Rugby League's Super League love affair with south London has ended following the decision by London Broncos' management to relocate the club to west London for the start of the forthcoming season, but it will not be severing the hard-earned links created in south-east London.

The move will come as no surprise to die-hard fans who have supported the Broncos through thick and thin since it re-established itself at The Valley two years ago.

This is the latest chapter in the nomadic-style history of the Broncos which, when it commences ground-sharing with Brentford Football Club next month, will be using its fourth home-base in six years.

Their pilgrimage has taken them from The Valley in 1996, via Harlequins' RFC at The Stoop in Twickenham, back to the Valley for a second spell and now to Griffin Park.

On the field during this period, the club raised its profile with big-name signings like legendary rugby league stars Shaun Edwards and Martin Offiah.

The Broncos reached another milestone in its history when, in 1999, the club played in the Challenge Cup Final for the first time, losing 52-16 to Leeds in the last final to be played at Wembley.

But it has been the Broncos' concerted approach at taking a game with roots firmly entrenched in the north of England to com- munities in south-east London which have made such a big impression locally.

Schools were regularly visited by Broncos staff and through its academy young players progressed to the first-team squad with others in the pipeline at the club's highly-regarded youth academy.

So does this mean this excellent work will stop? "Most definitely not," says Broncos spokesman Nic Cartwright.

"Training is well established at Broadwalk in Kidbrooke and that will be maintained, the Broncos' office in Greenwich remains, as will links with some schools and the London Leisure College in Woolwich.

"Many of our academy players are from south London and north Kent. It is essential we do not see their talents go to waste.

"Obviously, there will be some dropping off of our presence in south London, but we want to promote rugby league across all of London and we will be very heavily involved in organising and running of schools and junior rugby tournaments in this area.

"We will now have development officers dedicated to each area of London, including those areas in the south east where we have built a strong community link in the last two years."

But what about your fans, Nic?

He said: "Naturally, there will be those who will not want to travel across London, but hopefully we can reclaim some from our previous spell at Twickenham to even things out."

If you want any details of the Broncos' ongoing involvement in south-east London, then call their office on 020 8853 8800.