It wasn't, but is a much higher standard now.
I still think this is overstated. I have to admit though, as the years pass on, the Challenge cup results are tending to back up your position. In theory, the overflow from Toulouse and Cats should improve the French 1st division each year, so hopefully we will see some results shift back towards the French.
Basically yes, or if they're runners up, because the only objection I have to them joining SL is the playing standard, 10th in the Championship doesn't scream SL to me.
This is where we disagree. If Toulouse were to spend money on say 5 or 6 imports and finish say runners up in the first division with players imported like Duggan, Van Dyk, Hannay etc (like Celtic did), i dont see how this would or should help their bid in the slightest. They are best served by using local French players, which is what they have done. They finished 10th which was disappointing, but they were much higher for most of the season, they would have finished higher if the first division used a proper league table finish. To put it another way, they were from memory about 2 or 3 wins away from a finals appearance. Would it have really strengthened their case that much if they had a few bad referee decisions (or from memory good referee decisions) go their way? I think there strength lays outside of their on field performance, as does that of Widnes, who are the other side who have mounted a good case for superleague. Their potential lies in corporate strength, population and location. This is most important to any club coming in.
As far as I know everyone has to meet the criteria, but depends on who you believe as the RFL announcement is deliberately vague so they can change the rules as and when it suits. Doubt whether a team that isn't in the Championship (or possibly the French Elite) would be allowed to apply though, as last time they banned applications from clubs that didn't play in NL1 or the French Elite, which would seem to rule out Paris.
I must admit i cant remember the banning of applications. I though there was talk of the Southern Orcas applying last time. The concept of Toulouse playing in NL1 was that it would give them a shot at the guaranteed extra birth. There was also much talk before they joined that they would stay in the French first division and apply from there.
Zero unless they meet the full playing criteria might be fairer as they won't chuck out 4 sides.
Personally, i dont think this will become an issue because i think they will meet the criteria. But, let us just be a bit (perhaps unrealistically) optimistic. Let us suppose Toulouse, who were accepted at the last minute this year, have planned to have a massive year this year. They have maintained their policy of picking the best French players around and blood mostly under 18-21 players and finish in a competitive say 6th or 7th position just missing out on the playoffs. But, with their inciteful planning, they have increased their marketing budget, signed massive sponsors including massive committments to come in when/if they are promoted to ESL, secured a great stadium and increased crowds to a level above the best English clubs in the first division and the worst in the ESL. In these circumstances they would actually be a certainty for inclusion.
Yeah if 2 clubs come in I can't see anyone bar Toulouse being the second, though I expect one to go in and one out (Widnes in, Crusaders out), with Toulouse to be the one in in 2015 (unless the league expands then, then someone else in too). Yeah the selection of Crusaders defied belief, though Toulouse were presumably rejected as they went from 2nd to 7th in French Elite which was not just a very bad performance but showed they seemed to be going backwards. Also the RFL said they'd struggle to meet some financial projections, but I got the impression that was a secondary reason
It shows the whole problem with the way the selections were made. They can sugar coat it all they like, but the RFL took the easy way out and used on field success as the sole criteria, imo. This was so dissappointing after they tough decisions they had made to reduce the number of teams in the first place. This is why the ability to win the NL1 should have virtually no bearing on the next franchise decision. It is quite ironic, i think, that people so often use the Promotion/Relegation concept to criticise Celtic's promotion, but they actually earned promotion under this system! Likewise, i think it ridiculous that Toulouse were denied a spot because they finished 7th (which incidentally is not much better than 10th in NL1 so maybe French standards are a little better than what is recognised?). The reality of them finishing 7th was that they cut high paid experienced players in favour of younger cheaper players, becuase the younger players would have more chance of playing in the ESL. Put bluntly, they planned for the future (they could have easily chased and signed the best French players and dominated the division, but it would have done nothing for the club or the game in france, it actually would have sent them backwards). The same is true of their situation now, they need to be allowed to plan for long term success not short term. The team who gets the best results will not necessarilly unearth the most ESL level players.
If Toulouse were short on the financial projections side, well thatis perhaps a valid reason for denying them a place (and it could still be). I dont know about this side of things but i can only assume that it will be okay, based on a few basic assumptions.
