Reports in XIII Mondial that the €550k bond that was levelled at Toronto and Toulouse is also being applied to the reigning champions in order that they defend the Challenge Cup. Like Toronto and Toulouse (and no Champo club is going to be able to pay that), the Dragons are also refusing to cough up.

The consequences of the inability of the RFL to sell a showpiece event is being passed on to associate member clubs who don't have a say in how the game is run. The RFL is not currently fit for purpose.

The news snuck out in the Bradford chairman's column in the Bradford T&A this week.

Statement on the official site. "It would be irresponsible to [pay up". "They gave us this cup (McNamara holding the trophy) and a little brown box (Bernard holds brown box up) marked 'please fill with cash'".
Scathing.

Editorial piece on the website coming.... maybe.

Suffice to say that this is making me unduly angry

It's all wholly uneccessary.

Why didn't they just throw us a dodgy ref and make sure we got knocked out before the semi final?

Read John's excellent blog on our website .

Twitter says a deal is imminent.

Anything that involves any club paying and bond to enter the Cup is unacceptable for me

Compromise reached we are back in the cup !+

I'll be interested to see exactly what this compromise consists of