You've gone from "pretty much make up the French national side" to "bolster".
Bolster, I agree with and some say that, because France are not competitive, Catalan is a failure.
I would argue that without many of their National side being in FT training and without Catalan, they would be further still down the pecking order.

Some of what you say regarding them needing to protect Catalan position, in preference to allowing their "whole squad" represent France is probably right and given some of their recent seasons, they may well have ended up even closer to the trap door of SL, had they not kept a few players back.

The stark reality for France is that, they haven't got a hope in hell of competing with England, maybe not in my lifetime but, with just one club in the top flight, how could they ?

As for the new TV deal, you may be privy to the thinking of Sky and those that run SL, I most certainly aren't.

I agree that, perhaps, Catalan should have a minimum number of local (club trained) players but, how many should this be and will similar rules apply to other clubs (in terms of club based players) or, would you set the bar lower for English clubs.

As for agenda, you do appear to be very strongly against Catalan and some of your spurious reasoning is just made up (for reasons that you are keeping to yourself).

For me, we should be thinking how the game can move forward and certainly not reversing back to being just an "M62" sport

IF and it's a huge IF, the sport needs clubs outside the "heartlands" to secure a sensible TV deal, then, there is a decision for the power brokers to make.
Either, put up the two finger sign and say, take it or leave it or, try and work to try and accommodate their needs

Certainly at it's inception, SL made great play of having a French side (Paris) and London in the comp and there were stated aims regarding attendances and facilities etc.

Attendances have declined, London have gone, come back and gone again and you want rid of The French.
Many clubs have improved their facilities dramatically (apart from Cas & Trinity). However, any plan for improving crowds etc, seemed to disappear long ago.
We had the desire to have X sell out fixtures etc but, this never happened and proved to be nothing more than words on a wish list.

There remains no long term plan for the game and we're left clutching at N. American straws for hope of salvation and without serious thought to how to establish the junior game over there, it will never succeed. For me, France is worth some more effort but, this perhaps needs to be conditional on Catalan working harder on their own production line.

As for Bradford, Leigh, Widnes and Newcastle, if they can make it to the top of the Championship, I'm sure that they will get their chance in SL, something that 3 of these clubs have had (and lost) in the not too distant past.

Also, you dont seem too concerned with some UK clubs sharing academies - why ?

Donnyman making stuff up?? Never!

Who said you need geographical spread for Superleague to work?? Reference please??

How do you know the sport will contract if it's only played across the M62 it seems to have been mainly played there for 124 years?? Reference please??

Who said that RL had contracted back to it's heartlands, when was it ever more than just a northern game? Reference Please??

Your hippocracy knows no bounds, you can spout the garbage above, I can tell you what Superleague bosses are saying.

1. You can have half the League French but if they all field English/Aussie players they won't improve the french International side one bit will they?.

2. Your as privvy as I am to what SL bosses say about the SKY deal and the inclusion of France and Toronto in Superleague - tell me honestly do you buy and read League Express and League Weekly?

3. Reflecting that Superleague bosses have constantly said the French need to bring to the table (said to Toulouse by Lenegan reported in the RL press) home grown players and TV deals (also said to Toronto who promised to do that - Perez article in the RL press) does not make me "strongly against" anything.

Again do you buy the RL press every Monday and read up what is said by those who run the game?? I do read it all up. Maybe it's you that makes it up?

I don't think Pearson said he was [i"happy with three overseas teams"[/i

By all means reflect the facts as reported, by all means pass an opinion that may be in line with the facts, but please don't bother wasting your and my time trying to wriggle out of the actual point. If you think Pearson is happy with Hull.v.Catalans, Hull.v.Toronto and Hull.v.New York and would not mind Hull.K.R. making way for the latter, and Hull being even further away from a return to Hull.v.Bradford fixtures...........even though 80% of his clubs fanbase prefer HKR and Bradford to overseas opposition, and he would prefer the bigger crowds Rovers and Bulls bring, then you need to think again, concede this point and move the debate forward.

Do you really believe the game should forget Bradford, Widnes, Leigh Newcastle, London and York now??

Strange question. Now we should not forget about ANY club, including the ones that you mention, although, last time I looked, there was a pathway from the Championship into SL.
If ANY of those clubs wins their GF, then , they are up - end of - although you are being mighty generous to Bradford, Newcastle and probably Widnes as I dont see these clubs challenging for promotion just yet and you seem to have omitted Fev from your list.

What do you do once Ottawa, Avignon and Vancouver make applications to join??

I think that all of the above are some way off making the league structure and some dont exist

as the player pool shrinks - especially in France

My knowledge of participation numbers in France isn't good, although I'm sure that just as in the UK and in many other sports, they will be struggling to maintain and increase participation numbers. However, in France it probably more a case of turning a greater percentage of their current youth into pro or semi pro players.
You have already stated that Catalan, in your opinion aren't doing enough and I agree.
However, with a decent pathway from the amateur game, plus a decent level of coaching, I'm sure that more players could make the grade.

I've already said that the "European" league should increase to accommodate the overseas sides that can meet the relevant criteria, although there are limits in everything and again, I 've also suggested previously that the overseas clubs MUST be committed to developing their own players. Not doing so will ultimately end in failure.
FWIW, I think that Toulouse are doing ok in this regard, probably better than your average Championship or SL club and they should be encouraged to continue doing so.
France does have a game to build on, which, just as you keep arguing that losing English clubs may be detrimental to the sport over here, surely, the same applies if we jettison Catalan and tell Toulouse to do one and drop them from The Championship ?

Sounds as if the Catalans games might be shown after all.

Elstone said he believes a ‘healthy amount’ of fixtures from overseas will be shown. He said

Elstone's use of the pronoun "we" suggests success is in the air. In contrast, it's very notable that in the same article he announces that the RFL is dealing with TWP's dispensation issues on behalf of SL