ARLC TV Deal A Mixed Blessing

The Australian Rugby League Commission has reached a deal with the Nine Network that is slightly better than the pre-covid one and now all media deals run through to 2027. This puts RL in Australia on a sound financial footing. Considering local RL is a sport with pro teams only on the Australian East Coast and New Zealand, it's not a bad deal. How much more the lesser populated western side of Australia would add to any deal is uncertain. 

So that's the good part. What about the other part that makes this a mixed blessing. Well, it seems international RL isn't going to be enlarged, in fact mid season teat matches in the southern hemisphere look to be canned. The Pacific Island nations love tests and NZ is quite keen but they have little support in Australia. 

One of the ways RL maximises its return is having long seasons to satisfy an insatiable media. The game is tough on the body and the only way to get a reasonable off season for top players is to forgo international tests. 

The bottom line is with the domestic game in Australia financially sorted and international RL not having anywhere the same earning opportunity, it is spurned. The fact it offers variety and another way to promote the game is lost on those who study balance sheets. 

Up north: England has ignored international RL in its area because there was more money playing the top southern nations. Now they have shown domestic RL is their only interest, it leaves England without stern international opposition. So the northern side of the game needs to forget naval gazing Australia and develop a meaningful international calendar in its own region.

If England wants test matches, it needs to foster them in its own backyard. Initially, there may be some blow out scores but in due course, the competition will improve. It won't be much of a money spinner, at least not initially but it will lift the credibility of the code and will do much for the game as a whole. 

In a world ruled by the dollar, it would be nice if the northern hemisphere created a strong annual international scene regardless of financial returns. That could be a positive that this mixed blessing brings.   

2021 World Rankings - Women's & Wheelchair

Having discussed the men's side of the rankings (see here), we move on to areas that are much newer to the rankings. The women's list goes back to 2017 and the wheelchair list is new for 2021. 

Women's: Ironically Australia seems to take this side of international RL more seriously than the men's. They and New Zealand are a step up on the rest although England is working hard to close the gap. The + and - signs in the 2021 section are changes in ranking compared to 2019. I'm pretty sure a 2020 list was never made. Colour coding is used to show regions.

Wheelchair: If you haven't seen this version of the game, the skill and courage is amazing. It's also a mixed sport for men and women to compete together. France is at the top of the ranking here and they certainly are taking this form of the sport seriously. it is a Europe based sport with only Australia from outside of that region listed. Surely the list will lengthen over the next few years. 

In this brief video, here's a try scored in an international match between England and France. 

2021 World Rankings - Men

Every year I look at the world rankings for RL. It is based on how many internationals are played, the ranking of the opponent and how recently they were played. Like any ranking system, it doesn't always reflect the present standard perfectly. If a country plays few internationals, then it will hurt its ranking and place it lower than it deserves. Even in Soccer, where internationals are given much significance, there is no shortage of anomalies in how nations are rated.

So with that understanding, are they worth much?  I still feel they give a general picture and hopefully an incentive to take international matches seriously, not an attitude the sport of RL is imbued with. So surely Australia is top, considering its depth of talent. Err, no. Like I said you have to take international RL seriously to get a good ranking. Below there are two sides to the chart, one 2021 and the other a historical list going back to 2013. 

It's colour coded by region. Yellow is Pacific and is the strongest region. Blue is Europe, salmon the Americas, green Africa/Middle East and orange Asia. The + and - signs in the 2021 column are based on a comparison with the 2019 ranking. I don't have a 2020 list and I don't think one was ever collated.

The women's and wheelchair rankings can be seen by clicking here.

France Elite Season 2015-19

This is the final in a series that charts the clubs that have played elite Rugby league in France in five year increments. We continue with the late 2010s. The chart has points I have allocated according to where teams finished in the League, Finals and Cup competitions. Any feedback is appreciated in the comments section below.  

To start at the beginning of the series, simply click on the following dates 1960-64. 

2014-15: This was an even season with Carcassone winning the league,  Toulouse the grand final and Lézignan the cup. St Estève-Catalan had a good season without reward. 

2015-16: Toulouse joined the UK League One so the domestic team was retained but without the same firepower. Albi returned and has stayed since. Carcassone win the league, Limoux the grand final and St Estève-Catalan won a trophy with a cup final victory after a few years of missing out.

2016-17: St Gaudens returned after a brief absence, Lézignan finished top of the league, Limoux the grand final and Carcassonne the cup. Lézignan's overall consistency made them the best for the season.

2017-18: St Estève-Catalan were getting back to their winning ways with league and cup wins. Avignon won the grand final while Limoux did everything but win a trophy. 

2018-19: Carcassonne was the best with league and cup victories with St Estève-Catalan winning the grand final. 

Summary: St Estève-Catalan's consistency narrowly had them the best of the five year stanza, with Limoux, Lézignan and Carcassone unable to be separated and all so close to the top. Those four clubs were the strongest.

Point of interest: Avignon is famous for hosting popes way back in the 1300s and I recall singing a song at school about a bridge in the city. Its fame here is its Rugby league club, liquidated in 2001 but survived to remain down to this day. It's in a sizable city so would it be suitable to enter a team in the UK one day? Perhaps a bridge too far. 

France Elite Season 2010-14

Carcassonne 2010. Pic Gerard Barrau

This is part of a series that charts the clubs that have played elite Rugby league in France in five year increments. We continue with the early 2010s. The chart has points I have allocated according to where teams finished in the League, Finals and Cup competitions. Any feedback is appreciated in the comments section below.  

To start at the beginning of the series, simply click on the following dates 1960-64. 

2009-10: Lézignan showed potential in the early 2000s but came alive here, taking all, the trophies on offer. Limoux, Carcassonne and Limoux were competitive but none were a match for the treble winners.

2010-11: To show that the previous season was no fluke, Lézignan did it again! Pia and Limoux were closest to them. St Gaudens left the top flight after many years of being part of the setup. 

2011-12: Things changed with Pia winning the league and Carcassonne prevailing in the grand final and cup. Lézignan tried hard but was unable to get close to the two previous seasons. Toulouse was back in the big time again after three years away. 

2012-13: Pia was the best team with league and grand final titles and Avignon taking the cup home. RC Lescure-Arthes XIII brief flirtation with Elite One status ended this year. 

2013-14: Pia was gone, Limoux won the league and Toulouse took the grand final and cup trophies. The Palau Broncos arrived in the top flight and have stayed ever since despite being based in a tiny village near the Spanish border. 

Summary: Lézignan did well over this period with Carcassone, Pia and Limoux not far behind. St Estève-Catalan were very consistent but didn't win anything. Toulouse came back and was soon making its presence felt. 

Point of interest: The Pia Donkeys decided to pull out of the Elite One competition, demoting themselves due to new financial circumstances. It's a shame that such had to happen but the way the clubs are structured in France, their ownership system can cause this sort of thing to happen. 

For the following article in the series, please click the dates 2015-19.

France Elite Season 2005-09

Limoux - Gerard Barrau 2009

This is part of a series that charts the clubs that have played elite Rugby league in France in five year increments. We continue with the late 2000s. The chart has points I have allocated according to where teams finished in the League, Finals and Cup competitions. Any feedback is appreciated in the comments section below.  

To start at the beginning of the series, simply click on the following dates 1960-64. 

2004-05: St Estève-Catalan won everything this season in an impressive display. It was their last year in full strength as they were admitted into the UK Super League in the 2006 season. Toulouse, who had also sought a place missed out but performed well in the French season. 

2005-06: With St Estève-Catalan spreading its resources wider, Pia took its chance to excel with a clean sweep of the titles. Toulouse was the only club that got close.  

2006-07: Pia's rampant 05-06 was repeated this season with another treble. Lézignan stayed close, a sign of things to come.

2007-08: The sign turned to reality when Lézignan won both league and grand final. Limoux took the cup for a refreshing change at the top. 

2008-09: Limoux edged Lézignan in 08-09 with the league plus grand final and cup final appearances. Lézignan secured the grand final for a second season with Carcassonne the cup winners. 

Summary: SM Pia XIII was the strongest side around for the five years here evaluated. Limoux and Lézignan were both no doubt pleased with their efforts. With St Estève-Catalan not the force they were on the local scene, it allowed other sides to make their mark. 

Point of interest: Toulouse fell out of the top flight in the 2009-10 season after some years of fine performances. Would they be back? Of course, as the series will reveal. 

For the following article in the series, please click the dates 2010-14.

France Elite Season 2000-04

This is part of a series that charts the clubs that have played elite Rugby league in France in five year increments. We continue with the early 2000s. The chart has points I have allocated according to where teams finished in the League, Finals and Cup competitions. Any feedback is appreciated in the comments section below.  

To start at the beginning of the series, simply click on the following dates 1960-64. 

1999-00: Villeneuve and St Estève were the best performing sides, Toulouse not far behind. Villeneuve took out the League and cup, and Toulouse the grand final. St Estève Catalan won nothing but was competitive in all three areas.

2000-01: St Estève joined forces with XIII Catalan to become one club. Both clubs were based in Perpignan and the hope was eventually to join the UK Super League. The union was named Union Treiziste Catalane or UTC for short but I will stick with St Estève-Catalan. 

The same three were at it again, except Villeneuve won the league and grand final and St Estève-Catalan the Cup. It was Toulouse this time without silverware. Avignon went into liquidation and was demoted.

2001-02: Despite two top sides amalgamating, Villeneuve was the top club, second in the league, and winning both the grand final and cup. St Estève-Catalan won the league. 

2002-03: The Perpignan based Saint-Cyprien XIII also joined the St Estève-Catalan (UTC) club from the second division in France. Villeneuve took the treble in a dominating performance. 

2003-04: St Estève-Catalan took the league and cup, with Saint Gaudens the grand final. Financial troubles were to come to a head for Villeneuve which fell away badly from earlier seasons. 

Summary: The St Estève-Catalan club was the strongest by a whisker from Villeneuve which but for the last season was the best. 

Point of interest: The SM Pia XIII was moving up the ranks with some solid performances. The club's first team is shown in the Elite 1 above, while it also had a reserve team under the name of the Baroudeurs de Pia in a lower division. 

For the following article in the series, please click the dates 2005-09.

Two New Sides For League One 2022

Rugby League isn't a sport that easily attracts monied investors. It simply isn't big enough to be attractive to the Roman Abromovich's of this world. Mind you, for the money he spends on one club would be a fraction of what it would cost to buy the sport outright! Not that it is as such for sale but you get the point. 

Coventry: In the midlands of England, the Coventry Bears League One club has had a business invest in them. The name has been changed to the Midlands Hurricanes, a decision I question because of the large area the name encompasses. Is that how far the new club's reach is expected to go? It seems so. Still, if you put up the readies, then you have a say in such matters as branding. 

Cornwall: This is a bit more complicated. A club was established in Ottawa, Canada which gained access to League One (division two) through buying an existing licence from the Hemel Stags. After a year delay through Covid and possibly seeing how poorly a Toronto side was treated on making the elite Super League, it was decided to ditch the trans-Atlantic ambitions and instead start a team in Cornwall, England. 

The area has a small RL club in the Cornish Rebels but this will be a new entity named the Cornwall RLFC. Rugby Union is already a strong sport in the region so the new club hopes to tap into that. The aim is to be a community club that mostly uses local players and build steadily from there. That sounds the right way to go about things. 

Summary: The eleven team League One competition looks interesting. One team in Cornwall (south east), one in London (south west), one based in Coventry (midlands) one each in north and south Wales and six from the north of England. 

Women's UK Super League Goes to 12 Teams

Women's participation in Rugby League is growing very quickly and the potential is huge. Back in the inaugural 2017 Super league season, just four teams competed in that competition. The following year seven sides, 2019 eight (2020 cancelled) and in 2021 ten. For 2022 there will be twelve sides! The additions are the Barrow Raiders and Leigh Miners Rangers. 

A problem with expansion is that new clubs understandably struggle to compete against more established sides. Even with the current teams, some one sided results were achieved. This is something to expect because depth in quality takes time. A fine initiative to deal with this issue is dividing the teams into two divisions of six with promotion and relegation between them. One up and one down. 

Group 1 eligibility was determined by choosing the five sides that competed in the SL playoffs and the team that won the Shield final (Huddersfield). The newly promoted sides to Super League Group 2 were the two top teams from the Championship (division two).         

All of this is taking place in the UK's RL heartland but the rest of the country isn't being ignored, with opportunities for new teams to form in the south. Any new sides would add to the six sides that were involved in SL South during 2021. Careful planning is needed to create sustainable growth that also produces competitive fixtures. 

Jamaica vs Scotland : 2021

Pic: Reggae Warriors

At Featherstone in England, a match was played between these two and in a time period when the World Cup should have been played, it was nice to have a few internationals held.

Jamaica took an early advantage with a 10-0 lead but Scotland rallied and by half time it was 24-10 to the Scotland side. A Reggae Warriors sin binning may have helped there. Then progressing to 30-10 and it looked like a one sided game was unfolding. However, a late rally by the Raggae Warriors and a sin binning of a Scotland player helped bring the scores even at 30-30. Jamaica scored six tries to five but failed to take the game.

So an entertaining match concluded and it's a shame that a few more international tests couldn't have been played at this time. A postponed WC shouldn't have sent the international scene into virtual hibernation. 

England vs France Men's & Women's Internationals : 2021

23.10.2021. A double header with both the women and men taking the field in Perpignan, France. In one French media source, the crowd attendance was given as 7,000. 

Women: The local lasses are about to start their season whereas the visitors from England had just finished theirs so that immediately gave an advantage to England. Working against them, the England squad are amateur and also have full time jobs so they travelled over on the day of the match after a very early start. England were overwhelming favourites regardless of the pros and cons.

After some scrappy play early, England took the initiative and led 16-0 at the break. England were clearly sharper, especially in attack and at 40-0 with seconds to go, a shutout was on the cards but a last gasp try gave the French side some consolation. Final score: England won 40-4.

Men: With the last game between the two sides back in 2018 when England won 44-6 in Leigh, England, it was hard to be sure of the size of the result but an England victory almost a certainty. 

That's how the first 20 minutes panned out as England rattled up a point a minute. From there did England get complacent or did France lift. Perhaps it was a mixture of both? Whatever the reason, the game evened out and was close thereafter. No more points were added in the first half and France shared the second half 10-10. Final score: England won 30-10.

Summary: What a great initiative and well done for all those who made it happen. There needs to be more European competition in men's and women's RL, including a full England side and other nations such as Ireland, Jamaica, Scotland and Wales. That would make a tidy six team competition. It could build from there. Pics: Sky Sports UK.

Women's International : Wales vs Ireland

Pic: RL Wales. 

With my limited knowledge of the teams, I would have said before the game that Wales would take this match. The encounter took place at Colwyn Bay, in North Wales. As for the home squad, most of the players were drawn from teams domiciled in Wales with a few from English teams. This was their fourth game as a national team and the second full international. 

According to the Ireland RL website, this was their inaugural international, the team only formed a matter of months ago. In their favour was the ability to choose players with Betfred Super League, Championship Super League South experience in England (heritage players I presume). There is obviously the Irish Championship also to draw upon.

In what turned out to be a tight match, Ireland held a slender 10-8 lead at the turnaround and went on to lead 26-16. Wales mounted a comeback but in the end, it wasn't enough with Ireland winning 26-24. Wales scored six tries to five but none were converted. On the other hand, Ireland landed three goals. 

So a result I wasn't expecting but well done to all concerned in organising the match and to the players who participated. I'm not sure of the attendance.

Women's UK Rugby League History

Sisters are doing it for themselves. Pic RFL.

I was not noticing women's RL in its infancy but as this side of the game gains impetus, I've started to take notice. The Super League era for the women's game started in 2017 and for 2018 the four sides in the inaugural year became seven and the competition moved to another level.

The Challenge Cup goes back to 2012 but using the same standard for Super League, 2017 is the starting point. I'll make a brief summary of the earlier years and then into the 2017 season and forward.  

Challenge Cup: In 2012, it was won by Featherstone Rovers, then four consecutive years by the Thatto Heath Crusaders. That team was based in St Helens and was taken over by the St Helens Club for the  2018 season. 

In 2017 the winner was Bradford, defeating Featherstone 50-16. I don't have the quarter finalists for this season. Then Leeds won back to back titles, on both occasions defeating Castleford 20-14 and 16-10. 2020 wasn't held and in 2021 St Helens won its first cup against York 34-6. 

League: An amateur league was started in 2014 with clubs from lower divisions seemingly the driving force. The Bradford Thunderbirds won the first title, followed by the Featherstone Rovers and Thatto Heath Crusaders in 2015 and 2016. It was then superseded by the Super League competition.

Super League: It started in 2017 as mentioned and the first winner was the Bradford Bulls. Leeds won in 2018 and 2021 with Castleford in 2019. 

I'm not sure when the finals series were first held but the first I know of is 2017, with Bradford securing the treble with a 36-6 victory over Featherstone. In 2018, Wigan upset Leed's treble aspirations with a narrow 18-16 scoreline. 

The 2019 finals series culminated in Leeds overcoming Castleford 20-12 at the grand final. For 2021, Saints were too good for Leeds, winning 28-0. In the 2021 Plate final for the lower ranked sides, Featherstone was upset by Huddersfield 22-24. I allocated two points to Huddersfield for that trophy win. 

An Inconvenient Truth

The sort of thing I want to be celebrating, not the infighting. The grand final
between Villeneuve and Toulouse, 1964. Picture André Cros. 

I started this site to celebrate RL, a sport specialising in self-harm. What was I thinking? I stopped reporting on the NRL after the administrators within Australia undermined the 2021 World Cup to the point that it could not proceed.

Two teams based in France next year is surely a good news story for the sport. A grand final appearance for the current French based side and a nail biting match to savour. The owner comes out with angry comments about how his team was robbed by the arbitration. It provoked a lot of negative talk about the refereeing to the detriment of the spectacle. 

It seems the sport can always find new ways to shoot itself in the foot. For years French RL has been dragged down by infighting and squabbling and I see that this mentality will be a huge negative factor moving forward. As the game in France is helped to prosper, some within the game in France will find ways to undermine any positivity that would otherwise be gained by this progress. Those with this mentality surely need to reevaluate what motivates them to be so negative. Enjoy life. Enjoy your pasttimes.

European Championship Finals Round Up : 2021

Over 9,000 fans witnessed the final. Pic RFL.

There was a lot riding in this series. The chance to play in the European Super League. Two clubs were hot favourites to contest the deciding game but all six sides were going to give it a crack. 

First round: Fourth and fifth placed sides were up first with Batley defeating Bradford 23-10. The third versus sixth match was close, the higher finishing side in the league squeaking home 24-20.

Semi finals: In came the big hitters, Toulouse and Featherstone to take on last week's winners. The former defeated Batley 51-12 and the latter too good for Halifax 42-10. Would there be a second SL team in France or another from Yorkshire?

Final: This was held in France in front of a large crowd for RL in that country. The locals were favoured but nothing was certain. As it transpired, the best team in the competition won 34-12 with a strong first half performance taking the game away from Featherstone. 

Women's Finals Round Up : 2021

After a disrupted covid season, the ten clubs were split into two divisions. The top five and the lower five played off and the bottom side was eliminated. The remaining four played off as seen below.

Top Group Finals: St Helens took on Castleford and were far too good for their opponents, winning 58-0. In the other match, Leeds narrowly defeated a very plucky York side 22-18. This brought the two best sides to the grand final. 

Amazingly these two hadn't played each other all season due to the disruption with the pandemic. In the short history of women's RL, Leeds had the pedigree and the league title but Saints had the strongest looking side. 

The final was held at Leeds with over 4,000 in attendance but the hosts were eventually overpowered 0-28. It was the first time Saints Women have won a trophy in the three years of women's SL existence but one could see that being added to. 

Lower Group Finals: In the two semi-finals played, Featherstone was too good for Bradford and Huddersfield scraped home against Warrington. Both winners scored 30 points. The final looked an interesting prospect with Featherstone outperforming Huddersfield through the season but not by mutch.

As for the match itself, the closeness of the sides was evident in a tight encounter. Huddersfield prevailed 24-22 to finally get past its rival, albeit by the smallest of margins. 

The winning Saints team. Pic RFL.

UK League One Finals Round Up : 2021

Workington celebrates winning the final. Pic RFL.

The road to the second promotional spot and Championship RL (division 2) was a long road. Barrow was already there as the winner of the league but who would join them? The chart below tracks their progress (or demise) with green the higher finisher in the league.

The sudden death match between the fifth and sixth sides was won by Doncaster. The other two life match had third placed North Wales lose at home to Keighley. 

The loss by North Wales brought them into a sudden death encounter with Doncaster with the lower ranked side again prevailing. North Wales seemed to have run out of steam at the critical end of the season. In the other game, second placed Workington came into the finals series and narrowly overcame Keighley. That sent Workington straight into the finals.

Keighley and Doncaster fought for the other finals spot and a chance of promotion. Amazingly Doncaster won its third sudden death match. The club went from fifth into a final game with promotion hopes. Despite Doncaster's odds-defying run to this point, reality called in the final. Workington was too strong and got the second promotion spot with a 36-12 victory. 

Women's Regular SL Season : 2021

Everyone loves scoring a try. Pic: RFL.

There were ten teams in the competition this year, up two from the previous season. Not all the top flight (Super league) clubs have women's sides while some in the championship (division 2) do. I would have thought all SL clubs (apart from the Catalan Dragons) should be fielding women's sides. 

The League: With covid still affecting squads, not all games were played. Some games were cancelled and others forfeited. When the competition was 'completed', the final standings were as below. Some of the results were one sided but hopefully the less experienced will get up to speed soon enough. 

Leeds won the title although they never actually played the second team St Helens. In turn, Saints only lost a game it had to forfeit so both were unbeaten on the field and it didn't clear up which team was the better of the two. 

SL Playoffs: The competition was divided into two sets of five, based on where teams finished the regular season. The SL playoff top five is shown immediately below. The top placings were reversed with St Helens defeating the other hitherto unbeaten side Leeds in a game the latter forfeited. Wigan fell below two sides it finished above in the league competition to end its season in a disappointing way. 

Shield Playoffs: The placings in the league were replicated here. The only side that proved out of its depth was Wakefield but hopefully they will be better for the experience. Both playoff groups went into a top four knock out series that will be covered on their completion. 

European SL Finals Round Up : 2021

The finals series had a couple of unusual twists this year as will be revealed. We start with the first round matches. That pitted the teams that finished third to sixth with the top two having a week off.

Round One: Fourth placed Wigan hosted fifth placed Leeds and with a historical reputation of success the home side was favoured. Wigan also had a reputation for arm wrestle type matches this season. That proved true but they were on the losing side of another tight one, 0-8.

Warrington came third and had the 'advantage' of playing the sixth best side Hull KR. KR was a surprise to have got this far. The even bigger surprises were winning away and nilling their opponent 0-19 as well. 

So two upsets and both home sides not even able to score. That's the twists out of the way.

Semi Finals: The side from the south of France, the Catalan Dragons welcomed massive underdogs Hull KR. The home crowd packed the stadium and created a fine atmosphere. The host team was never really troubled, winning 28-10 after leading 12-4 at the break.

Saints took on Leeds in the other game. They cruised to a 36-8 victory, although only leading 14-4 at half time. The winners won the last two grand finals so were off to see if they could make it three in a row.

No upsets this round as the top two sides in the season prepared themselves to go to Old Trafford.

Grand Final: The green shading below points to the favourite for the match. The Catalan Dragons won the league but going to their first final against a team well experienced in such were the less likely winners.

St Helens led in a tight encounter 6-4 after 40 minutes and the change of ends. Then the Catalan Dragons got ahead 10-6 and a nail biting finished was on the cards. So it proved to be with Saints getting a decisive converted try to edge the plucky first timers 12-10. 

Well done to both finalists. The Dragons will be better for the experience and Saints will go again to see if four consecutive grand final victories is possible.

France Elite Season 1995-99

This is part of a series that charts the clubs that have played elite Rugby league in France in five year increments. We continue with the late 1990s. The chart has points I have allocated according to where teams finished in the League, Finals and Cup competitions. Some of the data below is missing so any feedback is appreciated in the comments section below.  

To start at the beginning of the series, simply click on the following dates 1960-64. 

1994-95: St Estève was making a name for itself as a leading club in the domestic game. It won the league title and cup, with Pia winning the grand final. 

1995-96: Some of the data around this time is hard to obtain, especially this season. The little I have for this season is below. 

1996-97: A tight battle between four clubs was the situation here. With two pools in operation, it increased the number of participants. I also modified the scoring slightly to accommodate the different format. Villeneuve and Limoux each won a pool, St Estève the grand final and XIII Catalan the cup.

1997-98: St Estève was the best this year with grand final and cup trophies. Villeneuve was the best in the league. Limoux was a consistent performer but without winning anything. 

1998-99: St Estève may have won the league but it was Villeneuve that captured the grand final and cup competitions. It also had a successful league campaign for a fine all round season. 

Summary: St Estève, Villeneue and Limoux were clearly the best performing sides for this period. Limoux didn't win much but one couldn't question the consistency it showed. 

Point of interest: This was the last time Tonneins and Pamiers appear on the lists that will follow. Tonneins has been around since the code's inception and has for the most part not been at the top echelon of the game. Much the same could be said of Pamiers except they were formed in the mid 1960s. 

For the next in the series, please click here.

France Elite Season 1990-94

This is part of a series that charts the clubs that have played elite Rugby league in France in five year increments. We continue with the early 1990s. The chart has points I have allocated according to where teams finished in the League, Finals and Cup competitions. Any feedback is appreciated in the comments section below.  

To start at the beginning of the series, simply click on the following dates 1960-64. 

1989-90: With Le Pontet gone, St Estève and Carcassonne were clearly the best. The former took the league and grand final with the latter victorious with the cup. 

1990-91: St Gaudens made this their year, winning all three competitions. Where did that come from?

1991-92: Saints were top again, but rather than three trophies only a cup this time. They were consistent too. Villeneuve won the league title and Carcassonne the grand final. 

1992-93: St Estève won the treble only two seasons after the other Saints side managed it. Catalans were the only club to get anywhere near them. 

1993-94: St Estève nearly did it again but for XIII Catalan taking the grand final. Catalans greater consistency won them the honour of best club for the year. 

Summary: St Estève was the strongest, defeating neighbouring Catalan, St Gaudens and Carcassonne weren't too far behind. Many clubs from lower divisions had success in the cup. A few other clubs came and went in the elite first division. 

Point of interest: The St Estève RL Club was founded in 1965. It is based in a small municipality on the outskirts of Perpignan with an official population of fewer than 12,000 people. Therefore, the success achieved through the 1990s as the most successful club in France is quite an achievement. 

For the following article in the series, please click the dates 1995-99. 

France Elite Season 1985-89

This is part of a series that charts the clubs that have played elite Rugby league in France in five year increments. We continue with the late 1980s. The chart has points I have allocated according to where teams finished in the League, Finals and Cup competitions. Any feedback is appreciated in the comments section below.  

To start at the beginning of the series, simply click on the following dates 1960-64. 

1984-85: XIII Catalan made this their year, with a second in the league, followed up with wins in the grand final and cup. Le Pontet managed to win the league and deny the Catalan side a clean sweep of the competitions. 

1985-86: The roles were reversed with Le Pontet wins in the grand final and cup but Catalan taking out the league title. The only difference was le Pontet was third in the league, not second. St Estève had a decent season.

1986-87: Things were spread more evenly, with Villeneuve winning the league, Catalan the grand final and St Estève the cup. Catalan and St Estève were the top two overall. 

1987-88: Three clubs dominated with Le Pontet on top from St Estève and Catalan. Le Pontet took the treble so was really in fine form. 

1988-89: Le Pontet followed up with another dominant display, winning the league and two losing finals. St Estève won the grand final and Avignon the cup. 

Summary: Le Pontet XII was the best side for the five year period, a club I didn't know about before embarking on this series. Two clubs that would later form a potent partnership Catalan and St Estève came up next. 

So what happened to the three clubs that broke into elite French RL? Toulouse was solid if unspectacular. Limoux had a few ups and downs but was still in the mix. Le Pontet left RL at the end of the 1988-89 season. Why? Due to issues with the French XIII federation it was banned for 12 months, was dissolved and became a Rugby union club. I don't know all the facts but it seems a tragedy that the best team at that time was lost to the code. 

In the space of a few years, two finals not completed, loss of TV coverage and then this. You couldn't make this up! No one would believe you if you did.

Point of interest: Châtillon XIII is a club based in the Paris area and after some success in the cup in the 84-85 season, joined the elite league the following year. They finished second to last in a small eight team league and disappeared, never to return to the top flight. They still exist I believe but in one of the lower divisions of the sport.

For the following article in the series, please click the dates 1990-94.

France Elite Season 1980-84

This is part of a series that charts the clubs that have played elite Rugby league in France in five year increments. We continue with the early 1980s. The chart has points I have allocated according to where teams finished in the League, Finals and Cup competitions. Any feedback is appreciated in the comments section below.  

To start at the beginning of the series, simply click on the following dates 1960-64. 

1979-80: Villeneuve was the best, just ahead of XIII Catalan with Carcassonne not out of the picture. It was however Avignon that took the league title Villeneuve the grand final and Catalan the cup. 

1980-81: The Catalan side was clearly top although silverware eluded it. The cup final wasn't played as punishment for violence in the grand final, which was abandoned. Both teams were involved with both fixtures. Pia won the league, the only trophy that was actually won that year

1981-82: Avignon was the best side, it won both the league - for a second year - along with the cup. Catalan won the grand final.

1982-83: Catalan and Carcassonne were back with a clear lead over other teams. The former won the league and grand final, the latter got the cup. 

1983-84: Villeneuve was the top ranked club but with only the cup in the cabinet. Catalan took out the other two but not registering in the cup cost them the best club status by my calculations.

Summary: XIII Catalan was the best with Carcassonne and Villeneuve tied for second place. Avignon was a little behind the leaders but two trophies are worth a mention. The television company broadcasting RL games in France pulled out after the abandoned grand final match in 1981. A classic case of the French RL shooting itself in the foot. 

Point of interest: Around the early 1983-84s witnessed three clubs entering the top flight and making a reasonable impact in the process. They were Le Pontet, Limoux and Toulouse. None managed to win a competition but it would be interesting to see if it could be sustained. 

For the following article in the series, please click the dates 1985-89.

France Elite Season 1975-79

 Toulouse Saint-Estève grand final 1975. Pic André Cros

This is part of a series that charts the clubs that have played elite Rugby league in France in five year increments. We continue with the late 1970s. The chart has points I have allocated according to where teams finished in the League, Finals and Cup competitions. Any feedback is appreciated in the comments section below.  

To start at the beginning of the series, simply click on the following dates 1960-64. 

1974-75: Lézignan, Toulouse and St Estève were the top three. Lézignan the league title, Toulouse the  grand final and Pia the cup trophy were how the pinnacle of each competition was divided up. St Estève were solid but without silverware. 

1975-76: Carcassonne and XIII Catalan were above the rest this season, the former taking the league and grand final with the latter the cup. 

1976-77: This was very similar to the previous year for the top two sides. Catalan the league, Carcassonne the cup and Albi popping up to take the grand final. 

1977-78: Catalan and Lézignan this time, Catalan winning the league title and cup and Lézignan the grand final. 

1978-79: Catalan and Carcassonne were the best, Catalan the league and grand final double but Villeneuve came through to claim the cup. 

Summary: Catalan was the best but much ahead of Carcassonne. Lézignan and Toulouse deserve honourable mention. Bordeaux had been a strong club in the 1950s but this is the last time they feature here. This is the highest number of different clubs to appear in any five year period during the series.

Point of interest: During the 1970s, a club appeared briefly on these charts by the name of St Jacques XIII. I know little of them but they hailed from Carcassonne I believe. I guess there was only room for one club in town. Does anyone know more about them?

For the following article in the series, please click the dates 1980-84.

France Elite Season 1970-74

In 1970, St Gaudens win the grand final.
(See link at the bottom of the page for more)

This is part of a series that charts the clubs that have played elite Rugby league in France in five year increments. We continue with the early 1970s. The chart has points I have allocated according to where teams finished in the League, Finals and Cup competitions. Any feedback is appreciated in the comments section below.  

To start at the beginning of the series, simply click on the following dates 1960-64. 

1969-70: Lézignan was the top side for this season, narrowly ahead of Villeneuve and XIII Catalan. The league winner was Villeneuve, the grand final St Gaudens and the cup Lézignan,

1970-71: St Gaudens topped the list from St Estève. They won the league, St Estève the grand final Marseille the cup. That cup win must have been an upset for that season.

1971-72: St Estève was comfortably the strongest side on points with Carcassonne the closest to them. Carcassonne could argue it was the best team as they won the league and grand final. However, they failed miserably in the cup, St Estève was the winner of that trophy.

1972-73: Marseille pipped St Gaudens for the most points (in my system). St Estève won the league, Toulouse the grand final and St Gaudens the cup.

1973-74: Lézignan, St Gaudens and St Estève all had a good year. Saints (Estève) took the league title, Saints (Gaudens) the grand final and Albi popped up from nowhere to win the cup. 

Summary: I was surprised to find St Gaudens the top club for the five year period. Lézignan, Villeneuve and St Estève were not far behind in a tight bunch. St Estève emerged to prominence during this time.

Point of interest: Established in 1953 as the Montpellier Diables Rouges (Red Devils), the club was reasonably successful from the late 1950s for some years. It left the chart in 1971-72 and doesn't reappear until briefly some forty years later. It is currently in division two.

For the picture source and article on St Gaudens winning the 'double', simply click here.

For the following article in the series, please click the dates 1975-79.

France Elite Season 1965-69

This is part of a series that charts the clubs that have played elite Rugby league in France in five year increments. We continue with the early 1960s, a time when the game was much stronger in France. The chart has points I have allocated according to where teams finished in the League, Finals and Cup competitions. Any feedback is appreciated in the comments section below.  

To start at the beginning of the series, simply click on the following dates 1960-64.                                 

1964-65: Toulouse was the best side for the season. Catalan XIII and Villeneuve deserve honourable mention. Catalan took the league title, Marseilles the cup and Toulouse the grand final. Carcassone was consistent but trophyless.

1965-66: There was nothing to separate Carcassonne and Lézignan as the two strongest performing clubs. Carcassonne took the league and grand final but Lézignan the cup. 

1966-67: This was the only time in the 1960s where one side won the treble but Carcassonne pulled that off. St Gaudens and Limoux did well enough to be mentioned.

1967-68: Carcassonne again was the best team with no one going close with others sharing the points fairly evenly. That said, they only won the cup. Marseille prevailed in the league and Limoux the grand final. 

1968-69: Carcassonne's reign as the best team over the past three seasons ended here. The Catalan club was best by virtue of their cup and grand final victories. Limoux was the best in the league.

Summary: Carcassonne was clearly the most successful outfit over this period, with Catalan XIII next but some way behind. St Gaudens was third despite not winning any of the fifteen trophies on offer.

Point of interest: The Bordeaux club started in 1934 but achieved little in the way of success. They continued to 1978 when as far as I can ascertain they were disbanded. A shame but perhaps being so far west worked against them. 

For the following article in the series, please click the dates 1970-74.

France Elite Seasons 1960-64

It was in 1962 when the military players of XIII had met an Anglo-Saxon team. Source: La Dépêche.

This is part of a series that starts here and charts the clubs that have played elite Rugby league in France in five year increments. We start with the early 1960s, a time when the game was much stronger in France. The chart has points I have allocated according to where teams finished in the League, Finals and Cup competitions. Any feedback is appreciated in the comments section below.  

1959-60: Carcassonne was the leading team (just) ahead of a group including Roanne, Albi, Villeneuve and Lézignan. The honours were well spread. Albi won the league, Lézignan the cup and Roanne the grand final. 

1960-61: Lézignan was the best ahead of Carcassonne and Roanne. Roanne won the league, Carcassonne the cup and Lézignan the grand final. Again, a nice spread. 

1961-62: Albi took the top spot by a whisker from Roanne. Albi took the league and grand final, with Roanne winning the cup. 

1962-63: Carcassonne came back for this season and was the most successful. St Gaudens and Lézignan were the closest. Carcassonne won the league and cup double but missed out on the grand final which was secured by Lézignan.

1963-64: Villeneuve-sur-Lot grabbed the most points this season, with only Toulouse being close. St Gaudens won the league but the other two trophies went to Villeneuve. 

Summary: The strongest side was Carcassonne with 153 points. It wasn't decisive as others were very close behind. It's good that honours are shared around, something less common in sport today where money often decides who has the best squad.

Point of interest: Battaillon de Joinville was apparently a military unit of the French army. It allowed athletes to play their sport while doing military service but has ceased operation. The picture at the top features them. As to when the Rugby league side ended I'm unsure. Clarification on that anyone? 

For the next part, simply click on the dates 1965-69.

League One Regular Season Round Up : 2021

Pic: https://www.barrowrlfc.com/

League One (third division) consisted of ten teams stretching across England and Wales. Like the other divisions, win percentage decided the final placings as not all teams played the same number of matches. 

Barrow took the top spot by a reasonably clear margin and gained automatic entry into the Championship (second division) as a result. The next five clubs battle it out for the other spot. The bottom four dust themselves down and hope for something better in 2022. 

With money becoming more scarce in a sport already skint, it will be interesting to see in what form the 2022 season takes. This is especially so for the bottom feeders that dwell in League One. 

Pic: https://northwalescrusaders.com/

Championship Regular Season Round Up : 2021

Toulouse celebrate winning the league competition

The 14 team Championship is the second division of RL in the UK and Europe. Win percentage decides the placings as not all sides could fulfill their scheduled fixtures due to Covid. Some teams are full time but most are only part time. The sport hasn't got the finances to have a fully professional league below the top tier. Rather than do a team by team coverage, I will give a broader assessment. 

Working from the bottom up, the two sides being relegated to League One are Oldham and Swinton. These two clubs with a proud history in the sport were clearly the ones that deserved to go down in terms of performance on the field. 

The next grouping is for those that didn't make the playoffs, from 7th to 12th. Of those, only London managed to have a win rate exceeding 50%. They and Widnes are the two clubs in this division to recently have played in the Super League elite level. 

The top six battle it out to see who can get the one promotion slot allocated to the Championship sides. Two were by far the best. Toulouse and Featherstone. The latter is irked that they played 21 games to just 14 by the French outfit. The fact is Covid has stopped teams traveling to France and the games Toulouse did play involved going to the UK, meaning more travel than the other sides. That's a disadvantage outweighing the fewer games played.

European SL Regular Season Round Up : 2021

The 2021 Super League moves on to the finals but the league competition has concluded. That's the end of the road for some clubs and playoff matches for others. As the Covid pandemic meant some games couldn't go ahead, a win percentage became the most important factor. So how did they do? Starting from the bottom:

12) Leigh: They came in with half the central funding of all the other teams and had a squad that clearly was going to struggle at this level. Two wins from 22 games sums up the season. They were only admitted to make a 12 team competition possible. A cynical decision by SL, an unfair deal the club unbelievably accepted. Demotion is their fate. Yet another shameful episode RL has added to its ever growing catalogue. Win rate: 9.1%.

11) Salford: A new coach and a decent squad for the Manchester based side that didn't deliver much until well into the season. Too little too late would aptly sum up the season. Win rate 31.8%.

10) Wakefield: Another team with a side that had potential but also left things too late to make the playoffs. In recent years they have struggled to have many finals appearances. Win rate: 37.5%.

9) Huddersfield: Some good players and a generous owner didn't translate into a particularly successful season. They also have a hard time interesting the locals to follow them. Win rate: 37.5%.

8) Hull FC: A club that has a strong fan base and started off not too bad but things got worse as the season progressed. In the end, they over achieved in terms of where they finished. Their supporters have every right to feel frustrated. Win rate: 40.5%.

7) Castleford: I find it hard to say what I think about the club this year. Their differential of -115 shows they finished higher than they deserved. Their departing coach will hopefully do better at Warrington. Win rate 47.8%.

6) Hull KR: I have to say the club did better than I expected in making the top six. It may be the lowest ranked team to make the playoffs but their opportunity to extend their success is deserved. Win rate: 50.0%.

5) Leeds Rhinos: I wasn't overly impressed with them this season but they have finished quite strongly and their fans are optimistic about their finals chances. I'm not so sure. Win rate: 54.2%.

4) Wigan: A proud club that at times this season looked very ordinary. Yet, somehow they have shown enough grit to win some low scoring contests. Without a star studded roster, they have played to their strength and made the top four with a low +2 points differential. One can never write off a Wigan side. Win rate: 60%.

3) Warrington: They have a reputation as a bridesmaid club. Competitive but lacking that something to go all the way. Will 2021 be another almost season? Win rate: 73.8%.

2) St Helens: I would think most people's favourite to win the league and go on to take out the grand final as well. They didn't quite achieve the first one but the second is still there for the taking. A classy outfit. Win rate 76.2%.

1) Catalan: The side from the south of France has never won the league leaders shield but that one is now taken care of. The real prize is the grand final trophy and while one wouldn't write them off, a season of much travelling and striving to maintain the season's high standard through the finals is a tough ask. They may find it all a bit too much. Win rate 82.6%.

A French Double

Toulouse in action. Pic: www.totalrl.com

France was a force in Rugby League when it took to the code in the 1930s. After reforming post WWII (it was forcibly disbanded during the war) the game did well for a while but for various reasons declined over the years to the point where it is really struggling today. 

In a rare moment of forward thinking and enterprise, the decision to admit a club from France into the UK's Super League was made. This was first tried with a team from Paris, which was a short lived failure. The second time around it was in a region where RL is strongest and at a club with solid roots. The plan worked and the Catalan Dragons are still part of the SL competition. There is also a club in Toulouse, pushing hard for a place in SL and look well placed to achieve that. 

This season has witnessed an unprecedented event. The Catalan Dragons have for the first time won the league competition at the highest level in Europe. This after fifteen earlier attempts. On top of that, the club from Toulouse that plays in the Championship (Europe's second division) has also won that league competition for the first time. They joined in 2017 (5th), in 2018 3rd, 2019 2nd, comp canceled in 2020, and top in 2021. 

So what does this mean? The French media may have to start acknowledging the code's existence in the country. It puts the Catalan club in a strong position in the playoffs for its first grand final appearance. For Toulouse, also strongly placed going into the playoffs and if winning the Championship final, gaining promotion into Super League. Two French clubs in the top flight of European RL for the first time!

This will surely mean RL will have more credibility within the country. It will also mean matches between the two clubs each year, generating a local derby rivalry. At a time RL seems lost and directionless, something for Europe to build on as a genuine alternative to the naval-gazing NRL competition in Australia.