Personally I think Toulouse would be a shot in the arm for the game in France and over here.

Commercially they are probably the strongest option, they are surrounded by towns and villages that play rugby league so I think we will see an increase in the number of French players in the competition (albeit there will be plenty of English / NRL based players in their squad no doubt). I also think it gives us the best chance of increasing TV revenue.

Of the rest I think it's too early for York or Newcastle, they are progressing well and I think it's important they don't try to do too much too fast. Let them keep building foundations.

Bradford I'm sure will make it back up to SL eventually, but again I think it's too soon from their recent problems and they still have issues around Odsal and i'm not confident their owners have the financial clout to not see them in the same situation in a few years.

London have a good shout based on them being the last club to leave SL and the club that replaced them have been removed. But their stadium is poor for SL and despite having 70% of their current squad coming from their own academy being a great achievement, I think they will struggle on the field without serious investment.

Leigh could probably come in and sign a host of SL standard players and do a decent job.

Featherstone I'm not sure, there are already 2 clubs in that area, I'm not sure a third is the best option for the sport. If they win promotion fair enough, but I think if we are placing a team in, I'm not sure they are the option.

Halifax, no I don't think they would cope very well.

So I'd prefer Toulouse, if not them, London or Leigh I guess.

I have to admit that I too thought the SL clubs would stick with 11 teams so as not to dilute the SKY monies, but it doesn't appear to be the case.


I think the infrastructure and financial backing is really important because the inclusion / promotion of a club in SL needs to be sustainable. Too often a club has an injection of funding, recruits top quality players and gains promotion, then the funding dries up and eventually they drop out or go back to the Championship.

The rise of York and Newcastle is really encouraging, but I think I would go with Toulouse. They play in a 19,000 capacity stadium that they share with RU in the centre of the city. I don't know who their backer is but if they are in a strong position then that would mean SL has two clubs in France with a bit of local rivalry and a chance of more TV coverage and money. I also think they should be given 2 years guaranteed in SL to establish themselves.

Added later;
Sorry Allfie, we seem to have penned a reply at virtually the same time but I was a couple of minutes later than you.

I love it that no one has mentioned our near neighbours.

haha fair point. I put them in a similar position to Bradford, they aren't in a position to come up yet after financial issues.

I think the "Stockton Heath Stumblers" side has folded!
I'd be surprised if London don't get in ... but I'd find Toulouse a bit more exciting.

I think it is a crying shame that there is no options for a team from Cumbria rather than London and another team from France

I am living in the North East but do not want Newcastle to be promoted, they need a few more years to get the funding & players in place otherwise it would straight back down & probable collapse.
Not too fussed as to who comes up - Toulouse will have the same travel issues as Catalans if Covid continues and London still need rebuilding but have little funds to do it.
We'll just have to wait and see what wonderful plan Elstone comes up with - he'll probably invite Ottawa!

Barring a miracle, it will kill whoever comes up. Reduced funding and little time to prepare will mean short-termism and panic.

All the good work the likes of Toulouse have done could be undone in a few months.

Whoever does come up will be on a hiding to nothing, news from the WG would indicate that the lucky club will receive nearly £1m less than the other 11 clubs.
Stuff expansion lets just look after ourselves is the message I am reading into this.
When we think it couldn't get any worse - it does!

Whatever team is allowed into Superleague , the way forward for RL imo is to embrace all of the current clubs within all the divisions. Perhaps a tie up between clubs at different levels to promote the development of youth from SL academy set ups to help out & gain experience within partner clubs at a lower level but ,equally, giving younger players the experience of playing against older but more experienced players in the latter playing days. More than the previously tried "dual registration" system. Also upcoming youngsters from lower division clubs could be tried out at SL level . Moving RL forward as a whole would ,i think ,be better than focussing on the elitist Superleague although SL would probably be the main TV attraction.

Typical Rugby League! Years ago Maurice Lindsay's plan was rejected wrongly in my view. Mr. Kookash got out having had enough. Mr. Hearns' ideas clearly did not appeal to the backwoodsmen of our game. Pity considering every sport he's involved in is thriving. The changes made in Australia angered many but were massively successful but we keep going round in circles and getting nowhere. Money is key to the game's future so it seems a form of franchising is vital. How about a team in Cumbria! Bit late obviously but long long overdue.

Featherstone contested the last Championship GF, so there's a case for them.

With the 12th team screwed over with pot money. I’d say Toulouse, as they could afford it and send KR down. KR the vote cheating .......

I'd give the 12th team 2 seasons. In the absence of fans it's very hard to see the chpionship going ahead so hard to see promotion/ relegation anyway.

Toulouse are the standout contenders but travel is very likely to be a problem. I'd love to just rename barrow Cumbria raiders for the season and see if it works with a Cumbria side. Give them 2 seasons, it's about time cumbria was involved again.

Featherstone massive no we don't need another team in that area...

Toulouse, London, York, Newcastle any will do