As many people may know the Championship Tiers of rugby are to be Renovated in 2013
[urlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/23820/bold-future-awaits-new-look-championships[/url
The RFL have noted that;
Quote “The Championship will be expanded to 14 teams in 2013, meaning that there will be no relegation from the competition in 2012, and four teams will be promoted from Championship One.
“These will be the Championship One champions, the play-off final winning team, the play-off final runners up and the next highest placed club in Championship One.
“Promotion and relegation between the two competitions will return at the end of 2013 and we will also revisit the possibility of promotion and relegation between the Championships and tier 3.
“Four new clubs will enter Championship One in 2013 and these will be announced in the next few months once the due diligence checks are completed, thus giving them an appropriate amount of time to prepare for life in Championship One in 2013.'"
With the RFL's confirmation of World Cup Venue's including Bristol, Limerick & Avignon, this lead me to believe, that atleast 1 teams from within each of these 3 regions will be instated into the Championship 1 in 2013, as well as Toulouse Olympique.
I started to do some research into Rugby League teams in these area's and have come to the conclusion that
Avignon;
Sporting Olympique Avignon XIII - [urlhttp://www.soavignon.com/[/url
Currently 2nd in the French Elite 2011-12
Quote Quote Championship finalist in 1957, four times winner of the Coupe de France, the club has managed to create an original style of play, both based on solidarity, enthusiasm and panache, was the first club in the region by the number of licensees and the value of performance. He gave many talented players in the France team including Béraud, Savona, Merquey, Rey, Fabre, Guigue, Imbert, and more recently Buttignol and Entat.'"
- English
Quote Finaliste du championnat en 1957, quatre fois vainqueur de la coupe de France, ce club qui a su se créer un style de jeu original, à la fois axé sur la solidarité, l'enthousiasme et le brio, fut le premier club de la région par le nombre de licenciés et la valeur de ses performances. Il a donné de nombreux joueurs de talents à l'équipe de France parmi lesquels Béraud, Savonne, Merquey, Rey, Fabre, Guigue, Imbert, et plus récemment Buttignol et Entat.'"
- French'" -
Quote from [urlhttp://www.soavignon.com/rubrique/141-historique.html[/url
Bristol;
Bristol Sonics- [urlhttp://www.bristolsonics.com/[/url
RLC West Midlands Division: 2007, 2008
RLC Midlands Premier: 2011
Quote The Sonics have recently announced details of a pioneering partnership with Filton College. The further education institution recently appointed its first Rugby League Academy Coach, former Oxford University and Harlequins youth coach Dan Garbutt, and is partnering with the Sonics to explore the possibility of a professional team in Bristol within the next five years'"
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Quote from [urlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/bristol-make-rugby-league-world[/url
Limerick;
Treaty City Titans - (no current Club website(of my knowledge))
Irish Elite League Winners (4): 2005,2006,2007,2009
Quote Rugby League is also played in Limerick and the city is represented in the Munster Conference of the Irish Elite League by the Treaty City Titans. A Limerick based side is also planning to enter Super League by 2016 playing matches out of Thomond Park, it is also set to host high profile rugby league matches including the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, an academy was also set up to identify players to play for Super League clubs.'"
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Quote from [urlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerick[/url
I base my selection of Toulouse Olympique on the fact they have previously played in the Championship (past few seasons)
What are your Views on this? Am i reading to far into the selection process of the RFL? Did i let my own personal excitment get the better of me?
