Scottish NL Club 2009 - Apparently It's official

[jim_57]

Just talking to Druzik and he said John Riesmanon announced it in Riga on the weekend.

The team will be based Glasgow and apparently it will be announced later this week.

I doubt he would make it up, so there you have it.

You heard it here first ;-)

 

[roughyedspud]

glasgow??????

Edinburgh would have been a better option...



anyway who's John Riesmanon ?

 

[nadera78]

Glasgow would make more sense because that is where the SRL development work is largely based. Either way it's going to upset some flatcappers!

I think he means John Risman, who lives in Scotland, was involved in RL up there and has done some development work in Europe in recent years.

 

[jim_57]

I agree, Edinburgh would have been a better option IMO, but then again I'm not great with Scottish Geography, how far apart are Glasgow and Edinburgh?

TBH I wouldn't have a clue who John Riesmanon, It's on the RLIS forum. Probably who Nadera said it was.

Maybe they should Move the Magic weekend to Celtic Park?

 

[yakstorm]

Honestly I wouldn't care if the club was announced in Aberdeen, so long as it is tied in with the Scotland Rugby League Development programme and it's fully funded its going to be great for the development in the region.

I look forward to an announcement, honestly I knew there were plans in the pipeline for a Scotland side but I didn't think anything would come out until 2010.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Hope so. Glasgow is where all the work is being done. Edinburgh may be a more desirable destination and a stringer union city but I don't see why that should be a factor. The big thing is, who is funding this and how? As long as it happens I'll support it completely.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Is this connected to the Scottish RL website being relaunched tomorrow? It would make some sense.

 

[roughyedspud]

well every national league club will get around £100k in tv money from next year so that £100,000 gaurneteed.

no doubt the RFL will top that up with some "development" money, i'm guessing now but maybe £50-100k?

plus i'm sure the SRL will be asking for some "grants" of somekind off the RLIF after the world cup to aid further development..though i suspect that money would'nt be allowed to be spent on the glasgow club,it'll have to go towards the overall development & structure of the game in scotland..

the SRL could also go to the scottish government and sport scotland for grants, basically money is out there for scottish RL if the ask for it....the same goes for wales

 

[bender]

Is this connected to the Scottish RL website being relaunched tomorrow? It would make some sense.

...and possibly the announcement of a surprisingly strong Scottish World cup Squad?

 

[jim_57]

Hope it goes well for them, hopefully we see alot of the best Scots coming into the team.

I don't think they could do a Celtic and make a sucessfull bid for 2012 but I would like to see them in NL1 before too long and bidding for a license in 2015, 2018, not necessarily making SL but getting decent crowds, using locals and competiting in the Nation League.

I wonder how long an Irish club will be now?

 

[yakstorm]

Honestly, whilst it would be great to have a SL side in places like Scotland, Ireland and so on by 2012, I don't think its necessary.

If Scotland RL will have their first professional franchise in 2009, I honestly hope by 2012, they are in the position that they are planning their second or even better (but possibly unrealistic) launching their second club into the National League structure.

 

[bartman]

It obviously ties in with the move of Millennium magic to Scotland. They're going to try the same model that has seen Celtic Crusaders gain a Super Leageu Franchise in the space of three years.

Whether it works as fast or not remains to be seen, but I guess they've got to give it a try.

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

Brilliant news if true. I await a confirmation.

 

[nadera78]

It obviously ties in with the move of Millennium magic to Scotland. They're going to try the same model that has seen Celtic Crusaders gain a Super Leageu Franchise in the space of three years.

Whether it works as fast or not remains to be seen, but I guess they've got to give it a try.

I doubt it. The CC fast tracking was largely down to the fact that Leighton Samuel was involved. Without his money it would never have happened. Unless the Scots have a big-money backer for this venture then I'd expect to see it follow the Gateshead / Skolars model of slow progress.

Glasgow is hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2014, so maybe that would tie in with an ESL licence for 2015? (semi-serious suggestion)

 

[bartman]

Yeah, a six year burn would be good imo, if there's no specific backer involved. I just found it strange they moved MM away from cardiff now, when one more year would/could have sealed the Celtic Crusaders arrival and been a money spinner.

 

[Evil Homer]

Great news, I'd rather see some more English teams in NL2 though ahead of an Irish team. The pro game still does not have a good enough geographical spread in this country.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

Does Scotland have enough players to manage a NL team?? I take it they will go straight to NL2??

I spoke to a SRL offical last year and he told me the chance of getting a NL team in Sctoland would be slim as the lack of money in SRL and all Rugby types are not well supported.

 

[nadera78]

Yeah, a six year burn would be good imo, if there's no specific backer involved. I just found it strange they moved MM away from cardiff now, when one more year would/could have sealed the Celtic Crusaders arrival and been a money spinner.

At the Harlequins fans forum the other day the chairman apparently said that the Welsh RU were very difficult to work with, especially after winning the rah-rah six nations, and the RFL found it very difficult to get anything constructive going with them. The Scots apparently are very keen on the event remaining permanently up at Murrayfield and have already been more helpful than the Welsh ever were.

Plus the fact that there is an awful lot more accomodation available in Edinburgh and space around the stadium to hold events rather than just see people sitting in the bars for two consecutive days and nights like they were in Cardiff.

 

[roughyedspud]

Does Scotland have enough players to manage a NL team?? I take it they will go straight to NL2??

I spoke to a SRL offical last year and he told me the chance of getting a NL team in Sctoland would be slim as the lack of money in SRL and all Rugby types are not well supported.

nope scotland does'nt have enough players..but neither does wales...

it is though a catalyst to start development,as you know you can't do things half-arsed..just giving the SRL $$$$ to spend on development will get wasted because theres no end product...putting the glasgow bulls at the top of a scottish RL development structure gives everyone a target.

 

[Ewan McGrady's Lovechild]

I'd love to see a SL side based in Scotland but it should be in Edinburgh. For the guy who asked Glasgow is about an hours drive away from Edinburgh (I lived there).

A guy I lived with in Scotland is currently playing for Edinburgh and Scotland A. Just hoping he manages to get in the Scotland squad for the WC. That would be absolutely hilarious. He was born in Glasgow but moved out here when he was about 15 to Brissie. Moved in with me in Eddie in 2004.