How can we help French RL?

Quote: wrencat1873 "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 ?'"

Thanks very much for your polite and considered viewpoints Wrencat.

For the avoidance of doubt I would say that once 2021 is over any entry to Superleague and indeed any continuation of any "guest" club in Superleague will be dependant on the Superleague clubs saying they are OK with this. Saying OK to Catalans Toulouse and Toronto as guests takes three places in SL away from actual member clubs like Newcastle, Leigh Bradford, Widnes and Featherstone Rovers.

Once again Catalans were allowed in so they could develop French pro players for the international side and they aren't doing this they are going backwards, they even closed their academy. Toulouse have no player development system nor do Toronto.

On what basis do you think full members of the game here who underpin an English TV deal and develop players through their Foundation/academy/reserves set ups can EVER be pushed aside for guest clubs from abroad that don't do anything for the player pool or the TV deal??

My question was not "strange", but your idea that non TV contract or Player producing guest clubs should ever be preferred to player producing, TV deal producing member clubs certainly is "strange" can you explain this please??