10 TEAM SUPERLEAGUE? : Tue Feb 20, 2018 8:37 pm  

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/5610037/super-league-may-be-cut-to-10-teams-under-controversial-two-tier-plan/ SUPER League could be CUT to 10 clubs and a second tier of the competition formed under controversial alternative plans for rugby league’s future. And about half of the game’s current pyramid may face being left to fend for themselves if it gets the go-ahead. Top flight clubs are talking about the future of the competition after seizing more power from the Rugby Football League over the off-season. It is expected they will vote on whether to increase the top tier to 14, with much stricter off-field rules on eligibility to play in Super League, for the 2020 campaign. But SunSport has learned of another proposal that would see it cut from 12 to 10, with another tier of 10 underneath. However, all central funding would go to those 20 clubs, meaning anyone outside them would have to find money themselves or wither and die. In the plan, which is believed to have support among some clubs: · TWO clubs would go up and down between Super League 1 and 2, with parachute payments to sides that drop · ONE would go up and down to and from the lower league · NEW York to enter Super League 2 These plans are likely to cause uproar if they were to be put to a vote and sources admit it would be a ‘hard sell', especially with the lack of funding outside the top two tiers. As things stand, all the teams who make the Super 8s and Qualifiers would get in, along with the proposed New York franchise and the top three in the Championship Shield. But even then they would have to satisfy off-field criteria, including making sure stadia and business plans are good enough. Clubs were thought to have made a decision on the competition’s structure for 2019 before this season started. However, failure to do so, with at least two different camps emerging, is thought to have pushed those back a year. It is expected plans to go to 14 and this one of cutting it to 10 will be discussed in the coming weeks. Or are these the Lazy Journalists that GH was talking about? https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/rugby-league-news/super-league-expansion-leeds-rhinos-1200855

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/5610037/super-league-may-be-cut-to-10-teams-under-controversial-two-tier-plan/ SUPER League could be CUT to 10 clubs and a second tier of the competition formed under controversial alternative plans for rugby league’s future. And about half of the game’s current pyramid may face being left to fend for themselves if it gets the go-ahead. Top flight clubs are talking about the future of the competition after seizing more power from the Rugby Football League over the off-season. It is expected they will vote on whether to increase the top tier to 14, with much stricter off-field rules on eligibility to play in Super League, for the 2020 campaign. But SunSport has learned of another proposal that would see it cut from 12 to 10, with another tier of 10 underneath. However, all central funding would go to those 20 clubs, meaning anyone outside them would have to find money themselves or wither and die. In the plan, which is believed to have support among some clubs: · TWO clubs would go up and down between Super League 1 and 2, with parachute payments to sides that drop · ONE would go up and down to and from the lower league · NEW York to enter Super League 2 These plans are likely to cause uproar if they were to be put to a vote and sources admit it would be a ‘hard sell', especially with the lack of funding outside the top two tiers. As things stand, all the teams who make the Super 8s and Qualifiers would get in, along with the proposed New York franchise and the top three in the Championship Shield. But even then they would have to satisfy off-field criteria, including making sure stadia and business plans are good enough. Clubs were thought to have made a decision on the competition’s structure for 2019 before this season started. However, failure to do so, with at least two different camps emerging, is thought to have pushed those back a year. It is expected plans to go to 14 and this one of cutting it to 10 will be discussed in the coming weeks. Or are these the Lazy Journalists that GH was talking about? https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/rugby-league-news/super-league-expansion-leeds-rhinos-1200855

Re: 10 TEAM SUPERLEAGUE? : Wed Feb 21, 2018 3:27 am  

What a load of rubbish the 2 x 10 is. It is a deceptive way of reconstituting the Super League and the Championship, with not enough places in the top level for all the much needed expansion teams that are rising up.

We need a 14 team Super League, that includes Catalans, Toronto Toulouse and London, with the option of expanding to 16 if New York and another north American or French team become viable enterprises.

Beneath that you can have a successful Championship with the likes of Leigh, Salford, Widnes, Wakefield, Featherstone, Halifax, Sheffield.

The ideal Super League from 2021 on needs 14 or 16 clubs, to consist of only strongly supported clubs and strategically vital clubs:

Wigan,
St. Helens
Warrington
Leeds,
Bradford,
Hull FC,
Hull KR,
Huddersfield,
Castleford,
London

Catalans
Toulouse

Toronto
New York

Montreal
Boston

If either the French or north American teams are successful on and of the field, then we should consider adding Avignon and Paris in the French case, and two out of Chicago, Philadelphia and Jacksonville in the north American case. That would then constitute a truly international Super League that would overwhelm the NRL in its significance.

Re: 10 TEAM SUPERLEAGUE? : Wed Feb 21, 2018 4:04 am  

The depressing part of the whole article is that all the funding will go to the 20 clubs.

So all the hard work that has gone into league 1 clubs, will mean nothing. All the spreading the word in Newcastle, London Skolars, Coventry, the keeping clubs like Hunslet, Keighley going after the RFL screwed them over with regards promotion to SL. Will mean nothing because they're aren't going to get benefactors and will struggle to get the finances required to keep them going.

Why are we so keen to kill the heartlands? Destroy clubs with proud histories? Narrow our appeal even more?
Just for the sake of pure money grabbing by chairmen, and on an expansion system that may or may not work.

Re: 10 TEAM SUPERLEAGUE? : Wed Feb 21, 2018 5:42 am  

The fact is that, when it comes to marketing, the game is in the 4th division and has been for a long time (e.g. when the whole super league was set up there was no money held back to market the game and no targets for clubs to expand). As a result there is now not enough money in the game and, as a professional sport, it is now in the doldrums. I don’t know how to fix it but the next 2 seasons may well be the make or break period for the game. We might see the major clubs might either break away or join the NRL as a second tier competition with promotion/relegation opportunities.

Re: 10 TEAM SUPERLEAGUE? : Wed Feb 21, 2018 6:09 am  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

What a load of rubbish the 2 x 10 is. It is a deceptive way of reconstituting the Super League and the Championship, with not enough places in the top level for all the much needed expansion teams that are rising up.

We need a 14 team Super League, that includes Catalans, Toronto Toulouse and London, with the option of expanding to 16 if New York and another north American or French team become viable enterprises.

Beneath that you can have a successful Championship with the likes of Leigh, Salford, Widnes, Wakefield, Featherstone, Halifax, Sheffield.

The ideal Super League from 2021 on needs 14 or 16 clubs, to consist of only strongly supported clubs and strategically vital clubs:

Wigan,
St. Helens
Warrington
Leeds,
Bradford,
Hull FC,
Hull KR,
Huddersfield,
Castleford,
London

Catalans
Toulouse

Toronto
New York

Montreal
Boston

If either the French or north American teams are successful on and of the field, then we should consider adding Avignon and Paris in the French case, and two out of Chicago, Philadelphia and Jacksonville in the north American case. That would then constitute a truly international Super League that would overwhelm the NRL in its significance.

I would like to see expansion towards the west coast of America also. Do you think this is feasible and achievable?

Regards

King James

Re: 10 TEAM SUPERLEAGUE? : Wed Feb 21, 2018 7:18 am  

Lebron James wrote:

I would like to see expansion towards the west coast of America also. Do you think this is feasible and achievable?

Regards

King James

It's a no-brainer.... It's guaranteed.
Santa Monica Maulers.

Re: 10 TEAM SUPERLEAGUE? : Wed Feb 21, 2018 7:44 am  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

What a load of rubbish the 2 x 10 is. It is a deceptive way of reconstituting the Super League and the Championship, with not enough places in the top level for all the much needed expansion teams that are rising up.

We need a 14 team Super League, that includes Catalans, Toronto Toulouse and London, with the option of expanding to 16 if New York and another north American or French team become viable enterprises.

Beneath that you can have a successful Championship with the likes of Leigh, Salford, Widnes, Wakefield, Featherstone, Halifax, Sheffield.

The ideal Super League from 2021 on needs 14 or 16 clubs, to consist of only strongly supported clubs and strategically vital clubs:

Wigan,
St. Helens
Warrington
Leeds,
Bradford,
Hull FC,
Hull KR,
Huddersfield,
Castleford,
London

Catalans
Toulouse

Toronto
New York

Montreal
Boston

If either the French or north American teams are successful on and of the field, then we should consider adding Avignon and Paris in the French case, and two out of Chicago, Philadelphia and Jacksonville in the north American case. That would then constitute a truly international Super League that would overwhelm the NRL in its significance.

why dont you get a team on the moon as well.

Re: 10 TEAM SUPERLEAGUE? : Wed Feb 21, 2018 7:47 am  

If they are the teams which will be the future of RL then there is a clear 2 division split (east west of whatever they want to call it).

Re: 10 TEAM SUPERLEAGUE? : Wed Feb 21, 2018 8:17 am  

WIZEB wrote:

It's a no-brainer.... It's guaranteed.
Santa Monica Maulers.

Surely that would be Sizzling Santa Monica Maulers.

Re: 10 TEAM SUPERLEAGUE? : Wed Feb 21, 2018 8:31 am  

luke ShipleyRed wrote:

The depressing part of the whole article is that all the funding will go to the 20 clubs.

So all the hard work that has gone into league 1 clubs, will mean nothing. All the spreading the word in Newcastle, London Skolars, Coventry, the keeping clubs like Hunslet, Keighley going after the RFL screwed them over with regards promotion to SL. Will mean nothing because they're aren't going to get benefactors and will struggle to get the finances required to keep them going.

Why are we so keen to kill the heartlands? Destroy clubs with proud histories? Narrow our appeal even more?
Just for the sake of pure money grabbing by chairmen, and on an expansion system that may or may not work.

Eh? Did you read it through properly?

Under these apparent proposals, P&R isn't being scrapped, there'll still be P&R between SL2 and the 3rd Tier, providing certain criteria are met, so any of the clubs you mentioned can still aspire to SL, as well as the sport attracting outside investment. Nobody is destroying anything, L1 only get about £50k as it is - if a club can't make up a £50k annual revenue shortfall, do we really need em?

It's fair to assume the 20 clubs will consist of Toulouse, Catalans, Toronto & NY. 20% are 'expansion' clubs.