Championship Structure Made Official

Is this the way that long-established clubs should be treated?

We made the cut, thanks to the Dirctors, JD and the players but what about those clubs not so fortunate?

It will be a case ofBarrow
Doncaster
Oldham
Rochdale
Whitehaven
Workington

Gateshead
London Skolars
North Wales Crusaders
South Wales Scorpions

Quote: "IN a bold initiative aimed at invigorating the sport, the Rugby Football League are willing to “dilute” Championship One to help fast-track four new clubs from outside its traditional heartlands.

While expansion talk has long been a bugbear for many, it seems the governing body will not be deterred from their objective and the radical plans are in place for 2013.

Gillingham-based Medway Dragons, Hemel, Bristol, Coventry, Northampton, Chester and Oxford are deemed most likely to break into the semi-professional ranks from a list of 16 who initially expressed interest to the RFL.

A comprehensive review of the Championship and Championship One has highlighted a need for change to arrest club concerns around finances, attendances and facilities but the RFL’s chief operating officer Ralph Rimmer – who also yesterday announced a new television deal with Premier Sports – believes their vision will help ease such fears.

He accepted there must be a “leap of faith” initially as the standard of Championship One play in two years’ time may reduce as the new arrivals adapt but he heralded the untapped potential as a perfect way of growing the sport.

“We need to re-invent ourselves to some degree,” said Rimmer, who said there would be no relegation from the Championship next season but four teams will be promoted – expanding it to 14 – to make way for the chosen quartet.

“It needs a shot of adrenaline and this is what we’re trying to do. The most exciting week of my entire rugby league career will be the first week of the 2013 Championship competition; we can change the rugby league landscape of this country.”

A 10-club Championship One will materialise in what could be a largely expansion division, potentially including current incumbents South Wales Scorpions, Gateshead and London Skolars alongside teams such as Hemel, Bristol, Coventry and Oxford.

Rimmer concedes it will effectively run to “assist the geographical expansion of the sport” and will be “slightly diluted” while more established clubs such as Doncaster, Rochdale and Oldham could now be doubly keen to earn promotion next season.

The teams elevated will be the champions, play-off final winners and runners-up plus the next highest finishers.

Super League clubs have been encouraged to form allegiances with the newcomers – Leeds Rhinos are thought to be hoping to link with Bristol while Bradford Bulls, St Helens and Warrington Wolves are all interested in making partnerships – for mutual benefits such as the sharing of players and commercial openings.

The RFL’s club support manager Steve Ferres, the former Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and York City Knights chief executive, has been tasked with assessing the applicants and has been impressed with what he has viewed.

“You can be cynical having seen experiences of clubs go in and out like Paris St Germain, Mansfield and Scarborough,” said the experienced ‘troubleshooter’.

“But we have put more research than ever before in order to give these clubs a chance of succeeding and there are some very switched-on, clever, astute people out there who are rugby league lovers.

“Some of the work that has gone on has blown me away when I’ve seen it; they have been pushing our game forward without us knowing it.”

None more so than at Medway who only formed four years ago but now have more than 250 youngsters in sides running from under-eights plus women and wheelchair teams.

Also, five of their players are enrolled in the ranks of Super League club Harlequins – more than from either London Skolars or the long-established Hemel.

The successful applicants will be announced one by one over the next four months as the overhaul begins and groundwork is started for their arrival in 2013 while the standard two-up, two-down promotion and relegation will come into play at the end of that year.

Meanwhile, an Anglo-French tournament featuring the top four clubs – standing after the play-offs – from the Championship and the French elite will take place in May, with Toulouse guaranteed entry following their move away from the Championship.

With Sky’s withdrawal, up to 34 league games a season will be televised live by Premier Sports as part of a two-year deal although no money is involved.

However, clubs will receive cashback when their supporters subscribe and, among innovations being considered for matches, are coaches giving touchline interviews during the games.'"

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