Barrow Raiders : Mon Sep 02, 2019 3:18 pm  

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.

Re: Barrow Raiders : Mon Sep 02, 2019 3:28 pm  

Toronto was a stupid idea, is a stupid idea and will always be a stupid idea. 8000 miles or so for a league fixture is ludicrous for the travelling clubs and fans. Rugby League is like an elastic band, stretch it too far and watch it snap.

Re: Barrow Raiders : Mon Sep 02, 2019 3:30 pm  

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.

It’s always been an utter farce having Toronto hovering about, wouldn’t be bad if any Canadians played for them, but if they don’t pay their bills as reported then clubs hopefully won’t have to go there.

[PopTart]

Re: Barrow Raiders : Mon Sep 02, 2019 5:32 pm  

It's not a stupid idea, it's a great idea that was implemented by fools.

Toronto playing other Canadian teams = great. Toronto playing other North American teams = great if they can afford it. Toronto playing teams in Super League funded separately = maybe but only maybe. Toronto playing championship teams who are already semi pro = only in RL!

Re: Barrow Raiders : Mon Sep 02, 2019 5:45 pm  

Toronto to place is also the problem because the climate eliminates a large part of the season. It’s would be a little tricky playing in sub zero temperatures and several feet of snow.
This means the early games would have to be played in the uk therefore how do you select which super league clubs would benefit from this and those that must make the trip and be subject to the Canadian immigration rules.

Re: Barrow Raiders : Mon Sep 02, 2019 5:50 pm  

Like many I believe the likes of Toronto are welcome into the game of RL, but in their OWN league.
Absolutely stupid being in our leagues, France is stretching it but North America?!
What if the day come when there are only North American and French teams in SL - who knows what's down the line?

Re: Barrow Raiders : Mon Sep 02, 2019 5:51 pm  

PopTart wrote:

It's not a stupid idea, it's a great idea that was implemented by fools.

Toronto playing other Canadian teams = great. Toronto playing other North American teams = great if they can afford it. Toronto playing teams in Super League funded separately = maybe but only maybe. Toronto playing championship teams who are already semi pro = only in RL!

Like I say the early signs don’t do them any favours, hope they never see SL , play RL in Canada go for it. All they are are SL exiles creaming a good wage and most likely end up like Bulls.

Re: Barrow Raiders : Mon Sep 02, 2019 6:53 pm  

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.

Re: Barrow Raiders : Mon Sep 02, 2019 7:55 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.

Totally agree.

Re: Barrow Raiders : Mon Sep 02, 2019 8:39 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.

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.