[John_D]

Why Paris? : Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:45 am  

That's a question I've been asked so often, I think it warrants it's own thread.

Why Paris then. Speaking to a very well connected friend of mine yesterday, it seems that Stade Francais want a Super League side playing out of Charlety and this was part of their charm offensive towards the game they've summarily ignored, at best, for 70 years. Hence scenes of Bernard Laporte, Nicolas Larrat and the Stade Francais chairman in deep conversation during the game.

: Sun Nov 08, 2009 12:16 pm  

I think it would have been better 2 years from now though, as a Paris side in the LER is unlikely for another 3 years, let alone a Championship or a SL side.

It is a good point that if the three aforementioned decide to go for it they could probably field an all-french side of union converts in the Championship in a couple of years.

[John_D]

: Sun Nov 08, 2009 12:23 pm  

belgianxiii wrote:

It is a good point that if the three aforementioned decide to go for it they could probably field an all-french side of union converts in the Championship in a couple of years.

If it's union converts they want, then the likes of Sonny Bill, Gasnier, Luke Rooney et al may be considered.

: Sun Nov 08, 2009 12:40 pm  

How far north does league reach in France?
Why exactly has it failed in the capital?

[John_D]

: Sun Nov 08, 2009 12:47 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

How far north does league reach in France?
Why exactly has it failed in the capital?

Lyon and a complete lack of interest.

: Sun Nov 08, 2009 12:50 pm  

John_D wrote:

Lyon and a complete lack of interest.

Lyon's a big city. Is there potential for rugby league to grow and take off there?
Would it be an idea to concentrate on some of the bigger cities/towns with already esatblished rugby league clubs?

[John_D]

: Sun Nov 08, 2009 1:04 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

Lyon's a big city. Is there potential for rugby league to grow and take off there?
Would it be an idea to concentrate on some of the bigger cities/towns with already esatblished rugby league clubs?

Lyon-Villeurbanne's struggles suggest it's a losing battle, at least at the current time, in the city.
Elsewhere, the story is much the same. Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux all have well-established clubs, but are dominated by other sports. Trying to establish those clubs in the wider firmament may be a better plan than to parachute a team into Paris with no roots. Tried before and failed, even if Stade Francais are backing it this time.

: Sun Nov 08, 2009 1:10 pm  

John_D wrote:

Lyon-Villeurbanne's struggles suggest it's a losing battle, at least at the current time, in the city.
Elsewhere, the story is much the same. Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux all have well-established clubs, but are dominated by other sports. Trying to establish those clubs in the wider firmament may be a better plan than to parachute a team into Paris with no roots. Tried before and failed, even if Stade Francais are backing it this time.

From speaking to people in Toulouse last week I got the impression there's definitely an appetite for rugby league in the city.

From what I'm hearing the Catalan Championship might not be going ahead next year. One of the Girona players told me of phone calls and visits from both the Catalan and Spanish rugby unions. Nothing strange in that you may say, but they were the first visits in a number of years.
Apparently there are plans to play a summer touch rugby tournament, which wouldn't allow time for the rugby league to take place.

[John_D]

: Sun Nov 08, 2009 1:14 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

From what I'm hearing the Catalan Championship might not be going ahead next year. One of the Girona players told me of phone calls and visits from both the Catalan and Spanish rugby unions. Nothing strange in that you may say, but they were the first visits in a number of years.
Apparently there are plans to play a summer touch rugby tournament, which wouldn't allow time for the rugby league to take place.

Bastárds

: Sun Nov 08, 2009 1:22 pm  

John_D wrote:

Bastárds

Are you really surprised?
When something like this happens it always makes me think of the story of when the RFL sent a 'fact finding team' out to Morocco with equipment and balls. They set up a league and coaching school.
In true rugby league style it was forgotten about until three years later when the RFL went back to check on the progress of their project. Guess what they found when they got there. The players were using all the equipment, balls, shirts etc.... to play rugby union.