From 2015, the 3 x 8 system is still on the cards... www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/23264272

From 2015, the 3 x 8 system is still on the cards... www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/23264272

2, possibly even 3 if Toulouse are given a spot, down. I hope they decide on a fixed and automatic points deduction for clubs going in administration - as going down might well push one or two over the edge anyway, they might as well try to limit the damage, while also avoiding the inevitable accusations of a fix.
It'll be interesting to see how they divide the Sky money.

Toulouse need to be in the lower 12 not fast tracked to the top. It will make the comp a farce otherwise with them no doubt being exempt from relegation etc. If they are in the lower set it will give them more chance to develop and have a sustainable business model.

My hope is that the split is fair and based on club position at the end of the season alone.

At least will will get some meaningful scraps at the end of the season, instead of dead games from those 'safe' in the franchise system. Last game of the season and a match between two teams to go down will be more exciting than a top 4 clash.

Sounds like the split into 8s will mean SL playoff, promotion playoff and a useless playoff. If it means the top four of middle 8 start in SL following season then it might work, with the split after full season actually finished.

Also London and Catalans no longer exempt from going down! Finally someone is making sense in Red Hall.

STOP guessing on how the teams will be decided. We have hyper intelligent beings on here who actually know how it will work

Agree with you there but can't help think there's going to be some very disappointed championship clubs.

5 will be relegated to championship one if Toulouse get in the championship.

Not convinced about the need to reduce the league, but I just hope the grown ups know what they are doing. Just wait for the "WHY HAS HULL GOT TWO TEAMS" whinging from the usual suspects.

The whinging has already started on the hudds board! They fail to realise FC + KR are the only SL teams within 50miles of each other. Whereas the west yorks teams have a few more local games and so do the lancashire teams! Plus the only 'real' derby is good for the game.

I hope and pray that we do not make the same mistakes we made when super league started, when we got relegated and it took for ever to get back up I am to old to wait for them to come back up again, and will the 2nd league of 12 get on the telly I hope we stay in the first

Geography should have absolutely zero influence on any decisions made. It must all be based on the field of play.

However, this is the RFL we are talking about...............

It would be pointless with p&r.

New technology means TV rights for the second tier aren't that important.
New TVs have internet functions, and I already watch a lot of lower grade and junior games in decent quality on my TV through the internet - and just last night I watched a very decent broadcast of the recent Canada v USA test.
In two or 3 years you will probably be able to watch every game live in HD on the net if no network picks up the broadcast rights - and no doubt they'll find a way to make viewers pay eventually.

I take what you're saying Roopington, but someone's still going to have to buy the cameras and actually film the games.