Outgoing RFL president Lindsay Hoyle has suggested that French teams shouldn’t be part of Super League.
The first game of the Super League era involved Paris Saint-Germain, but the club disbanded after just two seasons.
Since then, two other French sides have been in Super League: Toulouse Olympique, in 2022 – who got immediately relegated, and Catalans Dragons, who have played in Super League for every season since 2006.
The Dragons were made exempt from relegation for their first three years, and the French rugby league allowed them to sign players from other French clubs without paying a transfer fee.
They have since won the 2018 Challenge Cup, the 2021 League Leaders’ Shield and reached two Grand Finals.
The wheelchair team has also been very successful, winning the last successive Wheelchair Challenge Cups.
In addition, a Catalans home game is the best-attended regular season game in Super League history – with over 30,000 fans at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Catalonia.
Outgoing RFL president says French teams shouldn’t be in Super League
Credit: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester, Lindsay Hoyle discussed the French game, saying: “Is it the best thing that we put money into France? We never see any fans coming over.
“You’ve got to ask whether we’d be better having the Oldhams, the Halifaxes, the Widneses, the Bradfords. We’ve got these big teams that could come through and bring crowds… put more money into our sport.
“The Canada experience (with Toronto Wolfpack), what a disaster that was. It just didn’t work.
“What I would say is, has it really helped the French game? Is the international game better as we were told it would be?”
He then went on to suggest a major change to the game: “The international game’s gone backwards in France and I think the league would only get stronger by having a big, financially backed French league that could then take us on internationally. I’m not sure we’ve got it right.
“Rugby league matters and I want to make sure that we get people like the Australians coming over and developing the game on prime time TV.
“Let’s show the world what a great sport we have. We’ve got this chance, so let’s use it. We can’t wait for the next 10 years.”
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John Anfrews
September 4, 2024 at 10:06 am
Totally agree i’ve been saying this for years i’d rather see the historic English teams from the championship in Super League that are being mugged of by the Rfl rather than substituted by the French tbh!
jaybs
September 4, 2024 at 10:54 am
It’s been good having Catallan in the game, but what do the two French clubs, bring to Our Game, Little in my opinion! There is little away support, but our Fans line their pockets, why did IMG not see this? perhaps it sums up IMG they DO NOT UNDERSTAND RUGBY LEAGUE, but have it in for LONDON BRONCOS, our own county CAPITAL CLUB, who agreed a 12 year contract with IMG, a car showroom may sell nice new cars, but it does not mean they are the Best!
Anonymous
September 4, 2024 at 10:36 pm
John and Jay, agree 100%