If Catalans did go down, where would they go down to?

Could the UK part time clubs in the lower division actually afford to have a French team in their league?

Good question. Could they also afford to have London in their league?

Widnes themselves argue they are an example of how franchising works. Im not sure 20 year old plans that never even came to fruition are much argument against that.

I'd worry about your own "super franchised" competition instead if I were you.

NRL Total Attendances Round 1 & Averages
2014<----------------------
2013: 158,678/8 = 19,834
2012: 149,888/8 = 18,736
2011: 201,205/8 = 25,150
2010: 165,554/8 = 20,694
2009: 168,483/8 = 21,060
2008: 183,627/8 = 22,953
2007: 185,051/8 = 23,131
2006: 161,353/8 = 20,169
2005: 159,614/8 = 19,951
2004: 138,214/7 = 19,744
2003: 123,405/7 = 17,629

I think the opposite. There's a massive market for RL in London because there's a massive market for sport in London, and particularly a market for new or 'event' sports as the Olympics have shown. However, it will take an owner who understands marketing and a governing body with a long term view who want to invest in it. You only have to look at the impact the NFL, or even major RU games at Wembley have in the City at drawing attention (and corporate sponsorship).

The problem with RL in London is there's been no ambition shown. Why the RFL aren't either taking Magic Weekend or a nines tournament to the Olympic Stadium, or working with the Broncos to take a double header there of teams that non RL fans will recognise (Broncs vs Leeds, Wigan vs Saints for example), to get in there before RU and create another showpiece to draw the attention of corporates (in addition to the Challenge Cup Final) is beyond me.

Unless RL cracks London it will not crack the media or sponsorship, and what pains me is that the RFL are no where near doing the things that are needed to come close.

It's a great idea to throw away years of investment on the roll of the dice of one poor season. Hopefully the refs will "favour" the dragons enough to see them safe and the development of the game in France not pished away.

Don't know if anyone saw BBC2's Mind the Gap: London vs the Rest? Worth a watch on iplayer, especially the bit at the end about the potential super city of Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds combined.

Less Groupon, Wowcher and BOGOF cheap ticket offers?

Oh, great idea!.

What if giving Catalans "favours" on the field resulted in Hull K.R down?

Keep out of the sun you clearly have subjected yourself to too much of it.

Rewarding mediocrity (providing favours for the chosen few) has always been the most significant tenet of the elitist franchising lobby.

I'd change the rules to keep them up.

Before people post these things, could we do some reading? The rfl have already answered this question here

The only way we could have the new system without destroying clubs like London or Les Catalans or any other club from outside the existing heartlands is if they dont lose the funding should they be relegated.