Re: Barrow Raiders : Mon Sep 02, 2019 8:49 pm  

Redscat wrote:

The whole concept of Toronto, New York et al playing in a British league is sheer lunacy. If certain people want to promote Rugby League on the North American continent then why the heck don't they start their own league over there. By all means send Super League teams over there from time to time to play exhibition matches to help create interest but IMHO we would be better looking after the Barrows and Oldhams of this world.

I've thought this all along. Separate leagues by nation, not hemisphere. If you want to play a foreign side make it part of the World Club Series.

Re: Barrow Raiders : Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:19 pm  

Khlav Kalash wrote:

Really, the game wouldn't be better off at all. Besides, no Toronto wouldn't suddenly mean loads a dosh for existing struggling clubs. Falling participation numbers and an aging spectator base, the game needs to branch out. A NA league should be the ultimate aim, but that isn't going to grow out of nothing.

No, Khlav. you're quite right, but RL development in Russia. Italy France etc didn't start by planting teams in English leagues. Canada and the USA are wealthy and savvy enough areas to start their own leagues, I'm sure. To see such once great teams as Oldham, Swinton and Workington struggling to exist whilst promoting clubs thousands of miles away is shameful. I could see RL in the USA going the same way as American Football went over here some years ago.

Re: Barrow Raiders : Tue Sep 03, 2019 12:14 am  

Dont agree with toronto catalan or toulouse myself

Re: Barrow Raiders : Wed Sep 04, 2019 6:32 am  

Trinity1964 wrote:

Barrow Raiders last weekend made a 7,000 mile round trip to Toronto to play their Championship game against the Wolfpack with just 14 players available to play in this fixture. Barrow said due to injuries and players unavailable they had just enough players for a team plus 1 substitute. If anyone had any doubts about the Rugby League losing the plot then this is proof and if you add in possibly New York and another Canadian team ready to join the league, the game as a spectator sport will cease to exist as we know it. Since Toronto entered the Rugby League any club visiting Canada cannot take players who may have fallen foul of the law and if in Super League next year this ruling will I suspect give Toronto an advantage as some teams will have to make team changes to get around the rules. After their long trip Barrow ended up getting relegated, with the way Rugby League is going I bet they are glad they will only have to go as far as London, Coventry and Wales next season.

this reminds me of when our lad first started play rugby and we had Scarborough priates to play against, under nines played 20 mins each way, we'd travel 70 mile for game lasting 40 mins in which half the players wasn't interested in it some even didn't turn up ending up the side was short of players (no change there then) but we did decide to make a day out and was warmly met by the club but then the favour was never returned, the club never seemed to want to play away and it doesn't take someone long to realise the logistics of it isn't worth it

Re: Barrow Raiders : Wed Sep 04, 2019 6:51 am  

Trinity1964 wrote:

Barrow Raiders last weekend made a 7,000 mile round trip to Toronto to play their Championship game against the Wolfpack with just 14 players available to play in this fixture. Barrow said due to injuries and players unavailable they had just enough players for a team plus 1 substitute. If anyone had any doubts about the Rugby League losing the plot then this is proof and if you add in possibly New York and another Canadian team ready to join the league, the game as a spectator sport will cease to exist as we know it. Since Toronto entered the Rugby League any club visiting Canada cannot take players who may have fallen foul of the law and if in Super League next year this ruling will I suspect give Toronto an advantage as some teams will have to make team changes to get around the rules. After their long trip Barrow ended up getting relegated, with the way Rugby League is going I bet they are glad they will only have to go as far as London, Coventry and Wales next season.

Suspensions and injuries reduce Barrow to 14 players because they have bugger all squad depth - blame Toronto

Re: Barrow Raiders : Wed Sep 04, 2019 9:09 am  

I do wonder with Toronto mostly likely on their way up if the SL clubs with bigger egos are going to throw a fit about scheduling etc and potential unfair advantages of a long run of home games to finish the season.

Does the away team funding also end once they come up? Imagine the fans will enjoy the first trip over there but some teams will end up going potentially twice in a season

Re: Barrow Raiders : Wed Sep 04, 2019 9:50 am  

it will be very interesting if Toronto do make promotion. Who is paying for the travel etc? as the point above states some teams will have to play them away twice, and they cant play in winter the weather is way worse than the UK. So the home matches will have to be over a shorter period.
Maybe it could be arranged like a magic weekend where Toronto play 3 teams on a Saturday and 3 more on the Sunday.

Re: Barrow Raiders : Wed Sep 04, 2019 9:52 am  

And back on subject its a disgrace how the RFL will allow established lower league UK teams to die at the expense of a team the other side of the Atlantic

Re: Barrow Raiders : Wed Sep 04, 2019 2:06 pm  

In the not to distant future with American and Canadian teams bank rolled and in Super League the Championship teams will be as follows, Wakefield, Castleford, Hull KR, Salford, Huddersfield, Widnes, Bradford, Leigh, Featherstone, and Halifax. Let them get on with it I say, it would be like it used to be with proper teams not your plastic no history clubs.

Re: Barrow Raiders : Wed Sep 04, 2019 2:25 pm  

metallicat wrote:

And back on subject its a disgrace how the RFL will allow established lower league UK teams to die at the expense of a team the other side of the Atlantic

Is it at the expense, would they have gone anyway?