.

I don't really understand the aim of some of this. Whilst I wholeheartedly support Catalans inclusion in the Super League, what is the aim for french rugby league? Is building a competitive league in france not the answer? I don't understand how creating multiple european leagues (toulouse in the national leagues etc) is helping the game grow in France?

Can anyone shed some light on it?

I think the original plan was to create a performance pathway beginning with players in the Elite league, progressing to the Toulouse side, being picked up by Catalans and then ultimately being picked for France. Nice idea in theory, but as France don't play (m)any games anyway....*





*Don't want to start another Exiles vs France debate

So essentially, good french players go to toulouse. Catalan pick them up if they're better than first thought and then they go into the France team? So all this is doing is creating multiple levels of feeder teams which doesn't grow the game in France.

Pretty much.

France are supposed to play Ireland & Scotland this Autumn and it looks like they're planning for France v England at Avignon on 21 October (Friday night game). Not sure whether that's going to be a full England side in a warm-up for 4 nations - or "England Knights". They got 14000 at Avignon for France/Ireland last year - hoping to get 17500 capacity for England match.

(France are playing England in an international tomorrow, as it happens - first of a 2 match women's rugby test series).

It would appear Toulouse have already decided what's happening

They are 52-0 down at half time at Fev

Toulouse for SL anyone ?

well, at least they are taking their destiny in their own hands

when you know you're playing in a no way championship, what's better ?

I THINK THE BEST IS TO QUIT NOW and take hollydays.

Well they improved in the 2 nd half , they only lost that 38-10

90-10 final score

If the RFL want to continue to have French teams in the British domestic leagues, then in future they should look at adding 3/4 teams to the competition... for me Toulouse on their own had it hard.

The drawbacks to this of course is 3/4 more teams to pay for.

Cracking idea , kill both the Championship and Elite 1 in one foul swoop