KEIGHLEY Cougars co-owner Kaue Garcia has provoked a reaction from Catalans Dragons, as tension grows over the IMG's 'Reimagining Rugby League' proposals.
A vote will be held in Huddersfield today, with a majority expected to go in favour of the ideas, which will ultimately see an end to automatic promotion and relegation between the Betfred Super League and Championship from 2025 onwards, among other things.
Cougars have been by far the most vocal critics of all the clubs in the top two tiers of rugby league, frequently sharing their disgust over the past few weeks over what they deem to be "elitist" proposals.
But while Batley and Wakefield have hinted they will also vote against IMG, most Super League clubs seems to be in favour of the plans, though Catalans have not openly indicated which way they will vote.
In one last attempt to convince clubs to vote against IMG and the RFL today, Keighley shared a tweet containing a video trying to explain why the new proposals are unfair:
📹 Sport is pretty straight forward: It's about fair competition and not a spreadsheet calculation. Cougars object to the IMG proposals, because it fundamentally isn't fair. Here's an explainer. @TheRFL (remember to share this video).#RugbyLeague pic.twitter.com/Zxn06XMcjN
— Keighley Cougars (@Cougarmania) April 17, 2023
Met with some criticism in the comments, it was suggested to Cougars that they were being backward-thinking, and that the ambition of Catalans was the sport's biggest success story in 25 years.
Garcia bit back, highlighting how the attendance for Catalans' Challenge Cup final win in 2018 over Warrington was the showpiece's lowest since World War Two, insinuating that the French side do not offer much to the sport.
Yeap. Catalans Dragons are adding a lot to the sport Alex. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 ‘Huge success’ as you say. pic.twitter.com/NAF5VUqdVZ
— Kaue Garcia (@KaueGarcia12) April 17, 2023
Many were unimpressed with that comment, including Catalans.
Trying to make light of the situation, while still being critical of Garcia and Cougars, the French outfit responded via the unusual medium of famous football manager Jose Mourinho.
— Dragons Catalans (@DragonsOfficiel) April 18, 2023
Keighley are pushing their cause all the way, with the vote now just hours away.
But given all the signs so far, it appears they will end up disappointed.
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