All sounds very positive. You cant question what Mark Evans has brought to the RU side.

As long as he remembers RL is a different animal to the toffs game!

not sure how much difference it makes; the name, kit and venue tell a story in themselves - a significant part of the ethos of RL vapourised in this franchise when the Broncos snuffed it, so if you want to watch top grade RL in the Smoke you desperately need some savvy to keep it afloat once the IL cash goes

Unbelieveable! We finally have a ground that feels like a proper home, where it's comfortable to arrive well before kick off and linger well after the final whistle and some people want to revert to being an itinerant club squatting at football grounds at all points of the compass: The Valley is far too big (28,000 all seater) and Loftus Road has a small pitch and the seats have no leg room.

The Broncos has already FAILED and we're damn lucky London retained a Superleague club at all.

If Mark Evans does come on board and is able to help us fill the ground as he did for our union partners great! I don't see how that would compromise our club in anyway whatsoever - we'll still be playing league, and hopefully with greater success and a more stable long-term future if there are a few thousand more people supporting us at each home game.

im with gutterfax on this

Yes.

Union turncoat?

Loftus Road was suggested as a suitable venue for our club by Beer Monkey. I saw the Australia v NZ international there about five years ago - the pitch is smaller than Brentford with very little space around the touchlines and the seats have an uncomfortable lack of legroom, at least in the stand where I was sitting.

We don't have a "fantastic following", our attendances aren't much more than half what the next lowest supported clubs get and I don't see how we can compete indefinititely even as a mid-table club under those circumstances, so frankly I'm not fussy about what type of new supporters we attract as long as they aren't abusive or anti-social.

I have only posted on here a couple of times but feel I must once again put pen to paper.
AN announcement is due from the club office – it has not yet been made and already people are voicing negative thoughts such as - As long as he remembers RL is a different animal to the toffs game!

Why is it a toffs game – does that mean RL fans have no decorum, decent life styles or money in their pocket

Dave Lister - As much as he would bring, ATEOD i'd rather we were a struggling "proper" RL club than a Union club playing League. AND Don't get me wrong (and i'm not accusing you of doing so), I think there is potential for Harlequins RL to be a successful club but changing Harlequins RL into a Union style club would be wrong IMO as the 2 products and experiences are very different.

What is a proper RL club? I thought it was one where people attended through love of the game and it had a professional structure in place. Why has the club mentioned they will change the style. In fact where has the club mentioned anything at the moment it is all supposition

Finally
With regards to your final paragraph, being very stereotypical, but IMO fairly, a rugby league fan is a different breed to a rugby union fan and I personally would be disgusted if our club began to be followed by this other "type". We have a fantastic following as it is, the people are out there all over London and the South of England, and just need to be tempted in.
I have been an RU fan for a vast number of years loved playing the game and watching as I got too old to play. I discovered the RL at the Manly game and attended Wigan and Warrington. I love it I intended to keep coming back. But it is closed minds like yours which stop expansion. As I am the other ‘type’ should I stay away and cancel my ticket for Hull and the tickets I have booked for my RU friends as they too are the other type.
Like I said previously the annopuncement is not yet made and people are jumping to conclusions. Open your minds and listen to what is being said.


Finally s I am from the old school can anyone tell me what AETOD means?

Take no notice of them mate. You and your mates are very welcome

ATEOD - At the end of the day

The perception of rugby union as a toff's game is antiquated and outdated. These days people of all social classes watch rugby union and the "experience" of going to games is pretty much the same for every sport, never mind just the two codes of rugby. Meet friends, watch game, abuse referee good-naturedly, enjoy a bit of banter, have drinks, go home. Ok, some football fans might include "have punch-up" in the experience, and they have to wait until after the game for a drink, but that's it. Or do we think that going to a union match involves formal dress, silver service and a ball after the game?

I am a RU supporter as well. I went to a couple of games last year - the St Helen's and Castleford games. Unfortunately the side lost both heavily and I was put off. However I had learnt (most) of the rules and began to appreciate RL.

This season I came along to the Manly game and decided to give Quins RL another chance. I'm glad I did - what a result against Warrington. I brought my daughter along as well. She is a real RU supporter more so than me and she was ecstatic by the end. Ok I realise that it wont always be this way but it was nice to see Quins winning finally!!!

I don't expect all your new fans to come from the RU club, but it is madness not to make the most of the opportuity.

I hope you can grow your crowds as the RU club has done and look forward to supporting a successful RL side in the years ahead.