It is the question I asked in a poll here: www.totalrl.com/index.php?showtopic=178500 Result: a surprisingly massive majority for a move toward a fully European competition with 5 or more non English teams. I did not expect that, even if it is true that forum participants are not representative of all the RL supporters. Anyway it is a good sign for those who look forward to the expansion of SL

It is the question I asked in a poll here: www.totalrl.com/index.php?showtopic=178500 Result: a surprisingly massive majority for a move toward a fully European competition with 5 or more non English teams. I did not expect that, even if it is true that forum participants are not representative of all the RL supporters. Anyway it is a good sign for those who look forward to the expansion of SL

And where would these other teams be?
What about teams like Widnes and Halifax?
How would such a league work?
Nice idea, but seems very much like pie in the sky.

No offense Catalancs, but I think you lack imagination



With 10k licensed players, France can now support 2 teams in SL. There is one Welsh it makes 3 teams in 2012.

The RFL aims for an Irish team sooner or later, and a Scottish team to follow. It would make 5 non English teams.

Adding one French would not be a problem toward 2015. It would make 6 within the next 10 years, and that would be a fully European competition (3 French teams is I think the minimum to get French media fully involved).

It may not work, but we are far from naive dreams. The result of the poll talks for it anyway. Forum participants are very knowledgeable about the game. There would not be 2/3 of them for the idea if it was completely ludicrous.

On a final note, and this is, I admit, a dream, I'd find it great if at some point in the future there could be a Barcelona team in the competition...

Add Tolouse then when themselves and Catalan are good enough and some money has been pumped in the Elite 1 they can head back over shore. Then look to add Scottish & Irish teams and do the same with those.

With respect to LER, its not strong enough for super league, great competition that LER is, but no it wouldn't work, look at the support, enthustastic as it is from Celtic.

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Think thats the best way, we have to aim on the french having a standalone fulltime league of there own eventually.

That's a long long way off, but like you say, it has to be a future aim.

this means more nrl players

A couple of reasons why i dont think there will be a stand alone French league even in the long term:

1) Chronic mismanagement by French Rugby League, at times semi-pro teams in the top flight fail to even fulfill their fixtures.

2) Bias in the French media would ensure it doesn't get funding.

3) Travelling British fans have done good for Perpignan's economy, with many making a weekend/entire week of it.

4) A reluctance for French teams to play in their own competitions. Apparantly Paris based side Corbeille would rather join an English summer competition than step up to the French Elite.

5) Toulouse and Les Catalans will be reluctant to leave Superleague for a risky venture in setting up a fully pro French league which would initially be inferior to Superleague.


The European competition is the way to go.

Yeah sure. I think that we are on a one way street here. If the SL includes at some point 3 French teams, a Welsh one and possibly an Irish. It is likely to attract big money for the competition and for the French teams. I do not see in such a situation who would have interest to split the competition and build a new French league. The organisers of the SL would incur a decrease in funding with foreign TV deals decreasing, and possibly Southern interest in the game waning. French clubs would jeopardise steady income and high media recognition for a second (or third) rated national competition. I don't see why the people in charge of the game and the clubs would ever make this decision. It would just not be in their best interest. I think the only way we would go back to a national competition is if the French club fail in SL and go in administration.
Frankly I do not see why a national competition is desirable. I find the prospect of a European competition much more fun.

this means more nrl players to come and play in europe