It now looks like Toronto will not finish the season so it says in the mirror so if so do we get Leigh or the other french side

Would love to see Leigh in the top flight, their fans deserve it not forgetting a mention to Derek Beaumont whose thrown his hard earned at it enough times.

You just beat me to that although I posted it as a new Topic. I am sure the answer to your question if TWP pull out would be that Superleague just plays out the remaining fixtures. It can't be fair on a Championship club to fill in although I am sure Mr. Beaumont would take promotion now!! But he would need assurance there'd be no relegation!!

As for promotion from the championship being on if there's an empty place, it's well overdue Leigh's turn. Give the club a break!!

While agree with what you've posted about ambition and a willingness to learn to just adds to the debate about around allowing new clubs not to produce their own talent it should be mandatory that there is something in place

I fail to see why there is so much Catalans bashing in this thread (albeit i am biased).

Surely the important thing is the game in this instance, and people are playing and watching the game in the area of France?

Ok we would all love more French players in the team, but then when there are people complain that they should be spread out across Superleague to improve the French national team and decrease reliance on Catalans for it.

We went more French under Fraysionous and that hardly went well so its just a fact that (for now) etrangers are needed to keep Dragons competitive.

I think that the more important issue there is Elite 1 and the issue of it being played across the winter and the level of competitiveness.

I remember when Escare came into the Dragons first team after having played domestically all winter. People then wondered why he had a slow start to his second season.

Got to agree with you here Jimmy far too much unwarranted and unnecessary Catalan bashing, all the rest of super league or maybe with the odd exception are maxed out with imported players so where's the difference, without getting further into the debate about franchising and promotion and relegation, if it were franchising maybe Catalans would be able to bring in more French players and less mercenaries which in turn would satisfy those intent on detracting they're efforts.

It's important for French Rugby League that they are in Superleague. It's important for English Rugby league big names like Widnes and Bradford return to Superleague and that expansion clubs like Newcastle get into Superleague and London get back there.

Your bias is obvious mate so your honesty does you proud. The fact is the official reason to include France in SL was to enable France.v.GB tests to return. Return they did BUT due to a lack of French talent they died again. It's important to acknowledge this and give Catalans place back to an English club.

Garbage. Rugby League today is a fully professional sport with really good TV coverage. It's at it's strongest ever. No need to reply, I know your not serious....

Even though I'm a Leigh fan, Bradford (if finances allow) are a Super League club. BUT the Odsal situation is a major problem that needs resolving sooner rather than later.

The Club no longer has a problem with Odsal. Bradford council may have a problem with a hole in the ground they can longer get extortionate rates for plus many Bradfordians no longer wishing to vote for them. I am sure Bradford Bulls can grace the city of Bradford again, as a Superleague club, with the assistance of Nigel Wood. These things unfortunately do take time but like you I do hope for a resolution soon.

Quote: little wayne69 "If it were franchising maybe Catalans would be able to bring in more French players and less mercenaries which in turn would satisfy those intent on detracting they're efforts.'" Bernard Gausch long ago dismissed the idea his club should be playing French players even though they were admitted to SL by Richard Lewis to do just that so we could have a return to GB.v.France tests. Those tests died out the other year and Catalans in any case don't even have a French reserve side or run a French academy. Gausch has no intention of doing anything different to what Argyle has done. Which is nothing for grass roots RL in their respective countries. This was evidenced by every English SL club and several more committing to Reserve teams. TWP & Catalans ignored this and went out and bought marquee players... Gausch disgusted the SL bosses by signing Folau, they asked him to come and see them and he refused. I wouldn't hold your breath for Catalans to be in SL beyond next year. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby ... Folau.html

Quote: little wayne69 "If it were franchising maybe Catalans would be able to bring in more French players and less mercenaries which in turn would satisfy those intent on detracting they're efforts.'" Bernard Gausch long ago dismissed the idea his club should be playing French players even though they were admitted to SL by Richard Lewis to do just that so we could have a return to GB.v.France tests. Those tests died out the other year and Catalans in any case don't even have a French reserve side or run a French academy. Gausch has no intention of doing anything different to what Argyle has done. Which is nothing for grass roots RL in their respective countries. This was evidenced by every English SL club and several more committing to Reserve teams. TWP & Catalans ignored this and went out and bought marquee players... Gausch disgusted the SL bosses by signing Folau, they asked him to come and see them and he refused. I wouldn't hold your breath for Catalans to be in SL beyond next year. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby ... Folau.html

Agreed Donnyman, is Valley parade not an option ? They need to be based in the city don't they. I hated visiting Odsal, apart from that we always lost, you needed binoculars to watch the game. Their first game after they got relegated from SL was away to us in 2015, and the atendance was around 7500, mainly because they brought over 2K fans. BIG CLUB

Or give them more time and a bit of support rather than a mountain of obstacles?

The other option would be to have an arrangement where English players and coaches worked over the winter in the French Elite 1 to bring that standard up? You would then have a bigger player pool of French players, less emphasis on Catalans and Toulouse to provide them and those test matches would be relevant.

He wants rid of any non English clubs.
It wouldn't matter if you had 17 players born in Perpignan itself, he would still want rid.
Unless their are new rules, written, agreed and enforced, Catalan will do what EVERY other club does and try to assemble the best squad that they can to compete in SL, which seems pretty straightforward.
Were the Catalan academy rated "outstanding" and yet, his poster says they do nothing ?? You can see that he has an agenda

I think we were given dispensation to play at Valley Parade for a year or two whilst we pursued one of our failed Odsal redevelopments, but the pitch is way too small (short) for permanent Rugby. And the rent is absolutely astronomical too. Sadly Valley Parade is not a possibility. The aim has to be to build something on the brownfield site literally across the road from Odsal and invite Bradford Park Avenue who are in some ways our sister club.