That post is possibly one of the most stupid things I have ever read on here and that's saying something.



Why are we (cas) in more danger than Crusaders who have litrally no fans (apart from the ones with free tickets) no stadium that is based in Wales (which is where they are supposed to play btw) and have gone into Administration in the last month. Then you have Harlequins who also have no fans and the game clearly isn't growing in the capital at all despite them being a SL club for years.

to state a club from outside the UK can apply without having to pass any criteria whatsoever

who have literally no fans (apart from the ones with free tickets) - funny that I can name quite a few, unless you have proof to show more free tickets issued than other clubs?



no stadium that is based in Wales (which is where they are supposed to play btw) - where's Wrexham to?



Then you have Harlequins who also have no fans and the game clearly isn't growing - funny that the evidence doesn't add up to that, attendance yes but are you seriously saying that the game has not developed in London at all?



I can understand fans of established clubs frustration but posting crap is hardly the way forward is it?

This is taken from the SL website



"Will a club from the Championship definitely be awarded a licence?



=#0000FFYes, at least one Championship club will be awarded a Super League licence, provided it meets the minimum criteria"



[urlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/page.php?id=375[/url

To say my post is stupid and then say that (in bold) in the same post is hilarious!





Last time I checked, the Racecourse Ground is in Wrexham, North Wales. Check a map. It is a vastly superior ground to Castleford's. So there is one reason.

Another reason is because they are an expansion side, and are underpinning development of the international game with the work they are doing in getting Wales up to scratch (look at the interest Wales getting into the 4N has gotten off the back of Crusaders good year in SL). And also, if rumours are to be believed, Sky want them in, which means more money from our biggest backer. Something that few of the smaller traditional clubs would ever be able to achieve.



Again, Harlequins are another expansion club that Sky want and are underpinning the development of the game there. If they went, we lose everything there. If Cas/Wakey/Salford went, it'd be picked up by one of the many SL clubs in those areas.



And not to mention anyone that thinks Catalans don't bring much to SL shouldn't really be taken seriously! How can you have a whinge about people's grounds and fans compared to Castleford when they beat them on both counts (even with a reduced capacity due to ground redevelopment work this year).



But yeah, my post is stupid...

I know they had a rule to allow overseas bids, but I thought they had to apply at the same time as the Championship clubs?

Do we know if this is the case or not? Any links anywhere?

Plus he called me stupid. Not happy!

, and seem to change almost daily at the moment

I thought I'd read that championship clubs who met the criteria could apply and one of them would be selected at the start of April. Then all of the SL clubs plus anyone else who fancies it (including the aforesaid championship clubs who didn't make it first time round) could then apply in April and the decisions of that round would be announced in July.



Can't find any links to back this up, though. And in any case, they make it up as they go along.



There's been newspaper interviews with Toulouse officials in the past few weeks stating that they expect to know what's happening in 2012 in July - so they are certainly intending to apply. And they are using it as leverage to get the city council to commit to ground improvements.

The RFL Operational Rules state





[urlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/~rflmedia/docs/Part%201_Articles%20etc_Section%20A.pdf[/url



No detailed timetable though.



EDIT : actually, there is this, in the Licensing FAQs document [urlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/licensing/licensing_faqs[/url

I do recall this actually.



So basically, you are always in with a shot, but for the best chance to get in you need to win the NRC or reach a GF to be able to apply in the "guaranteed" window? So could say Sheffield and Leigh theoretically apply in April?



If that's the case, then to be fair it isn't actually that bad a system. In fact it's a pretty good idea in that it rewards the clubs that have performed well by giving them a far greater chance of a license (which people argued for) whilst still giving hope to those clubs that have built a good business but didn't quite make it on the pitch and also expansion sides (which is something that people were arguing was a flaw of the "NRC/GFinalist" route to a license"icon_wink.gif. Licenses should prioritise those who have achieved targets on the field first, and then look for clubs with "potential" in addition to, not in replace of. Seems a good idea (which probably means I've got it totally wrong!).

Alrightie then;



1. Wigan

2. Saints

3. Warrington

4. Leeds

5. Huddersfield

6. Hull FC

7. Hull KR - although I would suggest a possible ground share with FC (sorry)

8. Crusaders

9. Castleford - if they can get a stadium, I would suggest allowing Wakefield back in if they groundshare.

10. Bradford

11. Widnes

12. Salford

13. Harlequins

14. Catalans

15. Toulouse - if Mimmes can get upgraded a bit, go for it.