The link-up between London Broncos and Harlequins will give the Broncos a bit more stability.

The Broncos have been kicked about from one ground to another in recent years and they need somewhere they can call home - for the supporters as much as anything else.

The stability will probably put season ticket sales up and if they market it properly, hopefully they can take a step forward.

They are improving a lot on the field and are creeping up the Super League table after claiming a few scalps, including Leeds Rhinos in the home match at Perpignan.

Harlequins probably average about 4,000-5,000 at The Stoop and this will give the Broncos a chance of generating a bit of interest among the rugby union side of things.

If people look at Leeds they will see how the two codes can work together.

We've got the Rhinos and the Tykes here (in Leeds) and we all share the same training complex, the gymnasium, the medical centre, the lecture room, the offices - they are all shared even the porridge.

It's clear that the partnership works. It's been developing now for some years and it was always the vision of Paul Caddick to get both Rhinos and Tykes as major forces in both league and union and I think it's proved a good combination.

Everyone mixes together, we have the odd touch and pass game among the staff, and it's quite a happy family all in all.

There's no major dramas here - everybody gets on and we all share everything.

With regards to the marketing side of things, there is a lot of potential to get the supporters crossing over. They can maybe do some special deals to start the Broncos fans watching the Quins and vice versa.

The partnership could see both sets of supporters mixing together at union and league games, as well as being able to watch a professional sport the whole year round.

The other aspect is to get the kids in watching games and eventually playing. Obviously there's a lot of rugby league being played in London at the moment with the conference but the teams down there should definitely be looking to work together to get as many kids watching as they can.

Another option would be to have some double-headers. There's actually going to be one at Headingley in a couple of weeks when the Broncos visit the Rhinos. The Tykes are going to play Edinburgh as a curtain-raiser when Justin Marshall is set to make his debut for the Tykes.

Traditionally, there's been a bit of friction between union and league fans and I would imagine it's still there.

Some people just don't like change but the sooner they realise they should give all sports a chance and break down those barriers, they will probably find that there is a lot to learn from the other code.

If it's on the doorstep, then why not give it a chance? I think the move should be good for London and for the game.

It's great to see Lance Armstrong win a seventh Tour de France this week - the man's an out-and-out machine.

He just goes to show what you can do if you put your mind to it.

He has come back from cancer and to do that and then even compete in the Tour de France takes an awful lot. I went out on my bike on Sunday and decided I won't be entering just yet - I need another 20 years preparation.

Cycling is one of those sports where the mind games are as important as the physical side of it. You have to be so mentally tough.

He really is a phenomenal athlete and it'll be interesting to see where he goes from here.

Updated: 11:06 Wednesday, July 27, 2005