Which highlights the sheer absurdity of the entire situation.

Absolutely.

Of course, the likes of Featherstone, York, Leigh, Bradford etc could also feel that playing less matches would enhance their chances too. I wonder if they would be allowed to pick and choose their competitions, in the same way?

none of those clubs are being asked to put up bonds to secure there place in the competition though are they.

I've no idea. Can't be ar$ed reading the rulebook but I doubt they could be forced to participate.
Just to be clear I'd much rather Toulouse were in as it's fairer on their promotion rivals. Snowie, to whom I originally replied, seemed to be suggesting that their withdrawal somehow made them a less credible promotion prospect when the opposite is true.

Don't like the bonds though. That too is an unfair situation.

Well done to Toulouse. Putting up a bond is ridiculous!

I agree that none of the clubs should be asked to put up bonds. That is discrimination - and those clubs might just be better supported at Wembley, than one or two of our UK clubs!

However, I do not believe that Toulouse would have been asked to put up a bond to play in the 1895 Cup, or at the Summer Bash. Not participating in those competitions could give them an advantage over UK clubs, in the Championship.

I very much doubt that bonds have been demanded this coming season due to the furore of last, even if they were I doubt Toulouse as a Championship club would have been asked.

Looking at the facts we know. Toulouse have decided not to enter the Challenge Cup, the 1895 Cup & the Summer Bash & have requested & been rewarded with a home game instead by the RFL.

So, TO13 avoid any travel to the U.K for the Summer Bash & now have an 'Extra' home game instead, saving money & gaining an unfair advantage on all other Championship clubs. TO13 also elect not to enter both the Challenge Cup & 1895 Cup & avoid travel & costs again.
By avoiding all 3 comps they avoid any potential injury & fatigue issues as well as any travel fatigue & costs while also gaining more recovery time between games & so on.

At what point of all this are the RFL in charge ?
TO13 it would seem make their requests/demands & the RFL just say "Yes" ! Is the RFL a conduit in guiding TO13 helpfully towards promotion by their action/inaction ???

I'll stop you there...

from
rlhttps://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/50472532rl

I agree that TOXIII do seem to be able to pick and choose, but the reality is that London v Toulouse would have added little to the bash weekend, whilst the comment about Catalan covering shortfalls would point to Toulouse making the semi-final or better would be a costly exercise.
I am hoping to catch up with our resident French Poster Jean at the French Double header and have arranged my trip home in 2020 to coincide with it especially

To quote myself .... "even if they were, I doubt that Toulouse as a Championship club would have been asked".

My main point revolves around Toulouse & the RFL's inability to run a fair league, I would go as far as to say that they are actively complicit in aiding the potential promotion of TO13, would anyone be surprised if it were proven true ?

I had 20 years of "London will never be allowed to go down" and "brown envelopes of cash being bunged our way conspiracies, so forgive me if I'm not sprinting to jump on this particular train.
Toulouse will do what they always do....flatter to deceive and their away form will cost them in the end.

Well Warrington and St Helens didn't come remotely close to selling it out this year, and for that matter neither did Warrington and Hull FC in 2016. The less said about Warrington V Catalans the better, but I definitely thought Hull's first ever win at Wembley and Saints' first visit there in 11 years would have generated bigger crowds than they did.

Yes, I was at all three games mentioned before anyone asks.

Even if there was not a bond, any club has the right and free choice to not enter the challenge cup.

The RFL cannot force clubs to take part and that is a good thing.

In English football for example, clubs can choose to not take part in the FA cup or League Cup.

Is it, perhaps, that the CC Final has lost a good deal of its gloss now that the GF is the 'glamorous' finale to the season? Once upon a time it was THE big game but no longer.

I first went about 1971 and then and throughout the ensuing years it was the fans "big day out" we saved up for. Thousands of fans were neutral and many wore their club jerseys so it was fun to see if you could see and count jerseys from all the clubs. London was longer in time to get to and more expensive than it is now.

Times really really do change, now fans have Magic to go to and the Grand final is the real sell out(ish) showpiece. I haven't been to Wembley for many years but have loved Magic and the GF.

I disagree you can sell any event out "[ias long as you are smart and proactive"[/i there's so many many more events to spend our limited money on nowadays and the Challenge cup final has turned into something like Football's league cup, in reality for SL teams who can win this if they aren't going to win the Superleague. We keep it because it's a great Terrestrial TV showpiece that the Beeb show, which reminds people Rugby League is still alive and well.