April Fool : Wed Apr 27, 2016 7:17 pm
Its a bit late for 1st April so must be true Toronto is a great city but is there any interest in rugby league in canada ???out of interest i googled a three night stay for 2 people in august including flights thats £1500 so once eating/drinking/transport and lesuire cost are paid you wont get any change for 2K for a weekend trip !!! at least Toronto are paying all costs for the away team.
They have signed some good coaches and have lots of money and will no doubt attract a lot of fringe or ageing super league stars especially when they get promoted to the championship so in two years time the championship will look very difficult toulouse have beat leigh this season so i would imagine they will get promoted this season and be an contender for the top 4 next season and now toronto could be a contender for the top 4 in two seasons time if they sign the right players.
So where does this leave sheffield no crowds no ground and an ageing team on the downgrade !!!!
Toronto Wolfpack will join English rugby league's third tier from next season.
The Canada-based side will be coached by former Leigh boss Paul Rowley, while ex-Great Britain coach Brian Noble has been appointed as head of rugby.
On Monday, former Leeds Rhinos prop Jamie Peacock revealed he had nearly signed for the newly formed club.
They will be the second overseas team to play in League 1, along with French side Toulouse.
The Wolfpack will play home games in four-week or five-week blocks before heading over to Europe for a similar length of time for a series of away games.
Teams visiting Toronto's Lamport Stadium home, who will have their expenses covered by the Canadian side, will fly out on Thursday, play on Saturday and return home on Sunday.
"We have worked closely with the Canadian club's officials and investors in the last few years and have no doubts that Toronto Wolfpack will enhance a competition which has already established a reputation for welcoming new clubs," RFL chief executive Nigel Wood said.
"Rugby league has always had a pioneering philosophy throughout its history and this initiative offers further evidence of the sport's wide appeal and readiness to embrace innovation."
Canada's got talent?
As well as looking to recruit experienced players currently playing in the third tier and the Championship, the Canadian team are participating in a reality TV series called "Last Tackle" to unearth players from North America.
Wolfpack chief executive Eric Perez added: "Sports fans have long waited for a trans-Atlantic major league team and we're proud to be the first with the launch of our club, the Toronto Wolfpack."
