Woah woah woah Pepe 99% of Widnes fans don't have ago at CC?

Hmmm not quite sure on that mate.

He never said that, read it again.

Fair posts from RFF and Pepe.

I'll try to keep the it in mind that it is only the minority that have a go and keep the responses as reasoned as possible. If I don't like it I'll try not to reply.

Oh sorry mis read. Stop doing big posts I can't be bothered to read it all

If you don't like it you will try not to reply?

Why not you are only giving your opinion.

Because it is causing $hit and is only one or two of them.

I'm not too bothered about Widnes threads until we're brought up anyway to be honest.

Its only causing $hit because some people MIGHT take it the wrong way.

A forum is to discuss about topics. And yes I'm a fine one to talk but a forum is also to put YOUR opinions down.

I stopped bitching about the licences a long time ago , before they were even awarded actually

My gripe since then has been with the RFL and their total lack of understanding as to how they are going to keep the tier below SL alive

They seem to either be totally clueless about this or even worse , they dont actually give a stuff , personally I think it is the latter

They seem to me to actually want the clubs in the heartlands to remain weak to make it easier for them to bring through new clubs from new area's

Even now certain clubs in the Championships seem to get treated differently depending on their location

If they are not careful they wont have much of a competition to use as a training ground much longer

Your licence was awarded to geographically expand the SL competition

Nothing more nothing less

I would have had a lot more respect for the governing body if they had actually come out and stated as such

I think I do.

I've got a football team that I and past generations have supported and they've been my team from a young age. If they were to be kept in the league they are in with no P & R and a team that has been in existence for a fraction of the time chosen over it I'd feel the pain and think it would be much the same.

Not the issue , the issue is that club is now dieing , and the governing body of this sport doesn't give stuff if they do , in fact they actually seem to want that club to die , along with several others

Typical SL fan, typical reply 'flat capper' yawn, yawn.
So when a fan from the low life of the Championship comes on and states a fact that some people don't like - poor crowds, you roll out thatb old insulting yarn.
Grow up pal, come up with something more constructive will you?

I doubt there were that many there anyway.

Thing is Wales is RU country, always was and always will be.
You have your work cut out changing things down there, I cannot see you ever getting big crowds just steady away ones with some decent fans all the same, we were always made welcome at the Cardiff Cup Finals.
Thats why I was not convinced you should have been let into SL you will never be strong enough.
Catalans are in RL territory thats why they are doing okay but Wales???
nah sorry

You wait til next season when we get more wins under our name and then the glory supporters, sorry Bridgend supporters will come and watch us play.
Our attendances will rise if not I fear that we will fold and it will be those people who can't be bothered to go watch their local SUPER LEAGUE team play.

And if you don't like it tough. The rfl have made their decision.

And I can feel your pain as the Bridgend Ravenss (local rugby team) have been relegated from the welsh premier.The ravens have been in the premier for 50 years, I think :S. And produced most of the Welsh stars. We are still producing stars. And now we have been forgotten.

The WRU banished the Celtic Warriors (Only Welsh Region) and I followed them thick and thin and been to every home game, no away games. And the WRU claim we ran out of money, which is a load of bullpoo.

So yes I do feel your pain.

Tough it may be. But I don't have to accept it. The more that is advocated for the game outside SL the more likely that one day a more sensible re-think of the game might be considered.


No, you think you do! Given the way this is done I doubt it. But as I can't appreciate how empassioned you are about the other team it's not a conclusive argument and not really significant in the "balls up" that is RL at the mo.

the point i think cru is trying to make is that as pepe mentioned its a small minority of people who are still bitter most have accepted and moved on.

the point is there is no need to inflame the now neutral fans. if its just one or two muppets let them have their drip and ignore them. by stirring $hit that may as you put it cause offence you risk turning the fans who'd given up worrying about back to being part of the minority.

I'm not bitter that Crusaders were given a franchise and the team I support weren't.

I am disappointed that the RFL may have blown another chance to develop the game in Wales, by rushing in a top-line team ahead of the development of a grass-roots base. I want a successful Welsh team (or two) in the top flight of British RL. I don't want Crusaders to fail. I worry that they might.

I also was, and am, angry that the RFL published its criteria for licence qualification, and then appeared to ignore it. I would rather the RFL said that "we, in conjunction with our broadcasting partners, want a Welsh team in SL", instead of claiming that Leigh's stadium didn't count as it wasn't open, their youth development didn't count as it was done by Miners and Easts, and Widnes' stable financial management didn't count because the previous administration had gone bust. But that's not bitterness at Crusaders, its frustration with the RFL.

Given that franchising is here and will be back on the agenda in 18 months, the questionmarks over the licensing process are part of the future, not dwelling in the past.

You may think I don't feel your pain but I do, honestly. Like I said the Celtic Warriors (the best team in Wales and the only true region) was shat on by the WRU, like all rugby in Bridgend is, and is forgotten. Same applies to the Bridgend Ravens who recently got relegated out of a top division which they have been in for many many years and have been champions and produced many welsh stars and British and irish lions star.

And Cardiff City have messed up their premiership hopes yet again. Which is extremely fustrating because they do it every year.

But it was a wrong one - I don't mean Celtic. I mean the licences. I want to see them abolished and a new approach - back to P&R but looking at the way the RFU is supporting a new second tier of pro-rugby and increasing P&R by reducing its size.

The Warriors is a good reason why abolishing P&R is a bad idea! Crowds in the Magners League continue to fall as most of the games are utterly meaningless. The Welsh were right to go to regions (i am a closet Scarlets follower) but the league itself should have been integrated into the English set-up or a new European league.

FWIW, I would amalgamate the French Elite RL into the Championship/SL but retain P&R, increase the Championship cap so clubs can prepare better for SL and reduce the size of SL. If Celtic get in and not Widnes, fair enough. At least they are there for playing reasons (and yes, in fairness as you came second, you deserved to go up).

There are sad and bitter fans at every club. Don't tar all of us with the same brush.

And isn't it sad that more time is spent on the Celtic board talking about attendances instead of the rugby!

Excellent post. Not convinced about the "broadcasting partners" bit, but I have no doubts whatsoever that we were all after a single franchise spot whilst one was going to be awarded to either Toulouse or Celtic. FWIW, I said as soon as we went into administration we wouldn't get a licence and the RFL should have been honest and told us so from the beginning!

The general concensus around our way is that Fev will never get into SL while Cas and Wakey are in because of the proximity of the three clubs. Assuming that both clubs get new grounds or at least share one. What is your thoughts on Widnes getting into SL bearing in mind that Wire, Saints and Widnes are in even nearer proximity than the three Yorks sides.

I think deep down the RFL believe there are too many Yorkshire sides and would like to get rid of either Wakefield or Castleford. Tony Rea used to talk about that a lot. However, their problem is that to throw out a club on the grounds of location would be illegal as it falls foul of competitions law (there is a strong case for saying licences do anyway).

I feel given the set up in Widnes, if we manage to win the GF and the NRC either this year or next, the pressure on the RFL to put us in will be too strong to resist (probably at the expense of Wakefield or Salford). It will not change my opinion one iota. I really believe the RFL have this seriously wrong.

I should point out that I would rather Widnes be competitive in the league they are in than struggle. We aren't even a credible Championship conternder at the moment

I for one thought that when you got relegated four seasons ago in 11th place the RFL got it wrong for me they should have kept you and Leigh in and added to it with Cas and Catalans. By doing so we would have got where we are today just a bit sooner thats all. I think that there is still a lot of support for you in SL now the problem is for you as I see it is that unless as you say either us or Cas plus Salford go then it might be difficult for you. AS I see it I dont think that they have invited the french team into NL1 for a laugh so long as its not at our expense good luck to you