Forgive me but I'm not really getting your point here. I don't see that it matters that they would displace two full time clubs because looking at it from that point of view then that would filter money and talent down to the second division so surely that would be a positive. It would make that league better quality and raise its profile even just a little which is a positive.

The Canadian teams would be full time so you are just replacing like for like and if they pulled out then two teams from the championship would be promoted up and everything would be the same as it was before. Look at the other year when 5 teams (I think) were relegated to league 1 and two went down to championship, bit of an upheaval and everything carried on fine, it would be just the same. It wouldn't collapse the entire system if a couple of teams decided to leave.

It's a good job that we have clubs like Wakefield Trinity who have spent the last two decades demonstrating that they can grow the sport, grow their supporter base and grow their commercial revenue, all the while improving facilities for both players and spectators.

Some of us want to see this sport succeed as a professional sport. A few clubs aside, the heartland clubs have shown that they're completely incapable of growing the sport. It's time to start talking to people who might, just might, be able to do that.

Whether or not other clubs have been keeping Wakefield aloft, there are a string of disappointed creditors who have effectively been keeping Wakefield aloft in one shape or form - including HMRC.

Montreal and Toronto, along with Toulouse, could be the salvation of rugby league in the Northern Hemisphere. These three clubs could finally turn rugby league into a credible international game.


I look forward to the day, 20 years from now, when we talk about the Big Six: Australia, New Zealand, England, France Canada and the USA. Papua-New Guinea and Fiji will be just outside the Big Six.

It will never be credible internationally until there is a successful team in London

You are probably correct.

As a principle i like the idea of a northern hemisphere league involving teams from Canada and possibly the USA.

As a sport we have to be very cautious though. I don't think we can just put a Canadian team in unless we return to franchising, they should earn the right through promotion like every other club assuming the model stays the way it is now. If they were put in they would have to be protected from relegation otherwise it is a pointless venture.

Long term I'd love to see a northern hemisphere competition with teams from the US, Canada, Celtic nations and other European countries however it would have to run as a franchise with feeder leagues in each country, this then runs the risk of alienating a lot of clubs and their supporters.

It's about time the RFL set a long term direction and plan for the sport and actually stuck to it, this HAS to include a set international calendar.

I agree.

The major plus point with franchising should have been the option of being to add any new/strong clubs that could sustain a competitive club in the comp, together with dropping any failing franchises.
Unfortunately, we have now moved to a whole new convoluted system which in theory allows for promotion and relegation but, this becomes an automatic barrier/deterrent for any new players.
Of course, many wold argue that clubs should be in the top flight on playing merit and maybe this is right but, it all depends on whether we want the game to expand and compete seriously for advertising and TV revenue.

Lets face it, despite being told that we have a cracking TV deal with Sky, we are getting very little from advertising and TV rights compared with other sports.

What we have done with the sport over the past few years, is to reduce the number of clubs in the top flight and make it more difficult for any additional clubs to join the party and this is at a time when the party line, is to expand the sport

Superleague teams sorted, what about the canadian team!

Because, people tune into Sky to watch us, no one cares about watching Wakefield except the 45 rugby league fans in wakefield. This means that SKY get the audience share they crave which means Wakefield get money from the SKY deal.

Kind regards

King James

By 'us' do you mean St Helens?