Thats the issue though. Clubs like Halifax and Leigh are not stable. And unlikely to be stable for years to come.

It is sad the demise of clubs such as Featherstone, Halifax and Leigh. But superleague would be poorer place without Catalan. And i homestly think they will be in the top three (again) this year

"I'm all right Jack" eh?

The only one playing Devil's Advocate to any serious degree in this thread is me and for what it's worth I would absolutely hate to see a Super League including teams like Toulouse and Paris at the expense of teams like Castleford and Salford as I already believe Harlequins, Catalans and Crusaders should not be present at the expense of heartland clubs, irrespective of how it affects Warrington (or not as the case is at present).

Northern Rugby Football Union.

and you were doing so well..............

Salford ....kin ell what a waste of time, effort and a 15 mile trek down the 602 that place is jesus I'd rather have a team from Serbia in than that $hit hole.....

the Majority of "HEARTLAND" teams are the reason Why We are viewed as a hillbilly sport supported by Buck toothed flat capped retards.....

Catalan Have brought us a game in the olympic stadium watched by over twenty thousand people.....even Matt King was excited by that fact....but youd rather be down at Chris Moyles Stadium watching garbage with a thousand other inbreds...

I just do not understand it ......at all

I agree RC. I am first and foremost a Wire fan being from Warrington and all, but having lived in Chester for a bit I helped form a team there, now living in France I support the sport here and watch the local side'Lyon Villeurbanne'. also to 'bomb'head who dislikes being called a fool so much, maybe learning some history of our sport may make you look a little less foolish. I agree with the comments about Crusaders and to a point London but since when was Catalan, or for than matter Toulouse not heartland areas? I think if you went to the likes of Villeneuve-sur-Lot where Jean Gallia established French Rugby League (rugby a treize) and fought a battle against the yawnian establishment for years you may come across more than a few angry French Treizists who may want to educate you on the subject. alternatively look for Mike Rylance's excellent "the fobidden game" which covers the subject brilliantly. Read it and then let us all know your recently educated viewpoints.

And I continue....
Have you seen the size of France, to go to an away match in the same league is a ball ache. For example I went to an away game last weekend at Avignon. Type Lyon and Avignon into google maps, yes they look close together but then look at how many miles away they are, tell you what try it for the rest of the teams and if you will find that it is hard work. But passionate players and club owners make it work. however French Rugby League is not in the same state that it was in the 50s where it attracted massive crowds across the board and therefore players to supply a competetive national side. I agree that the aim should be for the Elite 1 to be a strong enough league to stand on its own seperate from Super League but for that to happen the game over here needs nurturing. Allowing, for example, toulouse into SL would have a massive impact on the game here and it would filter through into the Elite leagues. And don't worry, tolouse, like Catalan will easy have far bigger crowds than, for example, Crusaders or London or Leigh come to think about it.

What an embarrassment Celtic Crusaders are becoming after one thing and another, i feel sorry for their hard core fans. Their loyal following can`t really splash out on a season ticket yet as nobody knows where they will be playing the majority of their games, also the biggest part of them getting a SL franchise was so that they could try and establish the game in south wales, NOT in Wrexham if that happens.

On the evidence so far RL just isn`t going to happen in South Wales, they can`t get any major backers down in South Wales, they don`t even have a ground, the fan base is tiny and the games that are shown on TV when they are at home doesn`t really do a lot for the image of our game.

You don`t want them to fail but if your being realistic its the equivelant of having a jimmy riddle against a strong wind with the game down in South Wales.