https://www.rugby-league.com/article/54 ... d-new-york Hemel application to relocate, where to? New York Application to join League one.

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/54 ... d-new-york Hemel application to relocate, where to? New York Application to join League one.

Assuming they work up the leagues it would mean only one overseas trip before they're promoted? If I was a league one player I'd bite your hand off for the chance to play a game in New York.

But the point remains, what are these clubs adding for the week to week fans, I don't know many RL fans that can afford a trip to Toronto, New York, Tolouse and Perpignan in a season.

You would have a point if every single RL fan went to every single away game in a season. But they dont.

Not to mention the actual cost or, is this being funded ala Toronto ?

Doesn't invalidate my question, what would New York ADD to RL?

What does any new club ADD to RL.

Hang on. First of all you said "what do they bring to the day to day fan", not to RL. Nice moving of the goal posts.

But I digress. What do they bring? We dont know yet. What we do know is that the game is dead in the uk. It will be semi pro within 2 years once sky dont renew the broadcasting so maybe its a last throw of the dice to see if the north american market can rejuvenate Skys interest in the game.

What do all the other League 1 teams add to RL?

Toronto have added newspaper column inches, an increase in televised matches and increased fans when playing away from home. If New York & Canada 2 can do the same I'm happy for them to be a part of the structure as long as they pay their own way and opposition teams expenses when they are at home.

However, at some point the North American franchises need to add a paying TV contract and to begin player development. The first is probably more important to us than the latter I'd suggest at this stage and I wouldn't expect any new franchises to be accepted in to the structure after these without increased TV revenues off the back of it.

Same has to be said of any new French sides wanting to joining the comp, The French clubs are at least supplying some players to UK clubs, but they need to provide a TV deal also, otherwise they are just taking the place of a pro club without offering enough in return.

Agree 100% with all of that, and with players in American Football coming out of ceollege it could be great for a USA international team, but as you say, not without a significant TV deal in America.

Just to put this into context. What sort of French TV contract have Catalan managed and how much is it worth.
I realise that they have been in SL since 2006 but are we really suggesting that Canada or The US are going to contribute significant sums of cash to add RL to their sporting portfolio ?

I believe the Catalan deal is worth zero as far as payment to Catalan is concerned - there is probably some value to Sky as they get a game free by swapping a couple of their own I believe and Catalan probably get better sponsorship off the back of it. But in terms of cash value of the rights, its nil.

I'm very much pro expansion, and want more French teams certainly, and North American teams in the game. However they do need to add value, whether that is in terms of player development or financial return (TV deal) or both. Otherwise they are taking players away from UK clubs and offering little back.

I'd accept Canada 2, New York and Toulouse in to the mix, as to have a paying TV deal off the back of 1 club in a territory is unrealistic, but to grow this number further, they need to offer a TV deal - otherwise they are a player drain.

To grow the sport we need to get to the point where we have a UK, North American & French TV deal coming in to the pot.

I get the dream and almost agree with you (in principle) but, it's not going to happen.
The French sides are in RL playing areas, with junior development etc and can play throughout the current season.
However, Toronto are just not in this category.
Effectively, they are taking the place of a UK/French side in the top flight and whilst, no doubt there is interest when they come over and play their games, primarily because of their huge salary spend which makes them a "big draw" but what is the actual plan for RL in UK/Europe.
IF there are to be 3 or 4 N. American sides plus 2 French sides in SL, are we to have just 6 UK clubs competing in the top flight and where are the players going to come from because it sure as hell isn't N. America.
We are in a catch 22, where the game needs more money and with the next Sky deal likely to be a reduction, just what do the RFL think the future of RL looks like.
The utter bull smidt about this fitting with the RFL plan really makes me cringe, especially when nothing is publicised about what the hell their plan is.
IMO this expansion, far from growing the game will probably be the death of it and with only half a dozen FT pro clubs in England, what happens next.
Is the Championship going to be a pop n crisps league ?? feeding the SL clubs the occasional player.
I've watched RL for over 50 years but it's time to do something else Big Nige and his successor have destroyed RL.