Last updated 15:11, Wednesday, 23 July 2008

DAVE NIXON: 'I wouldn't be averse to a trip to Toulouse'

BARROW Raiders’ chances of gaining automatic promotion to National League One have been given a big boost.
The Rugby Football League have confirmed three teams, not two, will go up from National League Two at the end of the season — two automatically and one via the play-offs.
The announcement follows yesterday’s decision that Celtic Crusaders and Salford City Reds will be awarded Super League franchises from next season.
That means there will be 20 teams in the National Leagues instead of 22 and has led to the restructuring of promotion and relegation.
Only one side will now come down from National League One, leaving two divisions of 10 teams each, with Barrow’s chances of being in the higher of them, already looking good given their current table-topping status, significantly increased.
Club chairman Dave Nixon feels the side should certainly be among the best three teams in their league and thus find themselves in rugby league’s second tier next season.
That said, he knows better performances than those shown in the defeats at Hunslet and Blackpool in recent weeks will be needed to make the dream a reality.
“We would very much hope we would be one of the sides going up,” he said.
“But after the Blackpool performance, anything could happen.
“You would think with the way we have been playing, we would have to be one of the favourites, but nothing can be taken for granted.”
With the top two sides in National League Two going up automatically at the end of August, the sides placed third to eighth will contest the play-offs.
The final will be played at Warrington at the end of September, with the winner promoted.
The RFL also confirmed the possibility of further teams joining the National Leagues in the coming seasons.
French side Toulouse — who missed out on a Super League franchise along with Widnes, Leigh, Halifax and Featherstone — are mooted to come into National League One in 2010, with Nixon believing expansion to the Midlands, Ireland an Scotland could follow.
He added: “I would not be surprised if, in the next three to four years, they started looking to the Midlands. And, after Toulouse, they will look at a Scottish club or an Irish club.
“I think the idea of a once-a-year trip to Dublin would not be too bad an experience and I wouldn’t be averse to a trip to Toulouse!
“But clubs in Division One, they are not the richest in the world, and they would need some help to travel.
“It costs £3,000 to go to London, so to go to Toulouse, you would certainly need some help.”
l Barrow Raiders are running a coach to Rochdale on Sunday. It leaves Walney Promenade at 10am and costs £10 for adults and £8 for children aged 14 and under.
Bookings can be made at the Rugby Shop, Scott Street, or by ringing 01229 820273.