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Franchise Decision Day

langpark

langpark

First Grade
Messages
5,867
I was talking specifically about Wrexham when I said there are no foundations/grassroots for RL there. I know it has existed for years in the South of Wales, it's a shame they weren't kept down there...
 
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Evil Homer

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
7,178
langpark said:
I was talking specifically about Wrexham when I said there are no foundations/grassroots for RL there. I know it has existed for years in the South of Wales, it's a shame they weren't kept down there...
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They couldn't have been kept there. RL is probably now stronger in the North than it is in the South thanks to Crusaders presence, even if the club does cease to exist then at least it will hopefully leave a bit of a legacy in North Wales.
 
Teddyboy

Teddyboy

First Grade
Messages
6,573
I think expansion for SL is dead in the UK but think it could work in the semi-pro ala The Championship but I think with the success of Catalan Dragons lt could led to expansion else where in France.Unlike Wales the South West of France was a Rugby League strong hold and can be again.
 
hutch

hutch

First Grade
Messages
6,810
Surely the rfl can make sure that they maintain a presence in the championship? IMO they should've given extra funding, special dispensation and all the help they need to compete in the lower levels. It is so important for rugby league that they survive!
 
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pcpp

Juniors
Messages
2,266
Absolutely disgraceful from the Crusaders administration to pull out at the last minute.

Didn't even tell their players or staff, I think the damage would have been severely limited if they had announced that they would be competiting in the Championship immediately but the RFL had literally no time to negotiate that.
 
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bender

Juniors
Messages
2,231
I really cant see why this is such a problem and certainly it definitely isnt a waste of 3 years. Rugby league is far stronger in Wales now than it was before the Celtic experiment started. In fact there has been great grass roots growth which people are living in a fantasy land, if they think it would have happened without the Superleague push. If we do indeed end up with 3 semi pro clubs insteat of 1 Superleague club (or 1 championship club as it was before SL) then this can only be seen as a positive. Why does Wales need to keep paying foreigners (to be competive in SL) when they can now have 3 clubs concentrating on paying (semi pro level) their best players with their elite players going on to play in a strong level competition. Wales can now concentrate on continuing to grow at grass roots level, with their elite players being able to shine for the Wales national team, which should be on a bigger stage again than the ESL.

This is potentially a very good thing. The only bad part is that Toulouse or another French bid didnt replace them, as this is one area where Super league is proven to have an excellent chance at expanding. But, obviously no bid was presented, so they werent ready. Hopefully, with news that there will now be annual reviews, we will see Wales grow enough at grass roots level, to be ready to come back in a couple of years and the French will also continue to grow and also have a couple of clubs ready to take the step. I think two or even three French sides (such as Toulouse/Aude/Avignon) have the potential to move into Superleague. That way, it would not matter if the sides had a lot of Expats, because there would still be lots of opportunities for different french players, and i think that each of these areas does have proven ability to attract crowds to top level games.

Of course if such a future path is taken, it does mean that Salford, Castleford, Wakefield and possibly even London would need to really improve in the coming years.
 
bartman

bartman

Immortal
Messages
41,022
So these annual reviews mean the selected franchises aren't locked in for another three year period, eg 2012-2014? And other teams can maybe come in (or drop out) before 2015?
 
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biggestbroncosfan

Juniors
Messages
568
Bad news for Cruaders but it shouldn't be the end if they join the Championship and ffs clear out all these import players- clinton schifcofske, tony martin, frank winterstein, etc.. start fresh in the Championship building a welsh team instead of a team of australian expats. This is one thing that holds the game back in the UK recruiting Australian players and coaches for the sport to move forward they need more british players and coaches. Halifax also deserve the spot instead of Wakefield bad decision by the RFL.
 
PARRA_FAN

PARRA_FAN

Coach
Messages
17,824
biggestbroncosfan said:
Bad news for Cruaders but it shouldn't be the end if they join the Championship and ffs clear out all these import players- clinton schifcofske, tony martin, frank winterstein, etc.. start fresh in the Championship building a welsh team instead of a team of australian expats. This is one thing that holds the game back in the UK recruiting Australian players and coaches for the sport to move forward they need more british players and coaches. Halifax also deserve the spot instead of Wakefield bad decision by the RFL.
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I agree, certainly not the end of Rugby League in Wales but very disappointing they wont be there, just when things were looking better for the Crusaders.

You're right also with the imports, I swear Crusaders seem to be only club with more than 5 imports, probably better in the lower division to use more Welsh players.

Hope they continue to stay in the lower tier and improve, maybe a Welsh will be back in the ESL.

wittyfan said:
Poor Witty. :(
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I like you feel for the players, I hear the ones signed for next year are absolutely filthy, including Keith Senior. Cant blame em.
 
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biggestbroncosfan

Juniors
Messages
568
PARRA_FAN said:
I agree, certainly not the end of Rugby League in Wales but very disappointing they wont be there, just when things were looking better for the Crusaders.

You're right also with the imports, I swear Crusaders seem to be only club with more than 5 imports, probably better in the lower division to use more Welsh players.

Hope they continue to stay in the lower tier and improve, maybe a Welsh will be back in the ESL.



I like you feel for the players, I hear the ones signed for next year are absolutely filthy, including Keith Senior. Cant blame em.
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Definitely not the end of rugby league in Wales, CPC bears could be the next welsh semi pro club. With guys like Dudson, White, Kear, Flower they could build a more quality welsh side and hope to re-join the top tier, but the owners need to get everything back in order for that to happen. Many players are very unhappy with the decision guys like Keith Senior, Shannan Mcpherson, Gary Warburton, Gareth Thomas etc.. who have signed with the club for next year and have no team to play for, would love to see Alfie join South Wales he could attract big crowds down there :D
 
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bowes

Juniors
Messages
1,320
S.S.T.I.D said:
Yeah, I just had a quick look on rlfans and there was some mention of the Valley Cougars. Whether or not they will be involved I have no idea, but a 3rd semi-pro club would obviously be a very good thing for the game at the grassroots in Wales.

I can't see Crusaders surviving and I think they'll be wound up. Apparently Wrexham FC are in all sorts and the Racecourse is going too. None of this sounds like new information, but it is to me. Ideally Crusaders would stick around and possibly re-apply in a few years as a more stable club. But I doubt it. If they do survive and continue on in the Championship it wouldn't be all bad news.
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CPC Bears are the club that applied but their adults team effectively folded midseason this year so I don't take the application seriously. They're also based in a tiny town called Carmarthen with about 20,000 people (about the size of Featherstone). Their Under 18s are good but they're basically the Under 18s for the whole of South Wales (outside of Crusaders Academy which will be gone now) rather than just the club's team.

Valley Cougars are a good club with a new ground in an area not far from Cardiff and surrounded by RL clubs so I'd far rather they were built up to join Championship 1 as they'd have a much better chance of success (further from Scorpions as well). They're not currently applying though.

New clubs will now come in from 2013 not 2012 as they put the restructuring back a year.
 
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wittyfan

wittyfan

Immortal
Messages
30,006
More on the whole sorry saga:

WITT PLAYS DOWN MUTINY FEARS

Crusaders half-back Michael Witt expects his team-mates to take the field this weekend but admits finding the motivation will be difficult.

Witt and the rest of the Crusaders squad face an uncertain future following the club's unexpected decision to pull out of the Engage Super League from next year due to financial concerns.

Questions have been raised over the Wrexham-based club's ability to continue paying players' wages this year but Witt is not anticipating a squad mutiny ahead of their five remaining fixtures.

The 27-year-old said: "Everybody will have their own individual views on it and we will sit down, but at this stage we will be playing on Sunday.

"How we motivate ourselves is a million-dollar question. It is a very tough situation.

"We actually had a scheduled day off today so I am not too sure what we will do in the coming days.

"As a team we are going to have to sit down and see where we go from here."

Kiwi stand-off Witt is one of Crusaders' key players and recently turned down offers from rugby union sides to sign a new three-year deal at the Racecourse Ground.

All contracts are now likely to be cancelled as the club consider whether taking up a place in the Co-operative Championship is viable.

Witt is likely to be one of the players in most demand but that has not prevented anger at the way the situation was dealt with.

The Crusaders squad were only informed of the club's decision moments before the Rugby Football League announced which teams had been awarded Super League licences for 2012-14 at 1100 BST on Tuesday.

Witt added: "We were certainly all caught off-guard by the news.

"Of course you are angry - your livelihood is being taken away from you.

"You have now got to find out how you are going to provide for your family. It is a tough situation.

"I thought I had my future settled for the next three years but as it has turned out, that is definitely not the case.

"It is a spanner in the works and now I have got to go back to the drawing board."

Witt did not comment directly on salary matters but a number of players are known to be owed money by the club under a pension scheme.

Last year it emerged that wage deductions of around £400,000 had not been paid into the scheme.

Payments had since resumed, but the latest development has brought the issue back to the fore and some players have contacted the Rugby League Players' Association for advice.

The RFL have pledged to work with the RLPA to assist the players.
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Source: http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyle...7/RUGBYL_Licensing_2nd_Nightlead.html&BID=480
 
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