But there is no format that will fit into the seasons, the lack of money both the English and French clubs have and the disruption it causes to each countries competitions, if we had full time squads, an excess of spare cash, played at the same time of the year, then fine, but we dont, so it will cost money to run, money that will never be made back, and money that could be spent better elsewhere

I don't like the word "never". It's defeatist. Everything is either not needed, will never achieve anything, is pointless, a sham. What's the bloody point in doing anything in this sport?!

You really dont get it, its lower tier sport, it doesnt need an International angle to it, it needs local marketing to the local populations of the clubs in it, it doesnt need live TV exposure, a well done highlights show would suit it better and could then present the sport at that level better than low attended midweek games



The RFL seem to have this fixation with treating the Championships the same as SL, when a completely different approach is needed, I'd suggest 95 % of Championship fans come from within 3/4 miles of their clubs location, that is where the clubs need help in building their support bases, similarily with sponsorship, most Championship sponsorship is based on support/love of the club/town than any actual financial returns



Yes a few years ago there was a clamour for TV coverage, when in fact what was really being requested was a paying TV deal, as soon as it became apparent that the Championships are not considered valuable enough to bring in a money for TV coverage, live coverage should have been dropped



The gap between the Championships and a franchised SL is now too big to be bridged , so its time for the Championships to be treated differently to SL , but it would seem the RFL are one trick ponies, and not very good ones at that



Once a new RFL Chairman is appointed the 1 st thing they should do is source and appoint a Championship ' Director ' with the specific job of building the competition and the clubs in them, he should have at his disposal a budget, seperate from any other influences

Good post that sir.

It aint a bad idea it just seems very rushed in the planning. Maybe it should have been all played in France?

Its outside the French season and in the middle of ours. On Thursday Leigh have a top of the table clash with Sheffield, in the coming weeks we have a NRC quarter v Batley and play another top of the table clash with Fev.

Knowing the French would be poor Leigh took 3 players from East/Miners, brought back our two Academy DC's from Wigan and Widnes, brought in Greg Burke from Wigan Academy and gave the fringe players a run out.

It was still 40-0 after 60 mins.

The concept has a chance with a Championship GF in August followed by an Anglo French Comp in September.

The RFL told the clubs about the games in November. They didnt know who they were playing, but knew the dates or proposed dates.

I notice the case for the defence has been dropped

, hopefully any further forays into international semi pro club competition will be simpler, better thought out and properly implemented, or better still just forgotten

Perhaps, if the RFL decide to repeat it next year, the French should be playing against CC1 or perhaps even the Conference League.





OK, perhaps that is a little out of order but I honestly fail to see what purpose it serves.

Can anybody find an attendance figure from the Carcassonne V Sheffield game?

Given out as 3,250 , however it was free entry through open gates, one of your fellow Sheffield fans who attended suggested around 1,500 was a more realistic number

Good to see coverage of this ' event ' on B and A