The biggest problem to attracting kids to the game is the dominance of soccer. If only newspapers were full of RL trivia and news, and our players were the big name stars that virtually everyone can both recognise and name instead soccer players it would increase the chances hundred fold. Sadly, we can only play the cards we've been dealt and soccer is the game that [ievery[/i boy plays at some time in their lives and RL, in the main, only if they live in very defined areas.

It often means that when someone in their mid-teens decides that soccer, perhaps isn't their best sport and they fancy a change, they're way behind everyone else and badly lacking in the basic skills. Occasionally some latecomers do come through though, so yes, if they show promise they should be encouraged but ideally it is better to attract them as young as possible. To be honest I'm not really a believer in youngsters devoting themselves to just one sport, I certainly never did, but soccer, unsurprisingly given its influence and the rewards on offer, really does seem to hoover up the boys looking to play sport in this country.

Good common sense.

The wider the spread of SL clubs the bigger potential audience for Sky and the more they can charge advertisers. It also has many knock on benefits for the league, like a higher national profile and a greater chance of attracting and keeping players and investors from a much wider area.

the cream does rise to the top, so we need more cream. We get that by stopping clubs taking the easy way out and forcing them to invest more in training and scouting youth players


its not a case of just giving the current youngsters more training and gametime (though this will help) its about better training for more players


there will always be a time where the replacement of overseas players by young british players reduces the quality and intensity. Replacing large amounts of experienced pros with kids will always do that. So why not get it over with, we can then look at improving, and that improvement will have more british players

Exactly!
Again though, I don't necessarily agree with how you'd personally go about it

I would question that for 50% of the overseas players that come in tbh. There are a lot of overseas players plying their trade in SL that are very average and if we really don;t have enough talent to replace these average players then we should give it up now! Most teams have 2-3 overseas players that would fit into that category imo.

As with any CHANGE, there will be pain. Look at Quins RL......2 quota spots available and basement rugby on the cards but at least some young English guys will get a chance to improve over the season....
Rome wasn't built in a day and all that.

Who is the leaseholder of the DW stadium. Wigan RL are likely to lose out in any power battle with a PL club. Although Latics are small fry in terms of football club, they are a financial monster compred to Wigan RL. If the rules of business apply, Wigan RL will be the loser. Wigan RL are small fry.

I have had a git feeling for quite a while that the PL will tell clubs they cannot groundshare.

like most stadiums it is owned by a stadium company, but cutting through all that it is owned by Wigan athletics owner, dave Whelan, but that's irrelevant as they have a long term lease and on top of that the stadium was only given planning permission if it would be used for both sports. Wigan RL are in a stronger position than Wigan athletic

Apart from any issues re the ptich why would the PL give a hoot who else uses a stadium? Not like we are a threat to them.

There have been rumblings from various people in football about the state of pitches at Hull and Wigan (IMO the two worst grounds in the PL - but that's another issue). The pitches are a state and reduces the quality of the game for those who are paying good money to watch.





Wigan RL are in a stronger position? How? You pick up a few quid from SL every year. Latics get £20m.

I am mnerely playing Devil's Advocate. Unless you know the full details of the contract and are a lawyer specialising in this area, you cannot say with certainty what would happen.

In these circumstances, more often than not teh bigger enterprise wins i.e. Latics.

Most of the clubs in the PL are insolvent so I hardly see the FA insisting they reduce income streams/increase costs

Taken from another forumSeems like the sponsorship pot is drying up. I have heard of one club whose shirt sponsorship has dropped by 80% in value. The money is just not out there at the moment. Even my club Quins are losing £1.5 Million a season and with poor crowds (the one on Saturday was more like 2,500, 3,600 was pure fantasy) which brings me to say that 10 teams is the way forward with at least 2 French clubs and a reduced number of matches and more Internationals.[/i'

This bloke has contacts both over here (especially London) and France and usually knows what he's talking about.

rugby league has been built over here and especially in aus on club rugby for many years now.what makes this chap think in the interests of british RL australia is going to alter its very success league & SOO setup to incorporate more internationals?

Maybe he's thinking of building up international crowds and interest and believes that will bring in more revenue. Maybe he's looked at rugby union and seen how much a single international at Twickenham brings in for the RFU.
Personally I don't think it's the way forward for rugby league.

i think we would need a very strong french,welsh and NZ league to make international RL work and from what we have now thats laughable