Using the word parochial in every other message doesn't make you appear more intelligent ....

Not before Quebec has it's own league.

I think it would be great if it came off, but I do think we should be looking at a conference style competition, where teams play predominantly their more local rivals but mixed with a smattering of games in other conferences, in the same way that baseball and American football works.

In fact, I wrote an article about a similar idea back in April, as a discussion point. A conference system would suit very much a worldwide game. rlhttps://seriousaboutrl.com/super-league/rl-new-era-going-well-so-farrl

Suckers!

It's gonna happen. The RLWC was a sellout simply because of the excitement of foreign players/teams.

All of those naysayers that say it wouldn't shouldn't happen are lost. There's enough second level players in the NRL from different nationalities to start populating new teams around the globe, together with UK players.

Likely teams :

1 x more from France
1 x more from Canada
2 x USA

Likely outcomes :

- more TV rights into the game
- bigger crowds in the UK, over time
- more interest in more TV games / RFL revenues grow
- strengthening sponsorship
- a stronger global competition
- something for younger players to aspire to, bringing more into the game
- competition to Rugby Union in England, France, Canada and USA

C'mon guys, The times are changing. Get behind it.

Good article on a website I have never previously heard of! I think there is some merit in the conference idea that you suggested. I like it!

Indeed, a conference system as part of a worldwide game is so obviously the answer.

Id definitely back a conference system, perfect way of developing teams and would mean that those teams could get a place in World Club Series which would get some decent publicity.

One place I have mentioned a number of times on here is for a team in Spain, specifically Barcelona. Catalans played there a few years ago and got a decent crowd in and the national team is really coming on, reaching the last stage of the WC qualifying after only existing for 3 years. Would be a perfect marketing tool when they played Catalans to really big it us as a derby and at least get people talking about the game in Spain. Plus there are loads of ex-pats there so some of them might go along, especially when English teams went there.

It would be better if all teams had a second team instead of farming out duel reg. players.

Italy could have teams in the French comps without much trouble you would think.
Some northern Italian towns are spitting distance away from the areas where league is played in France, and Northern Italy is where the majority of Italians in Australia hail from.
Italy already has a couple of comps, but they could lift their standards by playing sides like Toulouse and Pia.

I'd like to see a mixture of P&R with licensing in a conference system.

Eastern, Western and World.

The World conference to be licensed, so the likes of Catalans and Toulouse can be protected and can grow the game in their areas.

Eastern and Western conferences to have P&R via a MPG between the bottom team in each conference.

8 team straight knock out playoff between the top two from each conference and the 2 teams left with the most points (or the top of each each group and 5 teams with the most points thereafter).