I couldn't see the French League having Wakefield in it. Surely the best way to 'expand' the game is to build from the heartland outwards such as South Yorkshire, Midlands etc (and the same going North). Why we chose 2 clubs in different countries which are miles away from anywhere is beyhond me. That may help French and Welsh rugby but doesn't do much for the English game.

Putting aside that Super League isn't the 'English League', there is enough of a professional structure to support and nurture the English game. It's not the Welsh or French clubs which harm the English game, more the English clubs who'd rather have past-it or third-rate Aussies who'd never get a game in the NRL on their books than give the young English talent a lengthy chance in the first team.

What like the crusaders you mean? No not many journeymen there at all damaging the game!

You know the rules that expansion clubs have a higher quota than the rest, but one that reduces over time to the same level as other clubs. As much as it'd be great to see an-all, or mostly Welsh Crusaders side, that isn't possible after 4 years. Not as if we have an all English/WMDC side either.

So why not allow Crusaders to develop there own players before thrusting them in to the situation they have found themselves in now.

No but the European Super League does.

Okay, could you see the French League having Wakefield in it and renaming the European Super League? Or any other league for that matter?

Super League hasn't been renamed though, it's been the European Super League/Super League (Europe) since before a ball was kicked. Catalans are not playing in a 'foreign' league as Wakefield would be if they entered the French League.

Toulouse, I guess, are, but all the Championship clubs have funding for their travel/accommodation costs as far as I'm aware.



No idea. But their entry to Super League, like ours and the other 12 clubs, was based on a whole list of factors, not just that one.

Rugby League is no longer about what happens on the pitch, it's aout what happens in the boardrooms and the business plans.

It always has been. The clubs with the best business plans and most professional people on the board are usually the most successful. The two come hand in hand. What licensing has done is focus a lot of clubs to strengthen their off field activities to further benefit the on field side.
To think professional sport is only what you see on the pitch is naive to say the least.

The most bizzare thing though is that we introduced a salary cap to help prevent clubs from over-extending themselves through investment in players. Now we have nearly every club over extending themselves in a race to have the most administrators; best community structures etc to score points on a different league table.

I fail to see how bankrupting clubs in a race against each other is in anyway better than it was when the league table that counted was settled on the pitch - and not off it?

I am a widnes fan mate and have been peed off.But now i give up with the rfl totally.I have lived down south with the army and they like union and football only.Now i roll my sleeves up and try and enjoy my rugby in the championship.I know a few widnes fans who not go the games, because not in superleague.If rfl smell the coffee we would double our attendances, cos of the better standard of rugby and more away fans.Anyway i am very upset with celtic moving to wrexham which is 30 miles from widnes.Call that expansion?People near their such as chester have supported widnes.Well i disgusted as celtics attendances will be boosted by away fans now and free tickets.I hope some of the heartland clubs get together and boycott going.But i doubt many will as they like their clubs.Nothing surprises me with the rfl as the kicked us out for the catalans when we came 2nd bottom of the league.Next time around they could drop salford or yourselves which i hope not as you are good fans.I am just saying as the rfl are mindless.Anyway goodluck for the season and i admit miss superleague.

I agree we need to be improving english not french and welsh.The game does not have big money so we need expand gradual if we do.

Everyone knew the rules for that season - the bottom two would be relegated for the team from NL1 (if they met the criteria) and the Catalans. Widnes weren't kicked out.

Still made up at the beginning of the season.Catalans did not make their way up the leagues like we would have too.So if widnes was in gloucester with same fan base then we would go in automatically.Come on it a joke.I sure you be happy if say you have one bad season and french side toulouse took your place?It such a joke their is no promotion and relegation.If their was then celtic be in the championship now.My point is the rfl make rules up anytime.My view their should always be promotion and relegation to make fair for all teams.

And to give teams something to aim for.