I know that not everyone in Widnes, for instance, will agree with this, but we should welcome Toulouse into NL2 with open arms.
I don't believe that a second French club in Super League in three years time is a done deal. For one thing, it's now established that Toulouse will have to reach a Grand Final before they qualify to apply. Unlike other clubs, they have only two years to do that rather than three.
From what I've seen of the players they have and the others available to them, NL1 is the right level for them and they will add to the appeal of the competition.
There will be some grumbling about travel costs, but the League is helping out with that.
To those who see Toulouse as a problem rather than an opportunity there should be one simple message - beat them on the field.
I haven't blogged since the Nines at Headingley, so I'd be interested in what anyone else thought of the event.
It was pretty entertaining, I thought, in a low-key sort of way. Nines is a lot more like proper rugby than Sevens and a lot more watchable.
The big disappointment was the early exit of Fiji, who unfortunately found out the Nines is sufficiently similar to rugby league that you have to be able to run and tackle, as well as throw amazing passes.
Huddersfield always looked likely winners, largely because they turned up with a full first-team squad and coaching staff. There was some disapproving muttering about fielding a "strengthened" team, but good on them for taking it seriously.
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