I think we should give it a chance. In its infancy the Northern Rail Cup was a different format and was probably met with the same apathy. It took a few years to find a formula that worked.

Can't see Sheffield risking them in France, on the weekend before they play a Thursday match at Leigh!

At least the RFL are attempting to remedy the huge problems outside SL trying different things to generate some interest in the sports lower levels but equally (and its just my opinion) I think this shows how frighteningly out of touch they are with what the people who pay through the turnstiles are really interested in watching.

Well they might Alan if the prize money is a few thousand quid for the winners.

Lets wait and see wether this is a pointless competition. At the moment we haven't got all the facts.

A few of the facts that are emerging though, are a bit perplexing, and smack of the artificiality of the group stages of the NR Cup. The exercise was, in part , designed to give Championship teams more home games, to compensate for there being less Championship fixtures - hence Halifax and Sheffield having to trudge over to France. Why are Toulouse guaranteed a place, irrespective of whether they finish in the top four of the French league or not?

"We haven't got all the facts" - Neither have the RFL.

Allow me to answer this thread in one sentence.
If the French teams compete well/win it gives the RFL complete justification in handing Toulouse a franchise in 3 years, when an application from 'another equal standard league' comes in, bypassing the criteria they couldn't already meet and therefore leapfrogging existing teams in the queue.
There you have it.

Seems Dico thinks it is pointless too.

Not necessarily good sir, simply I think that's one of the driving factors behind. I'm not stating there may/may not be other benefits, I'm personally looking forward to the idea but can certainly understand the apprehension from certain quarters regarding player welfare and finances. But this is for Toulouse's sake, imho of course..

A nice concept, but fatally flawed by the basic 'Champion of Europe' premise.

Unless it's a meaningful contest for the other six clubs involved, why bother? The only way forward that comes to mind immediately is if this years 'Champion of Europe' plays the top team of the 'other' league the following year to give a rolling champion, or something? Unfortunately this removed the league that this years winning side plays in next year, defeating the object?


I see crowds in the hundreds in this format, it's a complete waste of time and effort.

Typical RFL gimmick no substance very little thought, pointless and useless

I'd play a double header in each country tbh.
I can see what you're saying but I like the idea, Leigh playing in the Challenge Cup is 'pointless' anything's pointless if it's reduced down to it. It's a challenge game, with some prize money at stake, against a team that you probably won't see play again. Sure the concept could do with a little work but I think we'll find this was a 'test the water' scenario, both as to interest, and the French clubs' strength. I would anticipate an expanded concept should this be succesful

Why is Leigh on the CC pointless? No matter how slim the chance, we can still win that. The way this is set up, we've no chance at all.
I'm not knocking the concept, just the pointlessness of the set up. Sort that and it's worth doing, but while we're playing for - at best, regardless -second place, why bother with it?
Sport is about competing to win isn't it?

No, Leigh have zero chance of winning the Challenge cup, I see what you're saying however the scenario's aren't that fundamentally different other than the 'heritage' of the cup. On average, Leigh will have one payday, to earn a few quid in a comp they arent going to win and so on. I do think this was an attempt to shoehorn Toulouse in 2015, and I think the concept has arrived from a desire to not clog the fixture list and expenses receipts too heavily. If it works out well i'm sure, with more planning then we shall see an expanded comp next year. On another note, you all turn out in your numbers for those pre season friendlies, get off yer backsides and go support your team

always enjoy the challenge cup, bradford last year was a great day out! we travelled very well too. Hopefully we get wigan/leeds away if we beat halifax.

unless we could get London at home. I'd be confident of an upset