Coventry is the only live bid left. I'm significantly more optimistic about the chances than I was but expect the decision one way or the other to be announced soon. I don't know of anyone leaving that would affect it. The Oxford bid collapsed but has been reformed. The bid was only recently looked into as the Bears were to be sacrifical lambs to appease the demons running Northampton Rebels but that wasn't enough.

Coventry Bears have been accepted into the NCL as a fall back plan.

I'm waiting ror one to be called, "Due Dilligance", that seems to have banded about a lot these past few months.

[url=http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_10266-oxford-to-join-championship-1.htmlThe RFL have announced that Oxford Rugby League club will enter Championship 1 in 2013.[/url

Similar to Northampton....why set up a new club when Cavaliers have been going for so long?

Although, that off-field looks like they could be contenders very quickly if they match it on the pitch.

I don't really see how you could convert Cavaliers to a pro club though. If it weren't for Vaikona they'd have folded though they're better now. No juniors.

So is this team essentially the Uni team? Or a completely new team, meaning that Oxford would be home to three RL teams?

Completely new. And 4 teams as there's also Oxford Brookes who I think are the better side. No idea where the players will come from though

And then there were 3

Given all the "crowing" on here can someone please tell me when the last successful new club stood up from the "heartlands"?

Oxford Brookes are definitely NOT the better side, trust me, the record stands at 3-0 to Oxford Uni



Will be interesting indeed to see where they get the players from!

It's 45 minutes for me and my old stomping ground so I'll be there like a shot.

It's got a lot going for it:
- Clearly it's not antagonistic to Oxford RUFC up in Hinksey, so no attempts to undermine them.
- The London Welsh experiment is already looking ropey- crowds are pretty poor. So long-term, maybe little competition from pro union.
- Iffley Road is a nice ground and it's central. If the club offers student discounts at a meaningful rate, it will get bums on seats in the months when the terms and the season align. The only other sports teams at decent levels round there are Oxford United and London Welsh at the Kassam (too far out) and Oxford City (also too far out).
- Iffley Road is on the doorstep of East Oxford, and if they can engage the community there then it could be a winner. Ever since speedway disappeared (which was huge in Oxford), there's not mean a meaningful summer sport to capture the locals' attention. If they get in the schools and are willing to hand over the free tickets to kids, they could build a real base.
- Oxford City Council are desperate for attention most of the time, and desperate for East Oxford to get more investment.
- It's a bloody good away trip.

I can see now why some ' lower ' Championship clubs are grasping the ' Dual Reg Feeder Club ' option , the financial implications of dropping down into this league in 2014 could be quite severe

There's no relegation from Champ into Champ 1 for a year or two if I remember correctly.

That was this year.

They are considering a year off from P and R to let the dust settle.

I'd be pretty ed off if I was a CC1 club if that is true, unless they can find some more clubs for 2014. I still think they should have gone with two leagues of 12.

That will please Rochdale and Oldham fans

Ive not heard or read anything that suggests Gloucester, Oxford and 'club number 4' will not be added to the list of Southend Invicta, Nottingham City, Scarborough Pirates, Lancashire Lynx, Blackpool Panthers, Carlisle Border Raiders etc.

What it will may well do is also add Rochdale and Oldham to the lists of towns that once had a professional rugby league club.

Thats that then. 9 team league next year, no 4th club. Glad they didn't panic and throw Coventry in before they were ready, but all of this could have been handled much better...

That should be the RFL's new slogan

Has it been confirmed as 9 ?

Quote ="Starbug"Has it been confirmed as 9 ?'" Yes. www.thunderrugby.com/article.php?id=9405 Pretty bad IMO. Hopefully the RFL will learn from their mistakes with this expansion, I'm glad they didn't throw Coventry in there too early and risk losing a promising club.

Quote ="Starbug"Has it been confirmed as 9 ?'" Yes. www.thunderrugby.com/article.php?id=9405 Pretty bad IMO. Hopefully the RFL will learn from their mistakes with this expansion, I'm glad they didn't throw Coventry in there too early and risk losing a promising club.

Quote ="headhunter"Yes. www.thunderrugby.com/article.php?id=9405 Pretty bad IMO. Hopefully the RFL will learn from their mistakes with this expansion, I'm glad they didn't throw Coventry in there too early and risk losing a promising club.'" It's because of the RFL not even looking at the Bears' application until after Rebels folding leaving not enough time. A press release elsewhere implied the RFL wanted us in next year but we asked to defer it. Not sure if that's the case but sounds plausible.

Quote ="headhunter"Yes. www.thunderrugby.com/article.php?id=9405 Pretty bad IMO. Hopefully the RFL will learn from their mistakes with this expansion, I'm glad they didn't throw Coventry in there too early and risk losing a promising club.'" It's because of the RFL not even looking at the Bears' application until after Rebels folding leaving not enough time. A press release elsewhere implied the RFL wanted us in next year but we asked to defer it. Not sure if that's the case but sounds plausible.

See relevant news stories here...

[urlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/26234/championship-one-to-feature-nine[/url

[urlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/19679815[/url

[urlhttp://coventrybears.co.uk/2012/09/bears-targeted-for-professional-ranks-in-2014/[/url

Great news for the club!

Some good advertising for the All golds www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/ ... story.html

Some good advertising for the All golds www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/ ... story.html