That is brilliant, good to see rugby league being ambitious as we should be. First ever trans-Atlantic sports league, should give rugby league some real publicity and help grow an already growing market. Very happy to see thus announcement!
Also I want to see that reality tv show that it says about on the rugby league website article. Series about them recruiting players, intriguing.

very smart looking badge

wish them all the luck, hopefully it will be a success and raise the profile of our game


who knows, sky sports may decide to pick up some matches in 2017

If they make superleague, i really hope our game in Toronto is on a Thursday

It's madness they are going to be in league 1. If were going to do this just put them in the super league.

How many teams are in the Canadian domestic league?

i think the free away support travel will stop at manchester airport

The priority should be sorting the game out here before fannying about with a Canadian team of all places. No wonder the game (in particular the amateur game) is mess if the people at the top constantly look at short term fixes with pound signs in their eyes. I honestly can't see this franchise being sustained long term - what is the point. And someone give me a reason other than exposure and raising the profile.

I went to Windsor Ontario a few years back during late January and flew into Toronto. Bloody cold, an ice storm and loads of snow. I suppose if they play their first 4 or 5 weeks in the UK they'll be through the worst of the weather by the time they play their first homes games.

Bless....

So if a Canadian club comes to the RFL with a proposal they should just ignore it? Regardless of what potential it might have?

It's not like the RFL went searching for a Canadian team to put into League 1.

I don't see how Toronto having a franchise is going to have a negative impact on the amateur game/grassroots over here. From what I've seen this isn't going to cost the RFL a penny. Its all funded by themselves so what's the problem.
They're not taking away services or money from The amateur game to put into this project.

The people who are moaning about the franchise are the same people who moan when we get spanked by the NRL and how superior their league is to ours and how rubbish SL is and "look at the salary cap difference"etc

How do we close the gap and sort out the amateur game and lack of development officers? More investment! To get more investment you need greater exposure!

This may completely fail. But if it does so what. We'd be no worse off as a sport and won't have lost anything. If it succeeds then great.

I'm for expansion if done right. Not just rushing clubs through in ridiculous areas costing the sport money that could be better invested elsewhere. Yes this is a massively bold project, but we've got someone who is willing to invest in that ambitious project so it's a no lose situation for me.

Wish them the best of luck

Facebook and Twitter are in absolute meltdown over this. It's a total cesspit of xenophobia and ignorance. I've lost count of how many have wrongly called it 'RFL funded', whinged that 'we should be putting money into Cumbria' and asked the irrelevant 'how will the semi-pro sides afford the travel'. Seriously, why can't people just read before they comment?

I think it's a bit bonkers myself, but the RFL ultimately have nothing to lose and potentially a lot to gain. It's ultimately worth it.

the RFL are a bluddy discrace !!

Bring it on i hope it works, but if it does how long will the rich guy who is paying for it all carry on paying if they do well and get promoted

The luddites are out in force on social media (and a few on this thread too).

Pity RL has such a large ignorant, small minded, xenophobic element following it.

One of the best arguments I've read is one that says "if these new clubs are successful, we could lose a traditional club". Yeh, let's do all we can to keep those ambition-less clubs that have achieved nothing in 120 years, and turn away investment and ambition.

Posted on this on TotalRL too, the only people moaning are the fans who think it wont work! If they are funding it fair play, the only people whos opinion matter are the players of the teams going, I know a few who play in championship 1 and yet to speak to anyone who isnt buzzing at the thought of getting paid to go to canada and play rugby. What a great team bonding exercise it will be. I think people are over reacting I think it will be great for the sport.