Read Hector McNeil's article in the League Express at the end of the season. Best thought out reasons as to why RL/SL needs London.

Certain sections of the RL heartland brigade point to the Skolars and their improvement as the "way forward"....what they fail to acknowledge is that it is only through picking up London Broncos/Harlequins yoof that the Skolars have kicked on.

These kids will be lost to Union or to rugby altogether if there isn't a clear local pathway to professional League....London Broncos have trouble getting northerners to come south even when we are paying them a decent wage...if local kids don't see a local team then they won't be interested. IMHO that is.

Lastly...the private investment model hasn't worked in London and I doubt it ever truly will.....it's time for the RFL to start paying for its own expansion.

Oxford are on record as saying they have no interest in joining Superleague. Their plan is to develop RL locally and offer a pathway through to fully professional RL elsewhere for players good enough. (They had a player training with Wakefield on and off last season as part of this plan.)

Was not suggesting that any club aspires to be sl or even full time, just that like any sports club from grass roots to the full time pro's they are in it to win.
it does sort of lead on as an answer to the question of why london in sl, because the other clubs out there have realistic targets and ambitions at this moment in time.

Not arguing but the loss of dual registration players would have a more immediate impact on both Skolars and Hemel. Both had a fair few Broncos lads play for them last season. The recruitment at Gloucestershire seems to include Londoners this season making it even more challenging.

I agree with all this. Specifically on the last point, I believe that a successful London club is essential if Rugby League is ever going to progress (in terms of sponsorship, better TV deals etc). If other SL clubs could see that they would have the same percentage slice, but of a far larger cake, maybe that would assist with a more centralised strategy.