I sure I read somewhere that they were going to fold for some reason. Can't remember much of the actual article other than that.

I hope that they are in league 1. The only reason I asked is 2019 will be when the new league structures come in. And we know how the RFL are with big cities.

Wonder if they'd consider Bristol for the magic weekend 2019 to help get it going. Ashton Gate holds 30,000 I believe. Enough hotels and a decent city nightlife from what I've been told.

How are they? Please enlighten us because I don't think anyone has any idea what you're talking about.

Bristol might get the Magic Weekend if they bid millions of pounds like other cities do.

Cities get mentioned a few times.

This was one from this year - rlHERErl

They would prefer more big cities to become involved in RL (I'm not saying that the clubs start at SL,Championship level). As they believe this will increase revenue, open up more sponsorship deals. And hopefully increase crowd levels with a bigger target audience.(although I'm not sure that's the case other than a few games). To spread the gosspil .This was said in an interview with Nigel Woods in League Weekly.
Whigh is why I asked which league, because other than Toronto, pretty much every expansion clubs that has started in league 1 has either folded, or been forced to move to a different location. And ALL have/are struggling.

We've also had a succession of clubs in the traditional heartlands struggling financially in the lower divisions. The problems are not unique to expansion clubs.

These clubs should have gone into a League 1 South, rather than trying to compete with traditional heartland clubs.

Totally agree, I'm not sure what the answers are. Maybe like the poster below says regionalisation of the league maybe it.

Why would anyone want a 4-6 team league?

More clubs would be able to compete at that level than the current nationwide League 1, making it easier to start up new clubs. The league could have looked something like this.

Bristol
Gloucestershire
Oxford
Coventry
Nottingham
London Skolars
Hemel
South Wales
New London team
New Welsh team

I'm not sure how the regionalisation of the league would actually help the financial viability if the clubs. It might make marginal savings on transport costs, but the cost of coach hire from South Wales to London wouldn't be that dissimilar to that of South Wales to the North West.

What RL needs at the semi pro level is a sustainable business model, and support from the governing body. Sadly both seem to be challenging/lacking.

There's plenty of hard work and dedication outside the heartlands to make RL work on a nationwide basis, there is just never enough centralised support to keep it going.

That’s a shame Gloucester had a top name

That could never have happened, other than as a strictly amateur league. And even then the CLS folded after four seasons

If they received the same funding as a League 1 North I don’t see why not?

1. Lack of players
2. The funding alone isn't enough to run a semi pro club and half the teams listed had zero interest in running a semi pro club

If you've ever benn involved in trying to run even an amateur team outside the heartlands then you'll know just how hard things are.

You'll usually end up with a groundshare with an RU club who, at best with be amiable, at worst will treat you both second class and treat you as a cash cow (you'll pay for pitch hire, and they'll keep all the bar takings, and might even charge you & players club membership).

You'll end up trying to manage some sort of youth structure, but again any income might go straight to your hosts. The RFL might send a regional coach along if you're lucky.

Travel costs will be high, a local fixture often being at least 50 miles each way.

The same small bunch of volunteers will be put upon to do everything, including competeting with RU clubs for players, funding/local sponsorship, news coverage etc.

Getting really committed RL players is tough. Many RU guys will give it a go, but coming off the back of their season they won't want to play each and every week (mmm, 25 guys for a home game, barely 13 for an away trip).

I've been involved with 3 such clubs, boy it is really hard work just at the amateur level.