thanks Starbug,just goes to show what IS actually wrong with RL in good old northern england - that's why the minority sport will remain just that mainly due to blinkered ignorami such as yourself - it's the typical blinkered english attitude that will keep RL in the dark ages
TO13 has untold riches to invest in RL in europe - it's all there as there as there is no immediate competition in the area,not like 'oop north' where there we have about ten clubs within twenty miles of each other ecah fighting for survival in these hard times
The RFL want to progress and they see france & italy eventually as the future,even their saviour.Keep your racist and egoistic comments to yourself and let our great sport develop.

Racist? I don't think so

Anyway aren't toulouse RL the very poor relations to toulouse RU. Competition doesn't just have to come from RL does it.

what a shocking,ignorant and naive post that is.

sounds racist to me or at least very bitter like many up north who believe the game belongs to them - the same people who just cannot accept that the aussies are and always will be,barring the occasional flukey result totally superior in RL over the mighty england team (please don't come out with the old 'referee bias' diatribe)

Toulouse RU IS massive,much bigger than RL in the city itself but the RL potential in the general area is there,The RL team have had the misfortune to have had direct competition from a successful RU team (Euro champs) this past season with many of their home fixtures coinciding date wise with the RU league & cup games.The RL team could quite easily manage an average 2000 - 3000 crowd in the Championship games with proper organisation and a more progressive team - the president has realised his team will not be in SL for at least four seasons which will allow the new stadium to be built ready for SL where crowds will equal or better most of the present SL outfits.TO13 will start to build up to SL admission in 2012/13 seasons,until then the club will stagnate and save the investments for later.
I have spoken to several Championship chairmen at TO this season,the last one being Mr Steele from Fax and he and the others have all said the same thing ' if only we had this potential at OUR club ! everything is here' etc etc - they are very envious.

it's not fair to blame TO13 or the Dragons for the demise of RL in england is it ?

european rugby works successfully at RU level,so why not in our code ? Euopean competition has enhanced RU - the RFL are at least trying to progress with the same principles so why not try to encourage it ?

yes,I AM ignorant - sorry for being a french peasant,can't help my ancestry...

Starabug's? - on this subject he is.

Not been keeping fully up-to-date with this story - any latest?

i'm more french than you

.

I have no idea of your personal history mate but if you are a real frenchman passionate about the french game then why not try to defend it at least ?

what do TO bring to the CC clubs?
and if there is millions and millions of pounds waiting to be invested in TO,then surely they would be in SLE wouldn't they?

i'm not french and neither are you?

at the time of the Dragons entry into SL there was no way a second french club would have been admitted - it's not rocket science
plus,the Stade Minimes in no way qualifies for SL admission,even their other stade at Blagnac used occasionally in the past for the 'bigger' games is too small so that leaves only Stade Toulousain & the main Stade used by the football team - Minimes will be developed into a SL standard stade;hopefully by 2014 if the current proposals go ahead as planned.
There is still talk of a Parisien team being re-formed - that would really put the cat among the pigeons !