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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jonny24" data-source="post: 697668" data-attributes="member: 62880">I'm not to sure about that, Shaggy. I think that if we were to get North American SR franchises, it would effectively kill off ever having our own pro league. There would no longer be the vacuum of having NO professional rugby, and then who is going to go to the risk of starting up a league if they are going to have to compete with Super Rugby for players, exposure, TV money etc. We'd then end up in the same position as Scotland, two or three pro franchises fed by a "semi pro" domestic competition- CRC. Maybe it's all we'll be able to support in North America, but I'd like to see us give it a shot on our own.Say SR starts off by expanding to 20, adding one American and one Canadian team. IF they are considered successful, on and off the pitch, I only see that leading to perhaps a few more franchises. The only way it leads to more is if SR finally caps expansion, and there is STILL money, talent and appetite for more pro rugby here. In which case who knows how much more SR are willing to distort their competiton. I think they've jumped the shark already. Even if an NA league still started, it would be "second fiddle" to the existing, successful Super Rugby teams.Now if things happen the other way around. Say the NRFL or somebody else gets a league off the ground. 6-12 teams, hopefully 2-3 Canadian teams. Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle, Houston, Denver, 2 in California, Boston, New York, Chicago, Philly, and one more. Or alternatively, USA Rugby gets it together, get regional rep teams set up, and they join up with the CRC. Then we get a pro rep comp that looks a little more like the Pro12 than the MLS-style first option. This option would give us more player development, against cities familiar to the North American sports fan, and all our own. If it can approach MLS levels of popularity that would be hugely successful. I'm not sure we could get there but it would be something to aim for. Now, if this league gives us an established player and fan base, I could still see Super Rugby looking at placing a few franchises here. Only in this case SR doesn't take away from our league, more like adds another level. The players in the Super teams would already be known from our domestic comp, it would almost be like an All Star team.Look at me, going off into dream land again! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite11" alt=":rolleyes:" title="Roll Eyes    :rolleyes:" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":rolleyes:" /> By the way, have the NRFL people made any mention of including Canada? The APRC people do, but they seem almost as unlikely to get anything going.</blockquote>

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