Can't help but thinking the american Canada project will wither and fail. But we gotta try I suppose. Just can't see it working long term

Same here.

Same here, apart from the "But we gotta try I suppose" bit.

Bloody pessimists



All evidence for Toronto so far shows that they're serious, ambitious, enthusiastic for RL, display a high level of commercial acumen - and so far they've delivered.

They've managed to build a professional RL club from scratch, with no central funding, playing in a league 3,000 miles away, and averaged over 7k attendances against some pretty poor sides. I think that has to be applauded.

Indeed, contrast that to Salford who can't get the fans to travel 30 miles for games.

This.

Name one side that could do that. Take the 3,000 miles away if it helps. We have clubs that couldn't and still can't do that in SL.

Despite your moniker, you’re always upbeat.
At Wembley 1985, I sat next to an American, who was floored by the game, watching 2 halves of non stop collision, as opposed to 1 hour stop/start in 4 hours, NRL. He said “if I could import this to the US, it would go like wildfire”, he was also amazed that I was in tears after another defeat!!!
If franchises were awarded to North Amerca and Canada, I’m pretty sure they’d be allowed to sign as many Aussies as necessary, a la Catalan, so can’t see it impacting the UK player pool? I think it would impact NFL more. As you say, Toronto have worked wonders in 12 months, so business acumen won’t be a problem. Don’t think you can use Football as a model for growth because it was foisted on the US by FIFA as part of the World Cup deal.

I try to see the positives I suppose. Maybe it's time for an avatar change?



Of course as a lifelong RL fan I'm biased, but despite the frustrations we have with the sport, we do have an excellent "product". I don't think there's a more entertaining team sport on the planet. World class athletes, big collisions, skill, high tempo, plenty of tries, and simple enough to understand fairly quickly. It's a true family sport too. It should be exactly what North America has been missing, we've just got to open their eyes to it. It's rare that I'll watch a game with a non-RL fan and they won't enjoy it.



Toronto have to abide by the same "Non-Fed" rules as the other UK clubs (same as Catalan currently). Canada falls under the same Federation as the UK & France (the RLEF) so will in theory be able to sign as many British players as they want (Salary Cap permitting). Similarly, we could go out & sign 10 French players, or 10 Canadians in 20 years time, and it'll have no effect on the Non-Fed limit.

Short-term it will impact the UK (& potentially French) player pool, in that the current talent will be shared between more clubs, but the flip side of that means there's another pathway open to UK talent to play at a high, professional level. For instance, Westerman leaving Warrington may mean that a door is opened for a young UK back rower to stake a claim for a shirt.

Long-term, Perez has said he'd like to have a TWP academy up & running within 3 years time. This is very ambitious, as there's very little junior RL being played in Canada currently, but one things for sure - Perez meets his ambition with actions. They also had I believe, 6 North Americans in their squad this year, with their first genuine Canadian youngster, Quinn Ngawati, getting game time. We also have to think of Melbourne, who in their 20(?) years have been very successful, but have only brought through a handful of genuine Victorian youngsters in that time. It takes time to set up the grassroots infrastructure & get it to a good enough standard. We're extremely lucky to have a number of excellent amateur clubs on our doorstep.

Impact the nfl ? Seriously , they college game is bigger than the super league

divide that figure by 10 for a lot of their fans

The College game is bigger than the NFL!

Ha yeh crazy ain't it, kind of like it though

we were in London the night before the Dolphin's game, a group of about 20 Americans were watching it in the pub, and we even managed to bump into some of them at Wembley the next day, it was manic, the size of the crowd etc. (the college game)

I was only saying there would probably be more American footballers poached into the game than UK players, I made the mistake of labelling the whole game NFL. I can see supporters of NFL swapping codes because of the constant impact but I know they do make a family day out of there spectacle but the London franchise died out, lets hope if it does come off we succeed.

Could certainly see some very good americans who dont make it in the nfl, becoming exciting rugby league players, I'm all for it to be honest

The Football season is a fairly short one too I believe, Autumn to Spring, so there's plenty of potential to tap into the fan base & player pool (at various levels) during the RL season.

Well Gary Hetherington's said there's not chance of SL expanding to 14 so it looks like we're retaining P&R via the MPG.

he alsp said there wasnt any truth in leeds signing briscoe too!

wouldnt trust a hetherington when it comes to them spouting off

What a rant that was!! I don't trust him either! A few of the other owners have been saying one or two Clubs are purposely holding up changes taking place It wouldn't surprise me if there isn't a bit of sour grapes about it all here, perhaps he's feeling a bit marginalised and he's a bit peeved that a few of the other owners have risen through the ranks now and are taking the initiative in a field that he considered himself the top dog in!

Many would argue that college football is indeed bigger than the NFL.From a live attendance point of view,way bigger.
There are around 8+ colleges with ground capacities of 100k plus and lots with 90k plus stadiums and in most cases they sell out.
From a television point of view,monies generated from advertising and viewing figures,the NFL.
As regards the Super League,high school foofball is massive with school stadiums having 50K stadiums,and again sell out in lots of games.

The point about rugby league taking off in the US is questionable,they do have some teams in the US but as far as i know,and i will stand corrected,it is not played in schools or colleges.I think the yanks would television wise enjoy it but as far as taking off as a school participation sport,not much hope.
There is a growing trend in the US that parents are steering there kids away from "football" due to the high number and frequent head injuries that are being highlighted.So i cant see many parents wanting to see there offspring playing an equally brutal sport without all the padding.

RL is not equally brutal. Almost every professional football player carries a serious brain injury. Our sport doesn't come close.

For this reason you can see the gap in the US market. A low cost contact sport that doesn't maim every single participant but can be picked up quickly by football players could be popular. The talent pool in the US is vast but there are few opportunities for athletes that don't make it at the top level.

ryan mason who plays for hull city had to retire today because of his head injury sustained in a game last year v spurs, heading the football also brought into question too, so yes your right it isnt just rugby or nfl

I very much doubt that every player carries a serious brain injury in fact I'm certain your very wrong on that

In one study 96% of nfl players' brains examined had chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Your certainty is misplaced.

I didnt word my post very well,let me clarify.
The phrase equally brutal are not my words,like you i dont agree either,but that of my family and friends over i the US.My daughter in law and mother to 3 of my grandsons has watched both over here and on tv over there lots of rugby league,having married a rugby league nut.She will not let any of her boys anywhere near "football" or,not that theres much chance,rugby(both codes).This goes for most of the rest of the family and friends with young boys.They also consider rugby,both codes dangerous,again their words not mine.
I see your point about about footballers not making the big time,there are some great athletes who dont but i think it would be extremely difficult to get league off the ground among youngsters.Given the ongoing furore with football at present in the US another physical contact sport might be a bridge to far.Surprisingly football,their soccer seems to be flying under the radar regarding head injuries and seems to be one of the "new popular sports" of choice of parents in the US.
You are right as well regardingbrain injuries,a very high percentage of current and past ex pros have been found to have brain deformaties.