Tony Smith would back long-term project for French Rugby League

Hull KR Head Coach Tony Smith believes having two French teams in the Super League is good for the French game, and a nice change from the M62 belt.

Smith was talking in his pre-match press conference prior to their second trip to Toulouse on Saturday. They had previously played there on Easter Monday, and claimed a narrow victory.

The debate around whether or not Toulouse should have been granted an exemption from relegation has rumbled on all season.

Opinion: Should there be promotion and relegation from the Super League?

Smith believes it was always going to be tough for Toulouse to build something successful after one year.

Smith doesn’t see the point in promotion and relegation

He said: “I think some of the people that are against it,  I suppose would have got a point in terms of they don’t bring too much travelling fans to our venues.

“But I think it’s a fantastic setup that they’ve got over there. I think it gives us a different flavour to the M62 belt, and all that sort of stuff.

“I think it’s tough for them to come in and one year and then expect to build something successful. And that’s my only problem with it.

“If it’s gonna be a yo-yo situation of ups and downs, and all that sort of stuff, I don’t think there’s any point to it. Then, we would be better off doing it some other way.

“But, you know, if you asked me Do I think it’s worthwhile if there was a long term view of, you know, having Toulouse in there as a second French team? Yes.

“I think it’d be terrific for French rugby league, but I think it’d be good for Super League as well. But that’s just my opinion.

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