: Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:01 pm  

(It's worth noting that the current LER season in 2008-2008, so the reserve side in the LER will be next year).

: Mon Oct 27, 2008 3:23 pm  

Looking at the expansion of our game i think Tolouse are only in NL is too help them setup for SL. Once they are established like Catalans are i feel the RFL will start on another French club again to keep building the French game. Then say in 30 years time, a long time i know, their will be a french league that could match that of Super somewhat. I think that is the only way to improve our game internationally.

I reckon the league will do the same with Wales, Ireland and Scotland - In the next few years get teams into NL3 & 2 and support them in the move up the ladder to help them apply for super league in say 10 years time then help them develop their own leagues greater. The downside with this is that the leagues could be poorly followed with low skill from players.

Another option the RFL could take is too keep expanding the Super League to include around 20 clubs with say 12 from England and 2 from the four other countries. I think the amount of games though would take the toll on players with the add on of travelling further and would leave less and less time for international events like the WC.

Either option has its positives and negatives what else do people think will help the expansion of our wonderful game.

: Mon Oct 27, 2008 3:59 pm  

I bet all the Toulose fans are fuming at the trolling on their forum.

: Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:47 am  

JonM wrote:

Carlos Zalduendo said in 'Toulouse mag' this month that they will be semi-pro again this year with a goal of going full-time. They'll have seven full-time employees in 2009. He also expects to be able to afford to enter a reserve time in the french elite next season, too.

Not convinced that a semi-pro NL1 side will be able to enter a reserve side of Elite 1 standard, would be more realistic to enter them to Elite 2 and then move them up to Elite 1 when the first team get elected to SL, otherwise the standard gap's too small and their reserves will get crushed in Elite 1 (and it would be pretty offensive to the league to have the reserve side of a NL1 club in their national league)

: Tue Oct 28, 2008 6:50 pm  

bowes wrote:

Not convinced that a semi-pro NL1 side will be able to enter a reserve side of Elite 1 standard, would be more realistic to enter them to Elite 2 and then move them up to Elite 1 when the first team get elected to SL, otherwise the standard gap's too small and their reserves will get crushed in Elite 1 (and it would be pretty offensive to the league to have the reserve side of a NL1 club in their national league)

But it wont be a reserve side for 3/4 s of the elite 1 season

They will use most of thier french NL players and then bring in the o/seas for the NL season

: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:41 pm  

I think there is maybe some confusion on the status of players.
The goal is full-time pro contracts for the first team, but the club will start with a mix of players on full time contracts, and others who are semi-pro. It is further complicated by the fact that some of the younger quality players will be "apprentices" a particular status in France. Toulouse is the only RL club in France to have a full-time Centre de Formation (the Dragons do not ) funded by the Government. The France Junior prop Maxime Circirko will be part of this, studying but also playing RL, receiving a grant. Ditto Telly Pelo (dmitri's cousin) who is a Student. Former St Gaudens Antoni Maria, on the fringe of the French national squad is also in this category, as is Nicolas Delgal. But they are all handy players but still finishing their apprenticeship/continuing their education as well.
There will be 8 FT pro contracts initially. the rest semi-pro, plus yonger lads from the C de F, but the squad will move towards FT for all for the second season, when they will also run a team in the Elite.
The club have appointed FT Coach, Assistant and Conditioner and references to "professionalism" are also in terms of the quality and standards. For example those players retained from last year's squad have already been undergoing personalised weight training (5 sessions a week to raise the physical standards)

: Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:15 pm  

Cliff Sprack wrote:

I think there is maybe some confusion on the status of players.
The goal is full-time pro contracts for the first team, but the club will start with a mix of players on full time contracts, and others who are semi-pro. It is further complicated by the fact that some of the younger quality players will be "apprentices" a particular status in France. Toulouse is the only RL club in France to have a full-time Centre de Formation (the Dragons do not ) funded by the Government. The France Junior prop Maxime Circirko will be part of this, studying but also playing RL, receiving a grant. Ditto Telly Pelo (dmitri's cousin) who is a Student. Former St Gaudens Antoni Maria, on the fringe of the French national squad is also in this category, as is Nicolas Delgal. But they are all handy players but still finishing their apprenticeship/continuing their education as well.
There will be 8 FT pro contracts initially. the rest semi-pro, plus yonger lads from the C de F, but the squad will move towards FT for all for the second season, when they will also run a team in the Elite.
The club have appointed FT Coach, Assistant and Conditioner and references to "professionalism" are also in terms of the quality and standards. For example those players retained from last year's squad have already been undergoing personalised weight training (5 sessions a week to raise the physical standards)

Refreshing to read someone who knows what he's talking about. Thank you Cliff Sprack.

: Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:48 pm  

Moz88 wrote:

Lets face it, they WILL

The Pure Economics of teams In Wales and France- competitive ones and a super league increased to 16 teams means that our next TV deal could be worth 30 million a year.......................Good job we are not negotiating it now though

: Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:55 pm  

Starbug wrote:

They will use most of thier french NL players and then bring in the o/seas for the NL season

Nah, they'll develop their own players in the LER, then we will loan them fringe players during the NL1 season.

: Wed Dec 24, 2008 12:19 am  

Just out of interest how is the Toulouse squad shaping up in that case? What other players are on the books and where have they come from?

Will Damian Couturier be playing for Toulouse next season?