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Toulouse Olympique have accepted an invitation to play in the Co-operative National League from next season.

The French club were bidding for a license to play in the Super League, but after that proved unsuccessful, National League One offered them a three year contract.

Toulouse have yet to formally notify the Rugby Football League of their decision but posted their acceptance on the club's website before the deadline.

Toulouse, who lost out to Catalans Dragons for a place in Super League in 2006, will use their time in the National League to prepare for an improved Super League bid in 2011.

"The board of directors, in agreement with its partners, has decided to respond positively to the proposal by the Rugby Football League, passed through the French Rugby Federation, and accept the franchise for National League One," a statement said on the club's official website

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 33,00.html

this is another bloody joke by the so called intelligent people that run our sport so how many fans from that club do they think are going to attend the games over here? they are expanding for expandings sake so they can all have freebie jollies in France

god forbided they get into the super league that going to be at least a minimum of two trips to france a year maybe the super league should give the club money to subserdise the fans to go over there!!

Well if they want to exspand for exspantions sake let them come up North as its Grim upt North

trotski_tgwu wrote:Well if they want to exspand for exspantions sake let them come up North as its Grim upt North

I'd sooner we did come upt north than keep going to France one team is enough as far as I'm concerned.
Do they not realise there is a financial crisis going on in this country at the moment? Plonkers the RFL just bloody plonkers

Not only have they fast tracked them into NL1, they have also made them exempt from relegation according to Sky Sports News.

Toulouse's players will not be relegated.

Toulouse Olympique will be exempt from relegation from Co-operative National League One, the Rugby Football League have revealed.

Toulouse accepted an invitation to play in League One for the next three years after failing to land a Super League licence and have withdrawn from the French Elite League, which is due to kick off next month.

The RFL have confirmed they will provide both the French outfit and the rest of the National League clubs with additional funding to help them offset the extra travel costs involved.

Toulouse say they will use their time in the National League to put together an improved application to join Super League in 2011 but have been warned they need to reach the National League One Grand Final in either 2009 or 2010 in order to be considered.

Clubs could also qualify by winning the Northern Rail Cup but Toulouse will not participate in that competition.

The French club will be allowed special dispensation to field five overseas players in their first season but must reduce the quota to two in 2010.

"We believe their presence will have significant benefits for the competition and its member clubs as well as Toulouse themselves," said RFL chief executive Nigel Wood.

"Offering a place to a French club will also support the continued development and progress of the French national side and of rugby league in the country.

"The addition of a European dimension will make the competition more attractive to supporters and potential partners."

Meanwhile, the RFL say the next step for the National League could be an expansion to Ireland.


Thats another kick in the teeth for all the other clubs again.

Not sure why you are so negative about this josie. Seems like a good move to me if the RFL can afford to continue it beyond one season. I don't think anyone is getting relegated becuase of Toulouse?

Here Here :eusa2:

Not enough money in the National League One to keep a French team going.

Catalans have a good fan base and make money from the travelling fans of Wigan, Leeds, Saints etc. Toulouse don't have the same fan base and the other National League teams aren't going to bring many fans over.

Personally I think the RFL should have left the National League as it was to see what happens to it without promotion or relegation from the Super League.

As Josies post describes,it is a progressive exercise.I heard all these moans when Fulham(Harlequins)first arrived on the scene.People don't like change.