Source: Sportinglife.com
Super League will test the waters for a Welsh franchise this weekend when Cardiff hosts a full round of matches but Harlequins captain Rob Purdham is urging the game's governing body not to turn their back on one of the hotbeds of rugby league.
Bridgend-based Celtic Crusaders, currently in National League Two, are hoping to cash in on the publicity generated by the 'Millennium Magic Weekend' by pressing their case for a place in Super League in 2009.
The Rugby Football League plans to adopt a franchise system and bring in two new teams to expand Super League to 14 teams after next season and the lobbying has already begun.
The Crusaders have grand ambitions, as do Toulouse, who hope to provide some local competition for fledgling French Super League outfit Catalans Dragons.
Purdham, whose Harlequins side meet Catalans in the opening fixture at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, believes the Welsh bid has some merit but wants the game's hierarchy to consider a Cumbria-based Super League team instead of a second French club.
"That won't help the British game because there won't be any British players playing in the French side," said the Whitehaven-born Purdham.
"It would help the French game but doesn't really help British rugby league to bring in the Aussies and the Kiwis and whoever else so why not enhance the British teams like the Welsh and Cumbrians and push some money that way?
"More Super League teams is better for the British game. Cumbria is a hot spot and, if you bring the Welsh in, there are your 14 teams."
Workington were inaugural members of the Super League back in 1996 but were relegated in the first season while Whitehaven have twice gone within a win of clinching promotion in recent times before failing to meet the criteria last year.
The 27-year-old one-time farmer joined the big time with London Broncos in 2002 following his selection for an England under-21 tour of South Africa.
He led England to victory in the Federation Shield in the autumn and replaced Mark McLinden as Harlequins captain this season but has never forgotten his roots.
Purdham played for Egremont Rangers, one of a host of strong amateur teams in Cumbria, before turning professional along with brother Gary at Whitehaven in 1998.
"If there was a Cumbrian side in Super League, it wouldn't take them long to produce local players of Super League standard," he insisted.
"If Whitehaven, Workington and Barrow didn't want to merge, then they could stay in the lower leagues and act as feeder clubs with a new club altogether in Super League.
"There is so much good talent going to waste in Cumbria because talented lads can't afford to have a part-time rugby career as injuries could affect their work.
"If there were full-time options, a lot more young lads would stick with the game and make it at the highest level. Rugby league is missing out on a lot of very good talent."
Meanwhile, Purdham is hoping his London team can get the weekend off to a cracking start when they meet the Dragons in the first of six mouth-watering Super League clashes.
"It should be a great weekend," he said. "I'm looking forward to it.
"Hopefully we can promote the game and get the Welsh public involved and put a good spectacle on in one of the best stadiums in the country."
