It seems that Toulouse are going ahead with renovations at their ground, with a view to submitting an application to join SL in 2015.

Whilst it is obvios that their inclusion will help the French game significantly, this surely signals that there will be changes to the numbers

in SL for the next franchise period.

Different people have suggested that numbers in SL should be cut and assuming that Toulouse are not making this effort without a strong

likelihood of inclusion into the competition, how many teams will be inluded in the next round of franchises and who will/ should get the chop ?

Easy, kick wakefield or Cas out and put them in, whats the problem, Eddie Hemmings will tell you

Halifax finished their ground, it didn't do them any good.

Featherstone are doing theirs as are Batley, will it do them any good?

In theory a second French side following the success of Catalans makes sense, financially and for the overall good of the British game I'm not so sure.

The franchise system is so flawed its worthless and I can't see how Toulouse could be promoted after pulling out of the lower league structure.

17 into 12 won't go.

I still think there shouldn't be a French side in the Super League, I consider that that and removing P&R to be the two most ridiculous decisions made in recent RL history.

If they started at the bottom and fought their way up via P&R then I would be all up for it but to 'gift' a place to a team in a different country is just stupid on so many levels.

All i've heard is how the french games not been helped by having a SL side.





It may all be rosey with Catalans but the teams below in the french leagues seem to think its made the game weaker, a bit like in this country maybe.

The worry for all but the big clubs, is that IF another French team is included (and the French TV will probably make it too attractive to say no) than what will happen to the size of SL.

There are already voices within the game seeking a cull and the inclusion of another French team would cause this to be slightly more severe.

Equally, what about the likes of Fev and Halifax and the other Championship clube that mat be seeking promotion.

There really should be some clear strategy from the RFL as to their plans for the short, medium and long term plans.

I certainly dont want the situation that we had a couple of years ago, not knowing what was happening and finally, what would this do to Cas, who are unlikely to have made any changes to their stadium by 2015 ?

Definite no from me.



Leigh, Fax, Fev and Sheffield have all worked hard in the Championship and its a massive slap in the face

to them all if we put Toulouse in SL.

Agree, apart from being French, for whatever that's worth, they offer far less than some of the other teams mentioned. What financial incentive is there for English teams if they were to be admitted because it would have to be a bloody good one. Seems to me they're much better helping develop the French League there in.

I don't believe the RFL is interested if any SL club is french , english or chinese !

what does interest them is any club which can survive independantly without having to rely on a rich backer to prop them up - great credit to SoC & messers Glover & Hughes and the like but maybe a structured sponsorship financial set-up is a more secure bet for the RFL ?



Can the likes of Fev,Fax or Leigh and the rest offer better or at least equal financial stability as Toulouse ? Toulouse is a rich city with maybe more likelyhood of making a go of things in the SL ?



whether french SL teams are actually beneficial to the french LER is another question - the present FFR13 is not helping the french game as everyone seems to be awaiting the newly elected preseident to get things moving

... and what message does that send out to the likes of Fev, Leigh or Fax??

So what if Toulouse is a rich City, I fail to see what that has to do with anything?



Will we end up with more and French sides in SL?



The idea of another French side in SL should not even be mooted IMO!

what it has to do with is MONEY & INVESTMENT !



it doesn't matter if the club is french or english it's a question of viability and stability - how many english clubs offer that ?



the RFL would gladly entertain offers from Fev & the like if they believe the business plan is solid enough



Toulouse is a city with money and sponsors - if an english club can match the potential in Toulouse the I would prefer to see an english alternative any day

I fail to see what french clubs bring to s/l, the away support is none existant and on the other hand they are the longest and most expensive away trip for supporters and clubs. Feath,halifax,sheffield etc would bring far more away support and help with clubs finances,and the quicker we dump the franchise system and get back to promotion and relegation and let clubs earn their position the better.!!