Quote: Eastern Wildcat "It is very good the expansion of the sport, and having an American League could give the sport a shot in the arm it needs, but only if it is done right.
Have you though, stopped to think at all that more foreign clubs in our league could have a long term detrimental impact on those heartland clubs trying to get into and stay in super league.
Some will go to the wall, and without those heartland clubs, the sport will die'"
But a lot of those heartland clubs are only just surviving as it is and I'm not sure why things would suddenly get worse for them if some new clubs arrive into the league structure? They'd still survive.
The one thing I hope for is that promotion & relegation is kept. This allows for the cream to rise the top, and ensures that every club can aspire to get to SL. If the ladder gets pulled up behind the SL clubs again, I think we may see issues - one of the main things the Super 8's system has done is revitalise the Championship IMO.
Ultimately, an expanded league structure including French & North American sides, will see knock-on positive impacts.
Broadcast deals, media coverage, corporates & sponsorship are all valued base on brand perception. A competition who's teams are based solely along the M62, watched by predominantly working-class folk is unfortunately not worth as much to broadcasters & sponsors as a competition that covers three countries and some huge metropolitan cities (namely Toulouse, London & Toronto). That's just the reality, rightly or wrongly. Ultimately, that increased investment will see all clubs benefit.