Toulouse

[abbie2]

Toulouse have left.

[efcviking]

And this is general Rugby League.

[MA]

Boy am I glad we are out of the championship now.

The way everything is being conducted reminds me of the start of the SL era. i.e. nobody knows what is happening to clubs in a division as the season draws to an end. Teams in danger of relegation don't know how many will be relegated until 2 days before the season finishes.

The RFL really are abysmal. Only in RL. 

[Sunny]

Toulouse have left.

Have left what, please? 

[ceejay]

Have left what, please? 

I think this is what is meant:-


Toulouse to return to French competition
30th of August 2011
Toulouse to return to French competition

The RFL can confirm that Toulouse Olympique will not play in the Co-operative Championship in 2012

The RFL can confirm that Toulouse Olympique will not play in the Co-operative Championship and are to return to the French domestic competition in 2012.

The decision was reached following full consultation between the RFL, the French Federation and Toulouse, who will continue to face regular competition against British opposition in both the Carnegie Challenge Cup and Northern Rail Cup.

Toulouse have been guaranteed a place in the Northern Rail Cup for 2012 and automatic entry into the Challenge Cup for the next three seasons.

The absence of Toulouse, allied to Widnes Vikings’ success in securing a three-year Super League licence from the 2012 season, means that the Co-operative Championships are expected to comprise two 10-team competitions next year.

The RFL is currently in the process of finalising the structure of the Championships for 2012 and is awaiting an application to participate in the Championship from Crusaders.

Should Crusaders be accepted into the Championship as the displaced Super League club, two clubs will be relegated from the Championship – the clubs which finish ninth and tenth - and two clubs, Championship One champions Swinton Lions and the Play-off Final winners, will be promoted.

Should Crusaders not be accepted into the Championship, one club – the club which finishes 10th in the 2011 Championship – will be relegated and two clubs, Swinton Lions and the Championship One Play-off Final winners, will be promoted.

In the absence of a second Welsh club, Championship One will run as a nine-team competition in 2012.

Promotion into the Co-operative Championship will be dependent on clubs meeting minimum standards for that competition.

Crusaders have been given until 5.00pm on Friday September 2 to submit their application to join the Co-operative Championship in 2012 to enable the RFL Board of Directors to finalise the competition structure prior to the commencement of the play-offs next week
Championship Championship1 The RFL

[Waldorf]

In the absence of a second Welsh club, Championship One will run as a nine-team competition in 2012.

Does that remark not leave Swinton hanging in the balance? 

Seems a bit unfair to me if that's the case 

[widneslatic]

Am I right in thinking that Swinton will be homeless again at the end of the season?

[Sunny]

I think this is what is meant:-
.........................

Thanks, however we have all known for some weeks that Toulouse was leaving the Championship leagues - I just wondered if it was something else they were leaving.

[Peter]

Championship 1 with 9 clubs?  This seems a bit nonsensical to me, but if that is what the RFL want in the name of expansion I begin to despair.

[DJones]

I guess more worrying for the clubs is if the league does drop down to 9 teams, instead of 10 home gates, it'll drop to 8 home gates, that'll reduce the gate income by 2 games.

Its going to make it harder for Championship clubs to balance the books.

[ceejay]

Does that remark not leave Swinton hanging in the balance? 

Seems a bit unfair to me if that's the case 

Why, Swinton are promoted to the Championship as pf right, it is Championship 1 that could be left with 9 teams.   I suppose we will have to wait until February?? for the RFL to tell everybody what the Championship set-up will be for 2012.

[RB]

A 9 team Championship  1 - 16 league games - How can a ''professional'' sports team survive on 16 games.

See Below ex www.SportingLife.com



The Rugby Football League have confirmed Toulouse's exit from the Co-operative Championship at the end of the season.

Toulouse, who are in their third season in the Championship, will return to the French domestic league in 2012 but will continue in the 2012 Northern Rail Cup and have been given automatic entry into the Challenge Cup for the next three years.

The French club, who saw their involvement as a step up to Super League, are currently bottom of the 11-team league, although they were given a three-year exemption from relegation to Championship 1.

Toulouse will play their final Championship match at home to Barrow on Saturday virtually certain to finish with the wooden spoon.

Their absence will reduce the Championship to 10 teams next season, with current Super League club Crusaders swapping places with Widnes if, as expected, they are accepted.

Crusaders, who withdrew their Super League licence application last month, have been given until 5pm this Friday to submit their application to join the Championship in 2012 to enable the RFL to finalise the competition structure before the start of the play-offs next week.

If Crusaders get the nod, two clubs will be relegated from the Championship and replaced by Championship 1 champions Swinton and the play-off final winners as long as they meet minimum standards.

If Crusaders are not accepted, only one club will be relegated and Championship 1 will run as a nine-team

[luckylady]

I have read that the championship will operate on 2 leagues of 10 clubs each

[Waldorf]

Why, Swinton are promoted to the Championship as pf right, it is Championship 1 that could be left with 9 teams.   I suppose we will have to wait until February?? for the RFL to tell everybody what the Championship set-up will be for 2012.

Doh, hadn't spotted that it meant Championship ONE would be 9 teams! 

[Badly Overdrawn Boy]

Sorry to labour the point, but I think Swinton are safe. It's the play-off champions that are in jeopordy.

Should Crusaders not be accepted into the Championship, one club – the club which finishes 10th in the 2011 Championship – will be relegated and two clubs, Swinton Lions and the Championship One Play-off Final winners, will be promoted.