Thanks for giving us a post, apologies for the troll getting at you in both his disguises.... Toulouse have a theoretical right to be in Superleague (Europe) but I can't see them [i"bringing a much needed injection of interest to rugby league both in France and here"[/i.

We know crowds are down when Catalans come here even if that's just on no away fans, notwithstanding many English fans disinterest in French clubs. With respect I don't think you can have it both ways If say Wigan went to play in France how would that do anything but seriously deplete the game here, and send a message that English Rugby League is dying?? How many borderline season ticket holders would renew if Wigan were off the Superleague Fixture list? How would SKY and English fans react if Wigan were not in the English game anymore??

In the 2019 season (the last before Covid hit), Catalans had an average attendance of over 10k

Wigans average has plummeted from 16k in 2011 to circa 11k in 2019. I know you hate the french, but you cant blame Catalans for that

Your team the Warrington Wolves, what’s their average?

Whilst the Donnyman searches for imaginary trolls, I'll answer the question for you.

Warrington Wolves average attendance in 2011 was 10,598 (according to the statisticians over at RLproject) This dropped to 10,431 in 2019...a 1,5% drop.
Wigan went from 14,833 to 11,420 in the same period....a drop of some 23%

For some comparison, SL averaged 9,970 and then 9,379...so about 6% drop.....but both Warrington and Wigan average more than the competition average that was dragged down in both instances by London

In the same period that Wigan lost 6000 fans, the Wolfs average has remained fairly static

The average attendance that Catalans gets puts a lot of heartlands clubs to shame.

Once Toulouse get in SL they will probably get similar attendances as Catalans

Just playing devils advocate here but, if Toulouse can generate decent crowds at home (as Catalan do) then, they are doing their job.
I fully accept that games with no (or very few) away fans lack some atmosphere, the "home" side should be responsible for their attendances.

As for "simple economics", imagine if the Rhinos had had to play all of their fixtures away from home for all of the regular season.
Toulouse's pockets must be pretty damn deep and whatever the arguments are regarding the inclusion of French sides in SL, they should be applauded for their efforts on the field of play this season.
To go unbeaten, with all games away from home is one hell of an achievement.

With regard to the "bigger picture", it's just a pity that SL is so far down the shaft with the broadcasters and that "we" cant get a decent TV deal, which allows for a 12/14 club top flight is mickey poor.

There will be huge issues in the near future for the whole game, with a reduced player pool and the impact of any fall out form the head injury issue which seem to be growing by the day, which will further impact the numbers coming into the sport.

And, back on the TV deal, just how much damage have the endless postponed fixtures had on our ability to "sell" the sport, it certainly hasn't helped the cause.

The Wolfs? You mean “Us”?

good one. He's laid the bait on his predicted attendances for Toulouse.

Before the pandemic Toulouse were in the mix for promotion to SL in 2019 and their home play off game against York attracted 1,132 fans, then along came the big one against Featherstone and the crowd was 1,068.

Of course his prediction will lead to the idea French TV companies will shower Toulouse with riches and as a result they will be a shoe in alongside Catalans for the 10 club Superleague next year with of course only 8 English clubs in place to satisfy SKY..

He's been laying this bait for years, it's gone very stale.......

If only that USA owned broadcast company,Sky,could be satisfied by the crowd pulling Wigan Warriors, new logo and all,to increase their broadcast deal with all those M62 clubs to show.
If only those M62 giants could persuade someone named Elstone to gain far more commercial interest in the sport than the governing body.
It's going so well the xenophobics will be dancing in the streets when the game shrinks even more...
Does 2 French clubs winning 2 League Leaders Shields not embarass the M62'ers,and their shrinking talent pools and attendances,and club owners?....Not forgetting certain obsessed posters on forums...

You may have a point with Catalans! As for Toulouse only playing 14 games and winning the shield that’s another embarrassment.

Them's the rules....
I 100% agree that Toulouse should have been made play their home games either in England or at least like Toronto in a block if their away games first whilst covid unfolded, but the rfl saw fit to hang London out to dry and basically handed Toulouse the shield.
That said, they've not really been tested all year, winning be an average of 41 points per game
Let's see how well they recruit for SL (should they go up) and what size gates they can attract in a city that is a rugby one ..

Those rules where created with the season already in progress. Another embarrassment.

Huddersfield went unbeaten in the Championship, monied up professional clubs hammering part timers isn't that much of an achievement.

You maybe could comment on the dilemma of a Superleague-1 determined to be 10 clubs only next year, against the excellent performances of Catalans and (granted) Toulouse.

Eamon McManus at saints "[iFavours French clubs over North American clubs[/i" reported a couple of years back. He said "We cannot be insular, at the moment Catalans Dragons are not contributing to TV revenue value for Superleague, but if Toulouse were to come in that would open up new avenues with French broadcasters, the French derbies would potentially stimulate media income for Superleague".

So if we went to 12 clubs, ten could share the SKY TV deal and the two French clubs possibly share a French TV deal..........

The [i"Hell of an achievement"[/i isn't hammering low income semi pro championship sides, it's getting a French TV deal......... Trolls need not reply ......

Bless.......you'd give your right arm for your club to be monied up. It's a professional sports...Toulouse play by the same rules as your pit village outfit