Die-hard fans will have known about the games, but the lack of publicity gave them a low profile. If they had been hyped up the crowds would have been bigger, but the RFL didn't want that to happen because they clashed with Super League games. In future years it would be better just to have a game between the two champions in February which would give the French an advantage and make the game closer.

Which is along the lines of the idea I muted a while back. I suggested it might be played as a 'curtain raiser' (or 'double-header' depending on how you want to spin it!) with the WCC......no real disruption to the season, but a simple way to showcase both the Championship and the French League, and offer much needed publicity to both comps!!

Simples!!

Trouble is with such a game it's slap bang in the middle of the French season if played in February.

Much like this weekend and our league?

Then maybe it's time for the French to embrace the same 'summer' season as the rest of the rugby league playing world?

Funnily enough, the Leyther who I saw who didnt know there had been a game, and myself finished up having lets say a 'mild' argument. "How could he be a Leyther but not know there was a game" He produced his fixture card (the game wasnt listed) I told him it had been all over the Journal, "Ive not seen a Journal for two years" was his reply "Surely youv'e seen it on the forum" Youve guessed it, he hasnt got a computer. Apparently none of his mates had even mentioned the game to him.
The Avignon President in the after match 'thing' said their season had finished four weeks ago so had been difficult to keep their lads in trim for the game. I wondered whether the Club 'almost' forgot they were coming, the players seemed to line up for the French anthem - did the club forget it I wonder, and the usual 'gift' you give to overseas visitors seemed to have been overlooked. The Club hurriedly found a nice picture of Hilton Park, a shirt from the shop and an autographed ball to hand over.....they seemed pleased though. Lets get back to the serious stuff on Thursday night - Good luck lads.

Are the 8 extra league games not being offset by the reduction of the Northern Rail Cup to a straight knock out? Furthermore, the WCC seems to work quite well for the British teams so the RFL and FFR should use the same formula. Play it in France, the supposedly weaker league and at a time to suit their team. We play the NRL sides after our season has started and before their's has begun. It gives our teams a much better chance. I'm sure it would draw a good crowd in France and yield a reasonable profit even if only one of our clubs was involved.

To sum the RFL up, the Co-operative Championship tables haven't been updated on the offcial website since round six. They don't give a crap about rugby at our level, its seen as reserve grade.

Hi Brian,

I believe the current (but not necessarily final) thinking would be to remove the four NRC group games from Championship club fixtures, but there will still be logistical difficulties in fitting all the games within the intended start and finish dates for the 2013 season.

If there was 3250 at Carcassonne then i'm the Queen! How they would even count the crowd i'm not sure as it was free entry - the gates were just open and no one was counting. I'd estimate the true figure was around 1500.

And therein lies the reality of the competition. Thanks for that info HL. Did you go to Carcassonne? Hope everyone got back safely - but tired!

I wonder if we just 'threw the gates open', whether we would get 3,000+ on mind?

We threw the gates open at Fax a few seasons ago so we could get the required average attendance for super league entry

It was the RFL's idea - they told us to so they had an application to belittle that wasn't from a super league club - we love to do our bit to take pressure off the bulls!

Someone posted a link on the Sheffield board which included clips of the game and the folk watching.

The commentary was in French and being fluent I was able to realise/understand most of the crowd were in the marquees dotted around the ground.

Yeah I was there. Was a quality weekend (probably made better by the result)

But how they get to that figure is just silly. No one was counting and they've just invented it.

Looks like they took a leaf out of Halifax's book, according to 'freddie's wig'! Definitely think Toulouse missed a trick, by announcing 300 for their game though.

Well done on making that journey - respect! Of course, having done that, you've no excuse for not getting to Leigh tomorrow - providing you're back, that is!