The RFL have announced that they are to set up a scouting camp in the Irish city of Limmerick, with some of Super leagues top clubs attending, with a view of setting up a super league team within 5 years. They are again showing their plans for the sports expansion, into new countries aswell as counties.
Although Rugby union is dominant in Ireland, along with Gaelic football and hurling, Union play a winter season, with clubs breaking over summer. Having a summer league may be a good way for the RFL capitalise on this, bringing players across from the other code, and improving the quality of the Irish game.
Judging from the report, interest was high, which is encouraging to hear. They have 5 leagues running for this season, each with 4 teams, an increase on last years competition, and also have the 2013 world cup to look forward to.
But will that be enough to create a sustainable Rugby League fan base in Ireland? I don't know, but certainly not in 5 years. This year Magners league RU games in Ireland have attracted about 15000, and sometimes more at the Hurling and Gaelic football games. To expect any core crowd over 2000 would be optimistic for me, with less away fans travelling aswell.
That's before taking into consideration weather it would be taken in by the Irish media, how sponsorship and TV deals may work, and the cost of transporting the team. This without knowledge of weather the team will be success off the pitch with fans and their participation, and on it with the players.
At least with Catalans they have a solid fan base, providing 8000 at home games they can try to cover some of these costs. Crusaders have lower travel costs and help from the RFL, which a new super league team would undoubtedly need, but would it be throwing money at nothing?
I'm usually all for expansion, but this seems to me like they want to force a wedge of Rugby League into a very small hole. Lets hope at least for a increase in participation and interest in their current league, before making a misguided punt.
http://www.rli.ie/
