Far be it for me to have a go at the Rugby League about trying to spread the game but is it really working. Every time London come (same for Catalan) the atmosphere with having only a handfull of away supporters is terrible games need both sets of supporters. This experiment has been going on for a long time now and while the french have good support at home is it really worth giving these teams a place at the top table at the expense of teams like Leigh. Know it takes time to build a team of super league standard i.e. Widnes but these teams don't appear to bring that much to the table.

Consider ourselves lucky that we don't play in Spain or Australia where hardly any away fans go to games. We just have to take it one on the chin. Even in the Premier League, the likes of Fulham dont travel well up north.

If London Broncos, or Quins as they were, pulled healthier crowds I would generally feel a little more upbeat about Rugby League in the capital. However, I've not seen enough in their long reign thus far to convince me it's working down there. I appreciate there will be many fans with far more knowledge of the ins and outs, and granted, you do hear about schools getting involved in our sport now etc etc. But I'm still not convinced whatsoever. Just look at the crowds for the games this weekend which were superb. Just short of 9k at Hudds and Wakey was pleasant reading. And whether people like it or not, up north is where Rugby League lives. And I just don't understand why that is such a problem. If there are some talented pools of players in the south, or Wales, or Scotland, jesus why not - the Isle of Skye, that's fine. However, does it justify a Super League club which rarely delivers? In my opinion, no.

Simple.....for rugby league to expand, it has to expand outwards from its heartland. Lets try Stoke, Preston, Nottingham etc before London, Bristol etc. I still think Crusaders MIGHT have work ahd they been formed in the North rather than having to move from the RU heartlands of south wales.

Are we talking about an expansion of Super League or Rugby League? Either way it's a complex issue, for example should Cumbria have a representative/be supported more by the powers that be and would that be dependant upon amalgamation (would never be accepted) before we really move out of the game's heartland? Are there enough quality players to go round, does anyone outside the area, Catalan apart really have the appetite? I would suggest stick with what we have and let's make the competition better is more appealing

Catal Dragons on and off the field are one of the top six sides in this competiton yet we want them out for Leigh centurions.

its absolutely incredible......

the only way this ridiculous non expansion policy of some fans would stack up was if all the M62 teams were playing in front of 20 plus thousand crowds week in week out, in purpose built stadia fit for the 21st century but they arent.

If they were then we could say to Catalan with their Wembley appearance and superb ground and 8,000 plus home fans, and their stack of local french players, sorry but weve got Wakefield Castleford and Bradford playing in ultra modern stadiums in front of 20,000 fans every week so you'll have to go back to the french league thanks for coming...

Weve been here before with Leigh and Widnes, great historical names but they arent as good as Catalan, they are a million miles off in fact. We as a sport can not have a weak premier competition. That will kill the game off not london or Catalan in the league at the expense of two crap teams that simplpy have more fans we can flick the v's at when we win.

Look at Salford, in the heartlands, new stadium and only 5500ish there for the opening. Not every heartland club is good enough either

If you notice I said teams like Leigh just using them as an example I was just commenting on the lack of atmosphere every time they come. Been watching Rugby League since the 70s so feel I am qualified to remark about the atmosphere, I have witnessed it every year since the London experiment started, all I want is a better stronger product. I am not against the expansion of the game just feel in London's case we are not moving forward we are all allowed our opinions.

The London experiment is so so, they aren't competitive, they don't pull great crowds and it's debatable how much the game has grown down south.

Catalans are the wrong experiment to give, you can't expect the French to be traveling across Europe to watch their team, it's not like football where they have millions to their fan base.

However, the point has been made, the only way the game will ever grow is if it's promoted in different areas, attracting new crowds. As they say, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, Catalans have shown the game can grow and they have an awful lot to be proud of down in France, the RFL should continue trying to grow the game in different areas, be it counties or countries, the game has potential but it will never expand in the heartlands.

Ask yourself this; how may away games would you attend if you had to travel 200-plus miles to attend every away game. Or in Catalans case; 1,000 miles.

FWIW I don't think Catalan should be in SL they should have their own French league and bring on the French game and maybe have a European cup ! You don't see any French teams in the premier league or Scottish or Irish ! The English SL should be for English clubs that meet the relevant criteria not rule bent so we can have a Cornwall team or London or Edinburgh team there's not enough cash injected by TV to allow it to leave the heartlands but if SKY want to inject as much as is does into football into rugby maybe a rethink would be on the cards but I doubt that will happen !
We have a good sporting product that's more entertaining that RU and Wendyball added together but it's not as nationally recognised as the two and never will be so I say improve what we have until TV revenues allow it to change but at the moment we are miles away from the amount of funding required to make a nationwide Super League viable IMO you would need a minimum of two SL divisions to make it work and the cash and players just are not there !

Padders, comparing RL to football is pointless. The sport of football is the biggest in the world, Catalans wouldn't be able to grow competing against French sides. RL is such a minor sport that we're viewed as a hemisphere, or a continent, if you will. We can't pick and choose who competes in our league, any chance of the game to grow should be grabbed with both hands.