: Wed Feb 18, 2009 2:20 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

Even before professionalism in RU, you had private schools like Kirkham offering scholarships to u17 and u18 internationals players.

I can't remember which school it was, but I went to watch mini-ski play up in the North East. While walking round the halls, I noticed the Underwood brothers names. I remembered then a friend who I was best mates with all the way through school down south. His dad had got one into school based on Rugby ability but suffered an injury that was career ending back then. I was at the same school as he attended. And all around the walls, school boy internationals.

Greenwood (I think) got the same over Blackburn way.

The problem we have, are such specialist powerhouse schools going for Rugby League?

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 2:55 pm  

Wiga have now formed a partnership with Lancaster University that will allow some young players the opportunity to further their education whilst in Wigan academy.

It's a step in the right direction.

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:05 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Wiga hace now formed a partnership with Lancaster University that will allow some young players the opportunity to further their education whilst in Wigan academy.

It's a step in the right direction.

Saints don't have an exact match to that, but they will not let an Academy player play without having a trade/education behind them. Players like Wilkin and Roby have done degrees, while Thompson remained part time so he could carry on as a builder.

: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:06 pm  

Ski wrote:

I can't remember which school it was, but I went to watch mini-ski play up in the North East. While walking round the halls, I noticed the Underwood brothers names. I remembered then a friend who I was best mates with all the way through school down south. His dad had got one into school based on Rugby ability but suffered an injury that was career ending back then. I was at the same school as he attended. And all around the walls, school boy internationals.

Greenwood (I think) got the same over Blackburn way.

The problem we have, are such specialist powerhouse schools going for Rugby League?

Kirkham, from up past Lancaster, covered our area and I remember one from the south west called Colston. In the daily mail cup, 6 of the 8 quarter finalist tended to be the same teams.

Professionalism in RU and the signing of kids as young as 16 has bypassed this sort of thing now, mind.

Talking about RU players, Matthew Tait is a lovely player and, assuming his defence could hold up, would be a good signing for a SL club imo. So long as he's getting his club england pay though, it would be a far too expensive gamble for a poor northern club to take.

: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:23 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I'm up for debate on this one.
Yes there are flaws in the proposal, and I've always advocated pro clubs forming alliances with the local amateur clubs, but throwing money at young players does not make them better.

What Brian Noble is advocating is cherry picking some of the best Rugby Union talent.

I accept that we (as a sport) have to be able to afford it, and I presume that is why he was looking at the sponsorship and image rite route.

Surely by spreading the net further we have a better chance of bringing top class talent into the game.

I have some thoughts on that as well which I'll share on here at a later date.

I really don't think that we as game can afford to be so insular.

rubbish!

I dont think you would be so accomdating should the situation be revered.

It would serve to inflate agents pockets and I am pretty convinved there would be a significant number of recruits who would return to Union with their bank accounts boosted by a couple of years in League.

Hardly what the game needs, and prime example of putting a band aid on a severed artery.

Then again, you would expect as much from a man who once played Mike Forshaw at hooker.