https://www.rugby-league.com/article/54 ... d-new-york Hemel application to relocate, where to? New York Application to join League one.

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/54 ... d-new-york Hemel application to relocate, where to? New York Application to join League one.

You have to worry about the "help to deliver the RFL's vision" comment.
Perhaps the RFL could publicly share "their vision".

The cash strapped game of RL now wants more trans-Atlantic clubs.

This will do wonders for the balance sheets of already cash starved UK clubs, especially in League 1

Looks like Hemel will be Canada 2 (but only the Pro entity, with the Amateur Side remaining in Herts) and the other one must be the Gym Teacher from Huddersfield's pitch, which I thought Nigel had already investigated?

The Problem for the League 1 sides, as well as some of the Championship sides, is that this may now become 2 or even 3 overseas trips a season, eating into work vacations etc and all with little if benefit to the game.

Assuming they work up the leagues it would mean only one overseas trip before they're promoted? If I was a league one player I'd bite your hand off for the chance to play a game in New York.

But the point remains, what are these clubs adding for the week to week fans, I don't know many RL fans that can afford a trip to Toronto, New York, Tolouse and Perpignan in a season.

You would have a point if every single RL fan went to every single away game in a season. But they dont.

Not to mention the actual cost or, is this being funded ala Toronto ?

Doesn't invalidate my question, what would New York ADD to RL?

What does any new club ADD to RL.

Hang on. First of all you said "what do they bring to the day to day fan", not to RL. Nice moving of the goal posts.

But I digress. What do they bring? We dont know yet. What we do know is that the game is dead in the uk. It will be semi pro within 2 years once sky dont renew the broadcasting so maybe its a last throw of the dice to see if the north american market can rejuvenate Skys interest in the game.

What do all the other League 1 teams add to RL?

Toronto have added newspaper column inches, an increase in televised matches and increased fans when playing away from home. If New York & Canada 2 can do the same I'm happy for them to be a part of the structure as long as they pay their own way and opposition teams expenses when they are at home.

However, at some point the North American franchises need to add a paying TV contract and to begin player development. The first is probably more important to us than the latter I'd suggest at this stage and I wouldn't expect any new franchises to be accepted in to the structure after these without increased TV revenues off the back of it.

Same has to be said of any new French sides wanting to joining the comp, The French clubs are at least supplying some players to UK clubs, but they need to provide a TV deal also, otherwise they are just taking the place of a pro club without offering enough in return.

Agree 100% with all of that, and with players in American Football coming out of ceollege it could be great for a USA international team, but as you say, not without a significant TV deal in America.