No. If I was then it'd make it look like I'd learned nothing from all my years, decades even, of watching the game.

Vichy Government as well, time heals though.

Sorry. Wrong twice, John.

Nantes has featured rugby league through the years, as well as Paris - both north of Lyon by quite a margin.

As for interest, rugby league has always been politically isolated by union in France. Why would it be different in the centre of power that is the capital?

Paris has also had rugby league teams over an extended period since the 1930s. Pre- the Vichy escapades of union, Paris was well represented in rugby league.

To this we will eventually return, if the public can again see the game as it did in the 1930s...viewing our product is integral.

In a nutshell, hence Paris.

Gijou wrote:Nantes has featured rugby league through the years, as well as Paris - both north of Lyon by quite a margin. In the past, yes, but not for many years. Clubs have come and gone with alarming regularity, PSG being just the last in a long, long line. You could have pulled me up regarding Corbeil though - they're talking a good game. More news about the proposed Stade Francais stuff in the local papers. Too tired to go through it right now - 'appen later - but it's here if you want a look. I'm slightly disquieted it about it.

Gijou wrote:Nantes has featured rugby league through the years, as well as Paris - both north of Lyon by quite a margin. In the past, yes, but not for many years. Clubs have come and gone with alarming regularity, PSG being just the last in a long, long line. You could have pulled me up regarding Corbeil though - they're talking a good game. More news about the proposed Stade Francais stuff in the local papers. Too tired to go through it right now - 'appen later - but it's here if you want a look. I'm slightly disquieted it about it.

John_D wrote:More news about the proposed Stade Francais stuff in the local papers. Too tired to go through it right now - 'appen later - but it's here if you want a look. I'm slightly disquieted it about it. I'm confused, they talk about SL in 2012, which can only happen in one of a few ways: * Steal all the good Catalan players (and possibly lead to converting some to union) * Run a SL side off a union academy side, or union castoffs * Take all the good players from TO and take their place in SL. I don't see this as a good idea. Now, 2012 for Paris to find a Championship side, backed by SF. That would be a different proposition entirely (though maybe 2012 for a Paris LER side, 2015 for a Championship and 2018 for SL would be more realistic). On the other hand, this was interesting Nicolas Larrat wrote:Sachez également, pour préparer la compétitivité des clubs français en Super League et élargir le réservoir des joueurs tricolores, que nous allons engager une équipe des moins de 20 ans dans le championnat des réserves de Super League entraîné par David Despin" So a "French" U20s side playing in the SL reserves comp, would this be in place of or in addition to the Catalans?

John_D wrote:More news about the proposed Stade Francais stuff in the local papers. Too tired to go through it right now - 'appen later - but it's here if you want a look. I'm slightly disquieted it about it. I'm confused, they talk about SL in 2012, which can only happen in one of a few ways: * Steal all the good Catalan players (and possibly lead to converting some to union) * Run a SL side off a union academy side, or union castoffs * Take all the good players from TO and take their place in SL. I don't see this as a good idea. Now, 2012 for Paris to find a Championship side, backed by SF. That would be a different proposition entirely (though maybe 2012 for a Paris LER side, 2015 for a Championship and 2018 for SL would be more realistic). On the other hand, this was interesting Nicolas Larrat wrote:Sachez également, pour préparer la compétitivité des clubs français en Super League et élargir le réservoir des joueurs tricolores, que nous allons engager une équipe des moins de 20 ans dans le championnat des réserves de Super League entraîné par David Despin" So a "French" U20s side playing in the SL reserves comp, would this be in place of or in addition to the Catalans?

Isn't the best way for this type of project to go to establish a revamped, and rebadged - franchise based - French Elite League?

That way clubs like TO can develop without the costs associated with travel to the championship.

Perhaps 10 teams in quality stadia, possibly to incude Stade Francais?

No relegation to enable the building of infrastructure, and no "second teams." Rather than have UTC seen as a Catalans Dragons reserve, relocate them to a nearby city/large town with their own identity?

To add to the comp 4 groups of 5 with QFs, SF and a European Trophy Final between the French Elite and the Championship Sides?

Im totally pro French RL and ultimately would love to see the Dragons, TO and Stade in SL but serious work must go into the FFRXIII competition to underpin this and guarantee the future for French clubs and their players. Ideally French players need somewhere to go to make a living as a player at a club other than the Dragons.

I know the contributors on this thread are highly knowledgeable on French RL so apologies if the thoughts I have have been made before

Ps - no point putting this on the VT or you get some numpty tell you that Flatcap Rovers should come before foreigners because they've played the game for 3000 years!

I know you lot on here dont think that way!

Not sure what changes you are suggesting other than rebranding the Elite league? A full-time French league has to be the plan once there are enough teams, but that is a long way off.

The LER struggles to maintain 10 clubs, none of which are SL standard. If we could parachute a SF Paris side into the LER it would get us 10 clubs, ranging in ability from poor Championship 1 to average Championship side. TO showed us that even good LER sides cannot compete to Championship standard.

A French Super League is a great idea, but one that would require a number of French teams being at the right level, i.e. some top LER sides, some sides in the Championship and some from SL. If we got to that stage the decision would have to be whether Catalans want to move to a lowe rleague for a few years or stay in the top flight. Obviously 5 years down the line the French league might catch up with the British one...

If you wanted a French "Super" league you currently have possibly 4 clubs that could be in it, and that would be tenuous. While it can be discussed possibly it's 20-50 years away so too much could happen in the mean-time.

A franchise based league like super league rather than a promotion/relegation based one with salary caps and minimum standards I really mean