The RFL has hailed the Co-operative Championships seminar held in Coventry as a fantastic success with a large number of interested community clubs attending from across England and beyond.

Alongside a number of other community clubs from the Rugby League Conference, representatives from South West club Bristol Sonics attended a seminar hosted by the Rugby Football League for those who have made an expression of interest (EOI) in joining the semi-professional Co-operative Championship One in future years.

Interested clubs met with representatives from the Engage Super League and Rugby Football League Chief Operating Officer Ralph Rimmer, who briefed the Sonics on what would be required to bring professional Rugby League to the South West. The RFL are currently briefing interested parties ahead of a major expansion of the Championship and Championship One between 2012 and 2015.

It is not known how soon the Sonics would be ready make the step up to the Co-operative Championship One, but the ambition is there to make the sport a success in the area. They have officially expressed interest in joining the Championship One over the next few years.

"It's all about bringing that sport down to Bristol," Karl Fearnley, Bristol Sonics Director of Rugby, said. "It's about giving players not just rugby union, but rugby league as well.

"With the Championship itself, it's a really good standard. It's competitive, it's exciting and it's something new for the city. For us in Bristol in particular, it's all about bringing Rugby League to a non-heartlands area and introducing a great sport to the South West."

The RFL has hailed the Co-operative Championships seminar held in Coventry as a fantastic success with a large number of interested community clubs attending from across England and beyond.

Alongside a number of other community clubs from the Rugby League Conference, representatives from South West club Bristol Sonics attended a seminar hosted by the Rugby Football League for those who have made an expression of interest (EOI) in joining the semi-professional Co-operative Championship One in future years.

Interested clubs met with representatives from the Engage Super League and Rugby Football League Chief Operating Officer Ralph Rimmer, who briefed the Sonics on what would be required to bring professional Rugby League to the South West. The RFL are currently briefing interested parties ahead of a major expansion of the Championship and Championship One between 2012 and 2015.

It is not known how soon the Sonics would be ready make the step up to the Co-operative Championship One, but the ambition is there to make the sport a success in the area. They have officially expressed interest in joining the Championship One over the next few years.

"It's all about bringing that sport down to Bristol," Karl Fearnley, Bristol Sonics Director of Rugby, said. "It's about giving players not just rugby union, but rugby league as well.

"With the Championship itself, it's a really good standard. It's competitive, it's exciting and it's something new for the city. For us in Bristol in particular, it's all about bringing Rugby League to a non-heartlands area and introducing a great sport to the South West."