CONFIRMED - Canadian team to enter English leagues

[jim_57]

To me the most ridiculous part of this is the RFL's insistence that foreign teams coming in to their system have to start in League 1. Toulouse are dropping standard and salary cap because of this nonsense and this Toronto consortium who if true have Millions behind them are forced to start in a League barely above amateur standard.

Not a fan of P&R at all but see no reason why special circumstances can't be made for certain teams. FFS it's professional sport not "everyone get's a fair turn" schoolyard crap.

Hopefully both Toulouse and Toronto (if they are the real deal) both find their way to Championship very quickly.

 

[jim_57]

Honestly I hope this comes off, but I'm going to remain doubtful until I see it succeed with my own eyes. With any luck it will be successful and see a giant stride towards another professional league based in North America.

I've floated the idea before of NRL & SL clubs partnering (or even creating new) USARL clubs with an eye towards turning it in to a semi-pro comp.

Example,

1. Leeds partner with Atlanta
2. Talent Scout is hired to scour the local sport/college scene for potential players
3. A train & trail offer is made with small payments, player plays in the USARL for Atlanta
4. Leeds & Atlanta monitor progress of players and decide whether to offer contract, extend trial or discontinue trial
5. Best case scenario, Leeds find an American Superstar. Worst case scenario, player doesn't cut it and doesn't play again.

Also since monitoring games would be a regular practice there is incentive for all other players to perform as well. Overall should bring the quality of the USARL up, unearth a few professional players to improve national team strength, promote player incentive and hopefully sponsorships. The USARL could turn in to the top tier "semi-pro" League. Then regional leagues underneath for newer teams, weaker teams & even USARL club B teams.

Edit: Sorry, a bit off topic

 

[langpark]

To me the most ridiculous part of this is the RFL's insistence that foreign teams coming in to their system have to start in League 1. Toulouse are dropping standard and salary cap because of this nonsense and this Toronto consortium who if true have Millions behind them are forced to start in a League barely above amateur standard.

Not a fan of P&R at all but see no reason why special circumstances can't be made for certain teams. FFS it's professional sport not "everyone get's a fair turn" schoolyard crap.

Hopefully both Toulouse and Toronto (if they are the real deal) both find their way to Championship very quickly.

Watta load of crap! You wanna shaft teams that have been there for over a century and have a proven track record that they can sustain a team in Super League all for some mob that have appeared overnight and suddenly decided they want in!? Ridiculous. The RFL are doing the right thing and have learnt from past failures (Paris, Sheffield, Gateshead, Bridgend to name a few), acting with caution whilst not shutting the door on anyone.

There are way too many question marks over this Toronto bid, even your own post was ladened with the word 'if'.

No-one, and I mean no-one, not even a trillionaire can guarantee that a team will be there for the long run.

 

[jim_57]

Watta load of crap! You wanna shaft teams that have been there for over a century and have a proven track record that they can sustain a team in Super League all for some mob that have appeared overnight and suddenly decided they want in!? Ridiculous. The RFL are doing the right thing and have learnt from past failures (Paris, Sheffield, Gateshead, Bridgend to name a few), acting with caution whilst not shutting the door on anyone.

There are way too many question marks over this Toronto bid, even your own post was ladened with the word 'if'.

No-one, and I mean no-one, not even a trillionaire can guarantee that a team will be there for the long run.

Which teams in Championship let alone League 1 have a "proven track record that they can sustain a team in Super League"? And which of them would be "shafted" for dropping Toulouse & this bid (if proven viable) in to Championship as opposed to League 1?

If you look closely I never proposed they or Toulouse be dtopped in to SL, although an argument could be made for Toulouse. What would the RFL lose if this is a failure? They're not exactly investing anything in to it?

Sorry but it just seems the RFL are trying to please everyone. Not necessarily the Toronto situation but the Toulouse situation where they have to start at the bottom. It is like the ARL saying to the NZ Warriors bid team in 95 "no sorry you'll have to win the Sydney club league, then the NSW cup to get here, oh and you can't spend any more money than the rest of the teams in those Leagues".

 

[langpark]

Which teams in Championship let alone League 1 have a "proven track record that they can sustain a team in Super League"? And which of them would be "shafted" for dropping Toulouse & this bid (if proven viable) in to Championship as opposed to League 1?

If you look closely I never proposed they or Toulouse be dtopped in to SL, although an argument could be made for Toulouse. What would the RFL lose if this is a failure? They're not exactly investing anything in to it?

Sorry but it just seems the RFL are trying to please everyone. Not necessarily the Toronto situation but the Toulouse situation where they have to start at the bottom. It is like the ARL saying to the NZ Warriors bid team in 95 "no sorry you'll have to win the Sydney club league, then the NSW cup to get here, oh and you can't spend any more money than the rest of the teams in those Leagues".

Come on, you were implying they should go straight to SL. But, let's say I accept what you're saying about Championship, then to answer your question is: Bradford, Leigh and Halifax, (a combined age of 390 years) if any one of them were told tomorrow that next season they will be playing in Super League, each one could sustain a team there long-term.

And EVERY other Championship team is a more viable option than Toronto right now.

As for Toulouse, don't worry, they'll find their way. I think they'll go straight up to Championship, then maybe a few seasons in Championship before hopefully challenging for a Super League spot. A season in League One won't kill them.

 

[Evil Homer]

Come on, you were implying they should go straight to SL. But, let's say I accept what you're saying about Championship, then to answer your question is: Bradford, Leigh and Halifax, (a combined age of 390 years) if any one of them were told tomorrow that next season they will be playing in Super League, each one could sustain a team there long-term.

And EVERY other Championship team is a more viable option than Toronto right now.

As for Toulouse, don't worry, they'll find their way. I think they'll go straight up to Championship, then maybe a few seasons in Championship before hopefully challenging for a Super League spot. A season in League One won't kill them.

Extremely debatable that Leigh or Halifax could sustain a SL team.

 

[jim_57]

Come on, you were implying they should go straight to SL. But, let's say I accept what you're saying about Championship, then to answer your question is: Bradford, Leigh and Halifax, (a combined age of 390 years) if any one of them were told tomorrow that next season they will be playing in Super League, each one could sustain a team there long-term.

And EVERY other Championship team is a more viable option than Toronto right now.

As for Toulouse, don't worry, they'll find their way. I think they'll go straight up to Championship, then maybe a few seasons in Championship before hopefully challenging for a Super League spot. A season in League One won't kill them.

Sounds like you're putting words in my mouth, you'll notice in my last paragraph I say;

"Hopefully both Toulouse and Toronto (if they are the real deal) both find their way to Championship very quickly."

Toulouse at the very least should have started in Championship, making them drop a level and salary cap just to fit in to the system is ridiculous. They should have just stated in 2015 only 1 team from League 1 will be promoted and 3 will drop from Championship, same as they did with Catalans.

Toronto on the other hand have a lot to prove, playing strength wise League 1 is probably a good place to start, but it's a bit of a catch 22 in that it would make more sense logistics wise if they started in Championship, but they might not be initially competitive unless they have a lot of ring ins.

What disturbs me the most is that the precedence is now set that ANY new team coming in to the RFL system apparently has to start at the bottom playing against clubs barely above amatuer level.

As for Bradford, Leigh & Halifax, it is very debatable if they coukd sustain a SL side long term, Bradford would be the best bet but even they went in to Admin a couple years back when they were playing Super League. It's debatable that some teams IN Super League can sustain a team there long term.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Let's just hope they are a ragging success.

 

[Emu01]

Does anyone know when the decision will be made about the team from Toronto? We are all just speculating as this might not even happen.

Someone in the know please let us know asap.

 

[deluded pom?]

http://www.thestar.com/sports/2015/10/03/local-group-looks-to-bring-rugby-league-to-toronto.html

 

[Emu01]

Thanks deluded Pom,l appreciate that link.. I hope it all works out for them.. Maybe the English Rugby League could help with cost of travel and accommodation.

 

[nzwarriorskuz]

team name to be announced very soon.. former Leigh coach Paul Rowley is expected to coach with Brian Noble to be involved. They are expected to have around 5 Canadians with mostly English and French players mostly maybe Ryan Brierley will be headed over since Paul Rowley might be the coach http://www.skysports.com/rugby-leag...erley-to-leave-leigh-centurions-in-four-weeks looks to me this team has some serious backers with more than a fair amount of $$ Toronto Porters/Lakesiders etc.. I'd love to see something like that.. I think they should have a vote on the name anyway but hope its something along those lines and they can get up to Championship level at least (along with Toulouse)!

 

[adamkungl]

Not sure whether to put this here or in SL or North American forum..

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...part-of-super-league-bid-20160421-gobk7i.html

A Canadian side will take the first step towards joining the Super League when it begins playing in Britain from next season.
A new club formed in Toronto was intended to enter the first division from 2017. However, there is a belief that the outfit, to be comprised of full-time professionals, will be strong enough to push for a spot in the Championship next season. Should it finish fourth or higher, it will then play off for the right to be promoted into the Super League competition proper in 2018. The development is a massive boost for the international game and could result in the creation of a new playing pool of talent for the Super League and NRL in future years.
The as-yet unnamed Toronto side has already signed half a dozen players but perhaps its most important acquisition is Brian Noble. The former England and Bradford coach has signed up as team manager, while former Leigh player and mentor Paul Rowley will be the inaugural head coach.
Canada Rugby League chairman Eric Perez has been the driving force behind the bold bid. Perez, who has strong contacts with the nation's television broadcasters, believes Canadians will grow to love the sport and has made a number of visits to Red Hall in England to ensure his plan comes to fruition.
Canada, ranked 13th on the Rugby League International Federation rankings, unexpectedly shot to league prominence when the nation's theatre critic, James Kelly Nestruck, was mistakenly sent the playing contract that revealed Martin Taupau's move from Wests Tigers to Manly. However, the Toronto developments will ensure Canada makes a more meaningful contribution to the game.
It's understood the new club will play four home games at Lamport Stadium in Toronto and then travel to England for an additional four road games. Perez is confident of broadcasting all of the away trips on local networks.
The franchise has established a relationship with Bradford that will allow the team to share the Bulls' training base.
Details of the new proposal are set to be unveiled in coming days, potentially to coincide with this week's draw announcement for the next round of the Challenge Cup.
The Super League is on the lookout for a new boss after its general manager, Blake Solly, accepted the CEO role at South Sydney.
There were initially plans to expand the World Clubs Series from three matches to four for 2017, although officials from both countries have agreed the status quo should remain next year.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...league-bid-20160421-gobk7i.html#ixzz46RMx0RlN
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook

This is pretty big news if it comes off.

IF (and its a big IF) they can sustain themselves financially it opens up massive doors for international Rugby League. Could we see the floodgates open for a truly international Super League?
A 3 division structure including entries potentially from
England
France
Wales
Canada
Scotland
Ireland
Spain
Italy
USA
Serbia

If a team from Toronto hits the right funding and player model, it should encourage copycats from all around.

Exciting times!

(bring on the skeptics :lol: )

 

[adamkungl]

The other question is could Australia support a similar scenario?

Unfortunately I dont think so. Seeing PNG, and soon Fiji, and hopefully Tonga and Samoan teams in our second divisions is great, but I don't think small developing economies can sustain NRL quality clubs. Nor do I think the NRL is in a position where it needs or wants to be revolutionary.
Perth and Southern NZ will be big enough leaps for the Australian comp.

 

[DlEHARD]

Great news. Lets back it and pray.

Sign me up for a membership and a jersey.

 

[langpark]

(bring on the skeptics :lol: )

Some call us skeptics, some call us realists.

So is it official then? All I worry about is long-term sustainability here. Horrible mistakes have been made in the past with much less riskier ventures and I just don't want to see a repeat of those disasters, that's all.

 

[The Great Dane]

The other question is could Australia support a similar scenario?

Unfortunately I dont think so. Seeing PNG, and soon Fiji, and hopefully Tonga and Samoan teams in our second divisions is great, but I don't think small developing economies can sustain NRL quality clubs. Nor do I think the NRL is in a position where it needs or wants to be revolutionary.
Perth and Southern NZ will be big enough leaps for the Australian comp.

Similar attempts to join the NRL by a South African group or groups from Asian countries are possible, but I think you are right in suggesting that the NRL would turn them down no matter how good their proposal is.

Still it's not impossible, in fact the only way I can see the game getting off the ground in any meaningful way in South Africa is if a very wealthy South African attempts to form a club to enter the NRL.

 

[deluded pom?]

Some call us skeptics, some call us realists.

So is it official then? All I worry about is long-term sustainability here. Horrible mistakes have been made in the past with much less riskier ventures and I just don't want to see a repeat of those disasters, that's all.

It's not official yet, there's not been an announcement from the RFL.

 

[Sinman]

It's crazy (as in good) it's being talked about in a Sydney Newspaper!! Lets hope it comes off and lets hope they can go strait into the championship

 

[Big Picture]

It's made the news in Vancouver too: http://blogs.theprovince.com/2016/04/22/big-canadian-push-england-rugby-league-to-add-toronto-team/.