In a word, expansion.

I think RLW reported there are now more kids playing RL in the South East than in the Leeds area.



Feltham, Staines, Hemel, Oxford and Skolars are slowly feeding into the Broncos team. That's unlikely if we're in the Championship. And the kids are unlikely to move to a club up north.

I would like to see a 3rd team outside the M62 corridor represented in the SL in the next 10 years. It would certainly give more of an argument to 'it is a northern game' isn't it?

I just hope no one takes yesterday's attendance as a standard. I've heard elsewhere it's the lowest ever, which is probably understandable given current circumstances (the team's performances this season, the Olympics, holidays etc).



Might also be worth pointing out that no London team has finished in the relegation spot in SL.

sorry, what do you mean ?



If London RL only averaged 500 speccys in SL home games, there would still be a 'positive spin' about them.

They are 'irrelevant'......END OF.

London's average attendance this season will be something like 2,800. Ours will be around 5,600. So, after just 30 years, they've already managed to achieve an average attendance that is around half of the figure we've taken 130 years to achieve.



There may be clubs out there whose fans can criticise London's attendances. We aren't one of them.

I always find it amusing that people who would no doubt call themselves traditionalists, and who claim to support promotion and relegation (as I do myself), want to throw a club out of the league because their crowds aren't high enough.

As much as I'd like to have a pop at London myself... I still see a reason to have them in SL despite the attendances. Just having a presence away from the heartlands I believe is important for one... but mainly... They have a very good development programme in the South. They have a good presence in a number of schools... so as long as they are in some schools and occupying some kids minds away from Union... I see a reason to keep them in. The public may not have a huge interest down there... but I've often thought they should occupy an area of London and use that name rather than use the whole city of London in the title... as it could increase attendances.



And for what it's worth.... I'd get rid of Catalans any day of the week before I'd get rid of London.

Your 5600 average attendance figure is definitely up for argument. The attendances figures this year have been totally miscounted, with numerous corrections subtracted from the attendances first given. I find it hilarious the ijit's actually believe they've won more support than lost since the move to Barton. If there is an increase in attendances this year it totally through the vast followings of away support.

Why get rid of Catalans?

They seem to have more French in their squad than the average NW based team have English and the game is very popular in that region of France.



Of all the new franchise teams I'd suggest that Catalans are the most succesful by some margin and more than pay their way.

The short answer to this thread is, because we have an SL licence and a wealthy (and long suffering) chairman who is prepared to fund our losses every year (at least for now).



As for why we have an SL licence, because we play at a reasonable ground, and have development programmes that mean we've gone from the team full of Aussies that I started supporting to a team with quite a lot of southerners in it.

Let's face it we didn't get the licence based on our crowds.

Something I've been banging on about for ages. Calling ourselves 'London' is a bit like you calling yourselves 'Greater Manchester' and thinking that people from Stockport and Bury etc. will identify with the club.

At last, someone who understands that nomenclature has nothing to do with growing crowds. Salford and London have lots in common around the demographics that we operate in - i.e. surrounded by rich and successful premiership football teams plus top flight rugby teams (in our case RL in the shape of Wigan, Saints and Wire and one RU club and in London's case RU with Quins, London Irish, Wasps etc.) having first call on crowds sitting on our doorsteps. It's easy for fans of Wigan, Wire etc. to throw stones at us about crowds but none of them ever reply with a solution to growing crowds when facts are presented to them. In fact, if they were that bothered about our crowds in particular, then they should pop down to Barton and watch us too!



Also, it's ironic that folk suggest that you should retreat from the London name and stick to a certain town/area to grow crowds and then suggest the polar opposite for us!!