Not all well in France!

[Cheezel]

http://www.nospam18.com/RLP/Articles/2010/French_Rugby_League_insights_from_Paris.htm

We hear a lot about all the good things happening in France but very little about the effect the Dragons promotion to Super League has had on the Elite competitions. Jamie gives a no holes bared answer about the state of the game. "The state of the game down the south of France is alive barely. The code is relying upon a die hard supporter base to sustain a sport that is barely recognisable in this country. When people talk about rugby it is met with the reference of the 15 a side code. Proper grass root development is what this country needs. Pouring more money into Catalans while the national competition is dying a slow death is not what's required. The game will never grow while you continually rob Peter to give to Paul". The Catalan Dragons are still struggling to get main stream media attention in France. Could this be addressed with a team in Paris?

 

[pilmax]

in France it will never all well, because money, tv, politics and medias are for union.

but we are alive and want to comme back at our best in rugby league.

 

[Western_Eel]

Whats this about then?

http://www.nospam18.com/RLP/Articles/2010/French_Rugby_League_insights_from_Paris.htm

 

[bowes]

Unfortunately there's an element of truth in that, the French Elite is a lot lower standard than before Catalans and Toulouse left. In the long term I think Catalans playing SL will benefit it due to more juniors, but in the short term it hasn't. Hopefully Toulouse will make SL when they're ready (I believe that once they get things right on the field they'll get in), as I think having French teams in the Championship changes the Elite from being seen as a 2nd level competition to a 3rd level one

 

[druzik]

But there is nothing new here... those without blinkers have been saying for a while that the Elite should be developed before any more Super League clubs.

Its one of the reason I and others were not that happy with Toulouse coming in last year and being earmarked for Super league... lets get money and the exposure of the Elite up first get the talented juniors going through there.

The same things happening with the NZ warriors and the Bartercard Championships, the money is not getting into the lower rungs and its why I am opposed to there being a PNG team in the NRL as it will kill off the b-mobile cup.... as the Broncos did with the BRL.

 

[morley101]

Below the NRL the crowds at at the NSW cup and QLD cup are pretty small.
It doesn't stop players trying their luck to get into the NRL

The Elite will continue and the clubs will feed the ESL the best players and it won't be too long before two or 3 Elite clubs become official feeders to the Cats and Toulouse and get players sent back to play for them from The Cats and Toulouse.