Why we need a presence in the capital : Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:05 pm  

Wiganer in peace! A major reason that often comes up in relation to persevering with London/Quins in their various guises is that we needa presence in the capital. I've never really read or heard anyone expand upon the point though, to some it seems blindingly obvious and to others it seems like the emperors new clothes. Personally I haven't made my mind up and would like to hear more. Why do you guys think it's vital for rugby league to have a team in London?

Re: Why we need a presence in the capital : Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:09 pm  

There has been a lot said on this subject in the past, but take london out and you are left with the M62 corridor and hardly a national sport. Turn the question round why would people in the south be interested in a game played in the North?

Re: Why we need a presence in the capital : Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:16 pm  

daftdad wrote:

There has been a lot said on this subject in the past, but take london out and you are left with the M62 corridor and hardly a national sport. Turn the question round why would people in the south be interested in a game played in the North?

I mean more specifically why London as opposed to why the south. I think it's fairly obvious that we need to continue to try to expand beyond the heartlands but there seems to be a feeling that it should be specifically be in London.

Re: Why we need a presence in the capital : Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:25 pm  

There is a lot of good grass roots work conducted by London RL (not connected to LB) and good prospects for growth. One problem with London though is the shear size of the place and it is not easy to get around unless you are prepared to sit in traffic jams or are located in the centre! It is in my opinion that trying to gather any local support is always going to be difficult it the club fails to let people know that a club exists. There was nothing wrong with the Stoop or other locations other than a failure to produce a marketing strategy that included locals, the best attempt I can think of was Brentford but we moved.

Re: Why we need a presence in the capital : Thu Nov 21, 2013 12:02 am  

in answer to why London as opposed to the south! Actually no reason why it has to be London, but London in all its guises through the years has been the team that has succeeded. Rugby league has been played all over the south and still is, how far Gloucester/Oxford/Hemel etc can go is yet to be seen. London is pretty much the focal centre of the "south" as you put it so logic would suggest London as the gathering point and the place to have the professional team. The potential!!!!!!!! audience in London is massive, it was just never exploited. Don't get me wrong I would love Glos/Oxford/Hemel (Bristol/S wales etc etc) to all be able to compete at the top level but as is constantly talked about the playing talent pool is not big enough to sustain that many clubs in the top flight.
So in essence expansion has been tried outside the "heartland" and up until now the only ones that have managed it are London and Catalan. It has been tried elsewhere Paris St G/ Kent Invicta/ Nottingham/ Cardiff/ Sheffield are even without a home at the minute and that's on the fringes of the traditional home.
So no reason why it HAS to be London but one top flight club in the south London based club is the logical place.

Re: Why we need a presence in the capital : Thu Nov 21, 2013 12:17 am  

Read Hector McNeil's article in the League Express at the end of the season. Best thought out reasons as to why RL/SL needs London.

Re: Why we need a presence in the capital : Thu Nov 21, 2013 1:16 am  

dotti wrote:

Read Hector McNeil's article in the League Express at the end of the season. Best thought out reasons as to why RL/SL needs London.

Certain sections of the RL heartland brigade point to the Skolars and their improvement as the "way forward"....what they fail to acknowledge is that it is only through picking up London Broncos/Harlequins yoof that the Skolars have kicked on.

These kids will be lost to Union or to rugby altogether if there isn't a clear local pathway to professional League....London Broncos have trouble getting northerners to come south even when we are paying them a decent wage...if local kids don't see a local team then they won't be interested. IMHO that is.

Lastly...the private investment model hasn't worked in London and I doubt it ever truly will.....it's time for the RFL to start paying for its own expansion.

Re: Why we need a presence in the capital : Thu Nov 21, 2013 6:12 am  

mickyb1234 wrote:

how far Gloucester/Oxford/Hemel etc can go has yet to be seen.

Oxford are on record as saying they have no interest in joining Superleague. Their plan is to develop RL locally and offer a pathway through to fully professional RL elsewhere for players good enough. (They had a player training with Wakefield on and off last season as part of this plan.)

Re: Why we need a presence in the capital : Thu Nov 21, 2013 9:17 am  

Was not suggesting that any club aspires to be sl or even full time, just that like any sports club from grass roots to the full time pro's they are in it to win.
it does sort of lead on as an answer to the question of why london in sl, because the other clubs out there have realistic targets and ambitions at this moment in time.

Re: Why we need a presence in the capital : Thu Nov 21, 2013 9:44 am  

gutterfax wrote:

it is only through picking up London Broncos/Harlequins yoof that the Skolars have kicked on.

Not arguing but the loss of dual registration players would have a more immediate impact on both Skolars and Hemel. Both had a fair few Broncos lads play for them last season. The recruitment at Gloucestershire seems to include Londoners this season making it even more challenging.