The only beneficiary of Toulouse being in the Championship (NL1) will be Toulouse.

The only reason that Toulouse are in the Championship is because it has been promised a guaranteed SL spot for one of its clubs in 2012. This was a gesture, made by the RFL, to placate some of the top NL1 clubs worried that they will have no chance of a spot in 2012 after licensing was introduced. It will now be cynically manipulated to ensure Toulouse get that place.

Toulouse will not bring in any more sponsorship money by their presence in the Championship; the introduction of TV games will have helped that far more, and even that is negligible.

As Toulouse cannot be relegated, it may have a detrimental effect on some clubs who may have survived in the Championship had Toulouse not been there.

As Toulouse, barring some financial disaster will be awarded a licence, then several of the top NL1 clubs may suffer. Unless SL expands to 15 clubs, or two clubs are removed from SL, I can see little chance of any heartland clubs being awarded a licence, which will be a direct result of Toulouse’s inclusion.

I doubt that the RFL will include another French club in the English lower leagues again. It will cost too much. If the RFL had not guaranteed a licence place for an NL1club in 2012, then Toulouse would have simply been offered the same deal as Les Catalans, for entry into SL. This is what will happen if the RFL wish to introduce any more French clubs in to SL imo, as there is no longer any need to placate lower league clubs with an offer of a guaranteed licence for one of it’s clubs.

To be honest Toulouse look like a decent club on the face of it, with a certain amount of potential. Their licence bid looked quite good, with access to some excellent facilities, a league to draw players from and a major city of around a million people to draw from as well as a long history in the game. They look streets ahead of Celtic, who have absolutely none of this.


It will be a nice weekend for away fans, well the fans that can afford to travel there, but Toulouse will only have a neutral effect, at best, on the Championship. It looks good for them though.

I think it certainly adds a novety to the Championship. I will go to a few of their games in England next season if it dosen't clash with my own team.

Can I ask what harm it does that Toulouse are in the Championship?

Then we can look at some people's agendas on here...

Increased travelling costs

Devaluing the French League from being a feeder league to Super League to being a feeder to the Championship

Mainly those two, but ultimately I just don't see the point, as it's not like they're too good for the French League. French sides in SL I can see the good, but not in the Championship

TV money is linked to the clubs involved, TO in the Championship pushes for more TV money.

TO have not finished the Championship in the relegation zone, we'll bitch about that if/when it happens.

We dont get any TV money

How does that work, when it would be a different TV station screening the games in France than it would the UK?

He doesn't understand the difference, Just as he doesn't understand the difference between SL and NL1. Thats why he thinks Leigh are worthy of super league

Who me

Not in the least

But while you are on why dont you pass on your wisdom and tell us how you think Toulouse will help the Championships

Sponsors look to get publicity. If teams play in higher profile games - the sort that get pictures in newspapers, then sponsors are more likely to spend more money on it.

Starbug, where does the RFL get the money it subsidises the NLs with? Sky TV money.

You seriously believe that Batley,Keighley and Blackpool will get more sponsorship because of this ?



NO it is ' central ' funding

, nothing to do with TV

I couldn't care less if toulouse helped NL1, neither can the RFL. It is the NL1 that is there to help toulouse develope into a SL club.