Exactly, so how can Leigh apply for a franchise if there is already a successful club based in Leigh in Super League?

Saint Leigh Centurions hmmmmmmmm

Epic Fail.





Widnes, Barrow and Halifax can apply. You have to either win the NRC or appear in the grand final.

Toulouse opted not to enter the northern rail cup in 2009. This year (2010) there was a proposal for them to play in a French only group against scratch regional selections and for the winners of that group to proceed directly to the quarter finals. The original criteria was "appeared in a northern rail cup final", this was later amended to "won a northern rail cup final".



I'm surprised that people are surprised about this. Nigel Wood's statement at the time he outlined those rules was demonstrably untrue. One of his two promises on Toulouse abiding by the same rules as other clubs has already been quietly dropped, so why is anyone surprised about the other one being dropped? The only surprise to me is that they've even bothered to announce it.



Dally, Saddened - I would 100% agree that it makes long-term sense for Toulouse to be allowed to apply for SL. But I simply cannot see what the RFL thinks it gains by such mendacious behavior. One cannot place any trust in RFL statements or have any faith that they represent a true state of affairs. I just don't see how that can be good for the sport.

it will be 2 clubs down from SL or a 16 team SL.

Midi-Olympique reports a crowd of 600 for the Toulouse/Dewsbury game yesterday, although the club are reporting a crowd of 850. Maybe they've been let off the average attendance criteria too?

[Yes - I know there were extenuating circumstances due to the late postponement to Sunday and the terrible weather

They've already said its staying at 14, you must have missed that one.

Only a couple of weeks ago SL voted to keep the 'membership at 14' with one club making way for a Championship club. That would almost inevitably put a current SL club out of business with the financial differences between the leagues (led by the RFL). So lets see what the next rule change brings

I think there can now be no doubt, even in the minds of the RFL apologists on these boards, about the lying duplicity of the RFL. What little integrity and credibility they had left is now in shreds.



To tell the Championship clubs one thing and the officials at Toulouse another in order to get agreement on their entry, and then simply change the rules they agreed with the Championship, stinks. This truly is deceitful and totally disrespectful to all Championship clubs.



I fear for this league's future while being governed by the RFL.

I am not surprised by the responses of some on here...

Why are Championship teams apalled by this decision?? Because we have been lied to... it's as simple as that. The French were admitted to this division on the understanding that they would have to meet certain criteria. As far as I can remember those clubs voted the French club in on this basis. Would they have voted the same way if this had not been in place? Not on your nelly!!!! The RFL have again acted deceitfully...

Are there clubs in the lower divisions capable of replacing current SL teams in the top flight... that is what franchising was supposed to be about. All teams competing for a spot being judged on the strength of their application. What in actual fact is it??? The RFL cherry picking teams that they fancy....

If there is an announcement tomorrow about Widnes being promoted anyway as one of two teams I would still feel equally as disgusted and embarrased about the way that this game is now run.

Rugby League as a sport has no integrity..

One thing I need to ask is how you somehow believe that 'Widnes fans' deserve to be in SL? We have a more water tight application than anyone else outside of Super League, including some actually in Super League. With the RFLiars stating that at least 1 Championship club would be promoted, we've every right to feel confident. Or are we not allowed to have any such delusions of grandeur in your eyes?







Rubbish. We've won the NR Cup, which by the RFL's ever changing on field criteria means we are eligible to apply.







But it's fair for Toulouse to be exempt from all other on field criteria, give them all the financial help they need, to give them exemption from relegation and a relaxed quota. In any case, this isn't true and you're making stuff up just like the RFliars do. Yeh good one, keep taking the drugs lad.

Anyone got a link about this? I would have thought something like this would have been picked up and reported by other media outlets.