SUPPORT THE FRENCH
IFIND it so sad to see the comments made by clubs such as Huddersfield, the home of Rugby League, regarding the French clubs.
The Giants have struggled for decades, with little to show for it, and stagnant crowd numbers. I accept that they must be envious of clubs like Catalan and Toulouse, who have come from nowhere and, despite all the odds, have fought for their present positions in next to no time.
This is a great credit to them, and a wonderful example to others, of how the job should be done.
To anyone who has been to Perpignan, it is obvious how the whole city gets behind the team, by the size of the crowds and the exciting atmosphere.
Visiting teams are welcomed like special guests and they come away having had a great experience.
McNamara and Hetherington have got it right, and players, such as Tomkins and McIlorum have become great ambassadors for us all.
Surely, we all want to see our fabulous game expand, particularly around Europe, and we should be proud of our help and encouragement of the French teams to achieve this.
I am sure that one day there will be a French Super League and eventually an all-embracing European Cup. Imagine that!
Until then, good luck to them.
Bob Dainton, Wakefield
VIVE LA FRANCE -IN FRANCE
It is surely no coincidence that the three most vocal voices in support of French clubs in Super League belong to St Helens, Wigan and Leeds.
Except for a moribund Bradford, they are the only three clubs to have won the Grand Final in the entire history of the competition.
So who will contest the Grand Final this year?
A cynic might say they see little threat on a long-term basis from either the Dragons or Toulouse.
Yet, as it stands, in stark contrast to the Rugby Union Premiership, our Grand Final looks like a rigged competition based on a mysterious salary cap.