THERE has been a lot of debate recently about the decision of Super League clubs to admit French club UTC Perpignan into the elite tier in 2006.

It was not a majority decision - there was a seven-five vote in favour - and it has created a lot of fuss, but personally I think it's a great idea as we need to broaden our horizons.

I was down in Perpignan for five days in January and, having seen how things are looking down there, I think there are a lot of positives going for it.

The sponsorship, the set-up, the way the stadium is going, it is all looking good. And more than anything the quality of players that are coming through puts them on a good footing.

UTC have got some great young players and there is a strong rugby league base around there in the south of France.

The last time a French team was admitted, it was Paris St Germain. They didn't last long but they did not have a strong rugby league base. In Perpignan that is different as there is a lot of rugby -- both league and union - played there.

The big issue of Perpignan's admission for me, however, surrounds this two-year safety period that they've got, whereby if they finished bottom of Super League they won't get relegated for the first two seasons.

That to me would be a big issue where National League clubs and possibly some Super league clubs are concerned.

I believe there should still need to be promotion and relegation in order to give National League clubs a goal to make it more worthwhile.

The path was blocked for a few years not too long ago and in one of those years I was in the Dewsbury side which won the league and thus won promotion to Super League but in the end were not admitted into the elite tier for whatever reason.

On that point, it is ironic that Huddersfield are one of the main opponents to allowing Perpignan into Super League, with the promotion/ relegation system being one of their arguments - as they finished bottom of Super League a few times, including the year Dewsbury should by rights have replaced them, but were not relegated.

I would suggest something needs to be sorted out as regards promotion and relegation. The Rugby Football League have said the issue is being addressed, and they need to come up with viable answers.

National League clubs have got to have something to aim for, to strive for, and it would be wrong to take the chance of promotion away.

The only way they could do it on the face of it would be to relegate the second-bottom team, but if Perpignan finished bottom by a long way it would be tough on the next team to have to face the prospect of relegation.

All this, of course, assumes Perpignan will finish bottom, so to sort it all out, the best way would be for them to get together a good Super League side that does well.

The RFL need to make sure whatever plan they come up with is a sure and fair way which everybody agrees with before the competition starts.

ON a different topic, it is excellent that the organisers have got Leeds Rhinos star Kevin Sinfield involved with the York International 9s.

He was to launch the competition tonight when the draw for the group stages will be held live on BBC radio.

The tournament itself is an excellent opportunity for development of rugby league. There is a good cosmopolitan feel surrounding the tournament and it brings some good profile to that side of the game, as well as to rugby league in York itself, making it good for the city.

It might be a good idea to think about whether or not it would be viable for York City Knights to get involved in the tournament in some capacity in the future.

Updated: 09:41 Wednesday, June 02, 2004