If that’s the case, the only club building for SL is Leigh. The only club to compete at that level is Leigh. I still think the advantage is another season in Championship, and sod SL.

"Thunder's coaching set-up and facilities are superb; its community outreach is well-established and growing.

"Newcastle and the north east has considerable future growth potential, backed by its owner - as has already been recognised by the decision to play the Super League Magic Weekend at St James' Park for a fifth time in 2021, and also by Rugby League World Cup 2021 with five fixtures to be played in the region including the tournament opener in Newcastle.

"The club has a clearly-stated aspiration of Super League success this decade. Overall the panel thought its application most closely matched the vision of the RFL's Strategy Reset."

Climax of the 2019 Championship

Toulouse.v.York 1,132
Toulouse.v.Featherstone 1,068

Definitive figures from RL yearbook 2019-2020

OK so we can agree Toulouse sadly have no chance?

Especially this definitive info [i"Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Occitania and the reigning Top 14 champion. Toulouse is one of the most successful clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup a joint record four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010"[/i

It was originally by the 16th, they have now stated it will be Monday

I have no faith that the right decision will be made.

Newcastle coming up is a good step in the right direction however.

As for toulouse, I do not think they will get the spot. Whether they should is a different debate altogether.

P.S I don't understand the relevance of the success of the union club has to do with anything?

But,but,but....You're championing Newcastle Thunder who are owned by the guy who owns Newcastle Falcons and Thunder use their facilities and stadium.

A union club presently top of The Premiership...

I'm not championing Newcastle Thunder for the 12th. Superleague place at this exact stage. Certainly the club themselves are doing that as I noted with the quotes from the Newcastle club. Newcastle Thunder are applying for the Championship exactly the same place Toulouse are playing in, in case you did not know. Neither should be in Superleague at this stage. Let's see if Newcastle end up with crowds of 1,000 if they end up getting to the top of the Championship, which is what Toulouse got in games that could have seen them promoted - that's how much interest there is in Toulouse..

Direction to where? Superleague? Why not have a chat with the Optimist about it as he seems to entirely disagree with you?

Leave me out of it

OK so it's about attacking me as always. Last ever reply from me to you then..........

They must be giving Mr. Sadler and TRL an exclusive then

How is it a different debate? The applications for Superleague inclusion have to offer something to Superleague.

The formal analysis commissioned by the RFL of the value of TWP, Ottawa and New York was that they offer nothing to the game here. No TV money, no quality Players. Equally the analysis of the French was they offer very little unless you can show me a TV deal? Over to you or anyone else?? On the playing front Les Catalans have just signed McMeeken, I don't think he's French. They only have 4 French players in their first choice 17.

And the fact is when it comes to Toulouse they too have only 4 Frenchmen in their starting 17.

So Toulouse have been knocking on the SL door since 1996 when Paris pipped them at the post for a Superleague place. Toulouse have had what? 24 years to develop professional SL quality Rugby League players and it's certainly not a given that the four French lads they do have in their first 17 are of SL quality?? If they were Superleague quality then Les Catalans would have picked them up................

So it is reasonable to suggest that between the pair of them they are incapable of SL player development. It's no good talking about the French talent in the English SL clubs. That doesn't justify giving two places to two French clubs that bring nothing to superleague does it???