Re: Toulouse : Tue Jun 25, 2013 12:01 pm  

For me, France represents the future for Super League if we are looking for growth. Towns like Toulouse, Carcassonne and Avignon are ripe for 7,000-10,000 averaging sides and commercial opportunities would rise with their inclusion. These places are popular with tourists and are respected and well renowned.

Toulouse is a very competitive sporting market but it seems there is interest in a Rugby League side there.

I was in Leigh yesterday and my god it was on it's knees. Full of down and outs and really quite a depressing environment. I don't suppose Featherstone and the like are any different. Untapped French towns and cities are very attractive for all parties in my opinion and would lead to a varied and dynamic Super League (however it may look).

Re: Toulouse : Tue Jun 25, 2013 12:08 pm  

SmokeyTA wrote:

You are free to believe what you want, as I am free to go with the official figure and in the absence of any evidence ignore your guess, and treat with the respect a guess would deserve.

Yeah and figures are never made up are they, Even under instructions from the RFL. What evidence would you require ?. Oh yes published figures. Seriously you really are but carry on, as you were.

Detroitcat, In my opinion, you are bang on, Everyone should have to do exactly the same irrelevant of whoever you are or whereever you are. They couldnt do it in the championship so why should they say, Oh, but thats a different scenario, we would do it in SL. So could many other championship clubs. As soon as they are back in SL then the gates would increase massivly, as would sponsorship and everything else.

Toulouse had a crap coach and had to have part time players traveling every other week. I dont understand this point, surely the coach is down to the club and attracting the right coach, and as for getting the team together, the player would know what they were signing up for and which competition they would be in. No Excuse.

Re: Toulouse : Tue Jun 25, 2013 12:26 pm  

Dettoriman wrote:

Should Toulouse want to make progress to Super League, They should go through the same process as everyone else. And earn it, May take a pro-active backer to put a few quid in to get them promoted in the new structure, But if they are serious thats what will be needed, If they earn their place. Nobody would complain.

From what I read of the new proposals, The top 12 teams for 2015. Would be those who finished in the top 12 next season, And to me. If the RFL quite bluntly say P & R in whatever fashion is coming back in, Whether the league splits or whatever, But you have to avoid the bottom 2 to stay in SL - Everyone will do their all to survive.

At Cas, We run on a shoestring budget, And focus on blooding youth into our side, I am very sure that we wouldn't be in the bottom 2 under Daryl Powell, But if we looked in danger with 10-12 weeks to go, Well then the club would have the choice, Bring in more quality, or go down.

Toulouse would therefore need to beat teams like Featherstone to promotion.

Why would they need to beat teams like Fev to promotion and not teams like Avignon? And Why do Toulouse have to beat teams like Fev to promotion but teams like Fev don’t need to beat teams like Lezignan?

Re: Toulouse : Tue Jun 25, 2013 12:27 pm  

Faxhali wrote:

Yeah and figures are never made up are they, Even under instructions from the RFL. What evidence would you require ?. Oh yes published figures. Seriously you really are but carry on, as you were.

.

Fair enough, you are right, we should ignore any official figures and listen to ‘some guy on the internet’ as it is a well know fact that ‘some guy on the internet’ is by far the most trustworthy of sources.

Re: Toulouse : Tue Jun 25, 2013 12:31 pm  

SmokeyTA wrote:

Why would they need to beat teams like Fev to promotion and not teams like Avignon? And Why do Toulouse have to beat teams like Fev to promotion but teams like Fev don’t need to beat teams like Lezignan?

Re: Toulouse : Tue Jun 25, 2013 1:28 pm  

Faxhali wrote:

Yeah and figures are never made up are they, Even under instructions from the RFL. What evidence would you require ?. Oh yes published figures. Seriously you really are but carry on, as you were.

Detroitcat, In my opinion, you are bang on, Everyone should have to do exactly the same irrelevant of whoever you are or whereever you are. They couldnt do it in the championship so why should they say, Oh, but thats a different scenario, we would do it in SL. So could many other championship clubs. As soon as they are back in SL then the gates would increase massivly, as would sponsorship and everything else.

Toulouse had a crap coach and had to have part time players traveling every other week. I dont understand this point, surely the coach is down to the club and attracting the right coach, and as for getting the team together, the player would know what they were signing up for and which competition they would be in. No Excuse.

Perhaps the CC, with its lower revenue streams, isn't a viable option for a French club but, SL is a different proposition.
The inclusion of Toulouse comes down to whether people want the game to expand and be strong in France or, whether we prefer to be insular, protected in our very own northern cocoon.
The French could of course be left to their own devices and in another 10,15,20 years we could all bang on about there being no decent opposition for England (or Great Britain) to play and what a poor international calendar there is etc, etc.
Of course there will be a direct impact on some clubs but, the way things are shaping up, it may be a straight swap, Toulouse for London.

Re: Toulouse : Tue Jun 25, 2013 1:41 pm  

Believe what you like Smokey, however, I do not need to make any figures up they do not affect Hull K R. The RFL however, and their French counterparts, are quite susceptible to the odd bit of propaganda and bull story. The choice is yours.

Re: Toulouse : Tue Jun 25, 2013 1:59 pm  

rlgear wrote:

Just saying like. Where you there? I was, my eyesights pretty good, and having seen how they tried to promote this particular game and their motives, I would tend to go with my thoughts thanks very much.

Having been there myself I would support your huge over-estimate of the crowd. There is clearly some politics involved here. For a 19,500 capacity stadium, we estimated 8-10K based on what we saw. For a revised (??) crowd of 14,800+ to be given is clearly taking the pee.

It was still a marvellous occasion though, despite a lack of local interest.

Re: Toulouse : Tue Jun 25, 2013 5:02 pm  

SirStan wrote:

Having been there myself I would support your huge over-estimate of the crowd. There is clearly some politics involved here. For a 19,500 capacity stadium, we estimated 8-10K based on what we saw. For a revised (??) crowd of 14,800+ to be given is clearly taking the pee.

It was still a marvellous occasion though, despite a lack of local interest.

I saw the whole stadium during the match and 14,000 was my prediction. Both main stands were virtually full for a start.

Re: Toulouse : Tue Jun 25, 2013 5:21 pm  

William Eve wrote:

This is the best and most uplifting news on SL attendances since 17,873 turned up to see Paris St Germain play Sheffield Eagles in 1996.

Yep and look how that ended.

Do you expansionists never learn, how monumentally stupid and easily swayed are you sheep. How many paid anywhere near full price and how many would actually turn up week on week, get real.

Seriously you want to jettison a real club like Cas for a fantasy team like Tolouse - people on the VT, press and Redhall won't be happy until they have finally destroyed this great game.