And the inclusion of a French club was part of the TV deal but, we could get rid of that as well and then the sport would be well and truly screwed.

Is it the [iEuropean[/i Championship One as well ??

Well it seems to be open to anyone if we're actually allowing a Canadian team to enter.

And why not!





Which has the bigger potential for our sport - Toronto/Toulouse................or Leigh?

icon_smile.gificon_smile.gif You can't have a fast track system AND p&r.



How about a North American/Canadian League and a French League (haven't they already got one). Let's sort the sport out in our own country first eh Nigel.

We've had over 100 years to "sort it out" and we made a right "bollo..." of it, hence the move to summer rugby and "franchising".

What the sport really does need to do is, work out where it wants to be in 5, 10 and 20 years time and then achieve those aims but, sadly, it just doesn't have any kind of laid down strategy.

Instead it lurches from "quick fix to "quick fix" and the game is just about stagnant.



The Aussie are jointly to blame as, they couldn't give a damn what happens over here as long as they have their precious State of Origin series and just as we need a strong French team, they need the game to be strong over here.



Our game has to make a plan and stick with it and although you say that there can be a "fast track" system AND P/R, the two dont really go together and if the game is serious about helping France and Canada develop as professional Rugby League playing nations, there has to be some serious thought given to it or, both will fail AND we may harm the British game in the process.



Personally, I dont have an issue with replacing a British club with a Canadian and/or French club in SL but, ONLY if it will be for the longer term good of the sport.



The old Franchising system should have been the right "vehicle" for doing this, allowing for the addition of new clubs etc but, instead, the top flight was shrunk (due to "insufficient numbers of quality professional players"icon_wink.gif and to give the remaining clubs a bit more cash and this was plainly wrong for a sport that wants to expand the reach of it's top division.



We could wait for "organic" growth, from the grass roots up but, we are already miles behind Union and we do need a method if increasing the number of playing nations.

Still going strong empty head ,answer me the question you always avoid is this the same Toulouse that imploded with less than 500 fans the last time?so what's changed now ,let's see if they get out the division there in and see how they go next year if they avoid the drop they will have done well oh have they any French players playing for them yet ?

As do London , Sheffield ,Huddersfield and Salford



But ?

By all means ' franchise ' , set the criteria and stick to it



But we know that doesn't happen

Exactly, I have a big issue with expanding super league outside of the UK when our priority should be other areas of England with Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The RFL just seem to go down the route of expanding globally which will do sod all to the remaining English clubs financially, do we really want a future super league with a portion of our season with no away fans.

My priority would promote and develop Superleague to the North East England, Midlands, Wales, Ireland, Scotland .................Not France, Canada, Antarctica etc.

How ?

By avoiding areas where other sports are competitive, the London guise had to compete with the football giants of Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and the union equivalents of London Irish, Saracens, Harlequins. We created a a South Wales Team against the hot bed of Welsh Rugby Union, Salford really struggle for support against the likes of Man Utd and Man City.



Currently there are no "elite" sporting teams in the North East and the Midlands a 5 year plan should have been put in place to get clubs to Championship Level, the North Wales development should have been RFL financed properly to assist the future backers.



The only positive out of the 20+ years with London is that we did eventually get some super league quality players from the capital area. Maybe the RFL want 20+ years in France, Canada etc whilst our own domestic product eventually becomes a feeder league to the NRL, maybe the RFL are happy of the possible outcome that 90% of the England international side will be anonymous in super league because they are playing 10,000 miles away.