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A lot of talk on here now regarding Toronto, and expansion etc, but my son gave me some info on RL in North America, and I think this needs a thread of it's own.

I mentioned earlier that I'm all for expansion, but done in the right way. I feel if this happens, theres no reason why it cant be a success without having a negative impact on other clubs.

If a new club is formed, let's say Hemel, a team of experts,employed by the RFL, if there is any, are employed and based in that area, driving marketing, coaching and finance etc, and not move on to the next project until the club they have been working with are stable.

As for teams like Toronto, and given the interest in sport over the pond, and the money they invest in it, would the sport not benefit more with an American SL, the same for some of our European ventures, such as Catalan, Toulouse and the newly formed Belgrade.

You could have a 4 way world club challenge

A list of North American RL teams, not quite sure on standards and facilities, and this is just North America. Add Central and South America

Toronto Wolfpack
New York Knights
Jacksonville Axemen
Atlanta Rhinos
Brooklyn Kings
Central Florida Warriors
Tampa Mayhem
Boston Thirteens
San Diego Legion
Seattle Saracens
New Orleans Gold
Delaware Black Foxes
Utah Warriors
Bucks County Sharks
Washington DC Slayers
Northern Virginia Eagles
Rhode Island Rebellion
White Plains Wombats
Chicago Stockyarders

Food for thought

What an imagination how long did it take to invent that lot, can't wait for the names you've come up with for the rest of the america's

Little Wayne, do you really think I've nothing else to do but make up imaginary rugby teams, really. Just googled one at random http://www.mayhemrl.com Come back when you've something constructive to say

Little Wayne, do you really think I've nothing else to do but make up imaginary rugby teams, really. Just googled one at random http://www.mayhemrl.com Come back when you've something constructive to say

Pretty sure they're all real teams. Jacksonville, Boston and Brooklyn are prob the more "well known" of the NA teams.

Peter Lupton was playing for Boston not so long ago.

My thoughts on expansion have always been that it's fine if done in the correct way. You don't expand the game by filling our domestic league with the odd clubs from other countries -even continents!
I'm personally more in favour of starting the game at grass roots level and other countries building their own leagues.
I've said it before, as daft as it seems, what will happen, if one day there are no British clubs in SL?

If you exclude Toronto from your list, the clubs mentioned are all at a pretty low level compared with the "professional" sport in the UK and are probably on a similar level to the French National league, maybe just below it.

It's great that the game is being played over there and surprising that Toronto couldnt "borrow" some of the local players when they started off in League 1.
Unfortunately, I dont know the full politics behind what was there pre Toronto's formation but, surely, an opportunity was missed.

As for Toronto, you have to say congratulations and see what they bring to SL.
You feel that they will spend big and could bring in some proper big name signings (Sonny Bill was muted a couple of months back).
There is a fundamental issue of geography that makes their inclusion bonkers but, for now, we should embrace them and see where it all ends up.
I just hope that there isn't a plan for 4/5 N. American clubs in SL at the expense of some of the current sides, which would be disastrous for the game over here.

They may be pretty low level but a league has to start somewhere Wrencat, sure when we all started in 1895 it was pretty much low level.

As for your last paragraph Wrencat, I fear that's the way it will go, especially with what Brian Mac was saying.

Wakefield Trinity were formed in 1873, just saying like. As for Toronto, it’s early days & I’m personally yet to be convinced about this North American lark.

He’s currently coaching them!

Meanwhile Oldham, Swinton, Workington, Doncaster et al struggle to exist
Expansion??? Not for me I'm afraid.