Initially I thought that the populations of Limoux, Lezignan and Carcassone even combined would be too small to support a Super League, but the recent french final highlights just how passionate they are in that region for rugby league, perhaps more so than any single town, city or village.
If they did merge the organisation could only work under specific parameters, they would have to get fans of all three clubs behind the new team, I believe they would have to play their fixtures at Narbonne to open up their catchment area and have access to a top class facility.
The fans are so passionate about the sport in this region they would definatly travel to Narbonne to watch top class rugby league, this on top of the Narbonne population and an Aude catchment area population totals 300,000 which is not bad.
Another plus is that because league has such prominence in these areas they would get sufficient local council backing to sustain a credible budget. From what I read Lezignagn's playing budget is quite high and could maych most championship teams.
But really as I'm sure most posters will point out it will come down to how much the organisations want to merge and how much rivalry or bad blood between the three clubs there are.
Who knows, but I would support an Aude SL bid over say a Paris one, because of the history of the sport in this region, if things went wrong as we have seen with Paris in the past the people of Aude wouldnot up sticks and leave their rugby league club to die.

What happened in the French final?

Limoux, Lezignan and Carcassone all played each other at the same time watched by over 300000 people, the match descended into a riot when Limoux launched a squadron of those flying monkeys out of that Wizard of Oz film onto Lezignan and Carcassone, (who by this time had combined in an unholy alliance, similar to when Stanley joined Henry at the Battle of Bosworth Field) who attempted to counter by using Danny Glover's massive gun from Lethal Weapon in combination with Baloo and that snake whose name I can't remember from The Jungle Book. They were ultimately unsuccessful with their counter and Limoux carried off the Lord Derby trophy with their celebrations continuing well into the night.

Rhianna did the half time show, no bappage was displayed, not like that Janet Jackson.

Are there any highlights of that anywhere? pmsl

You are Jacques Fouroux and I claim my $5

Tony Duggan, ex Celtic Crusaders full back who was deported, now plays for Lezignan.

Full replay of French GF here www.pluzz.fr/rugby-a-xiii--lezig ... 14h30.html

Full replay of French GF here www.pluzz.fr/rugby-a-xiii--lezig ... 14h30.html

what do you mean 'they all played each other'? was it a 3 way game on some funky new triangular pitch?

To me that sounds like telling Wakey, Cas and Fev that they will never be able to compete in SL, so must merge. And, then deciding that the best place for them to play is Barnsley and expecting good turn outs because there's a great passion for the sport in the Wakey Met Borough.

If Lezignan can match Championship clubs' wages without Sky money already why can't they be sustainable in SL?

Don't be stupid.

It was clearly a hexagon shaped pitch. If two teams play on a four-sided pitch then obviously three teams would need a six-sided pitch... duh!

Thanks, it was such a gormclops of a question I couldn't even be bothered to answer.

on a brighter note, there was a big turnout for the game and also the standard of rugby being played was good. Would like to see more French RL.

whats so important about this Final, that it was televised live on FR3 terrestrial channel in France, as it has been over 20yrs since



cheers
Dave

was it a game of 3 halfs?

No you only got that on Countdown when twice nightly was running it!!!

So a rivalry fueled by local history and loyalties should be scrapped in the hope that fans become bothered about beating teams they are not bothered about. Can't see it myself.

Was in Aude a couple of years ago, and saw a car at a supermarket at Limoux, many miles from Perpignan and just south of Carcassonne, covered in Dragons stuff. There's the super league for those Frenchies who want to dream of a Friday night in Salford, and the local teams for those who don't.