Under 19's Lack of Progression in the Game : Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:48 am  

Read John Bastions interview in the T & A - John makes some very valid points with regard to the youth development within the game. He has highlighted the importance of having proper structures for the path forward for these youngsters. What are your thoughts?

Re: Under 19's Lack of Progression in the Game : Thu Mar 17, 2016 9:05 am  

Agreed,a priority for the development of the Club and the game in general.Seems a valid and reasoned argument from experience,needs to top the Bulls' agenda and for that matter the RFL,for the future of our sport..I am sure Mr Green is acutely aware and hopefully will enable a drive to expand and build on the vision.More sponsorship will be required to cover increased development costs via BullBuilder or similar supporter initiatives,unless we can attract outside parochial investment.

Re: Under 19's Lack of Progression in the Game : Thu Mar 17, 2016 10:22 am  

The craziest feature of RL has for some time been the decision to abolish the reserves. So once a player reaches a certain age then apart from those lucky enough to play regular 1st team rugby, the rest are either sat in the stand or else loaned out to clubs where they are blocking the path of some other local youngster.

I'd hate to be a pro or semi-pro RL player that only ever trained, and hardly ever played a game of rugby league. It's ridiculous.

[Bullseye]

Re: Under 19's Lack of Progression in the Game : Thu Mar 17, 2016 10:31 am  

It's crazy when you look at players like Lucas Walshaw who's probably played about 5 games in the past season and a bit.

Getting rid of reserves rugby was a money saving exercise but it's going to have a major detrimental effect in the long term.

Re: Under 19's Lack of Progression in the Game : Thu Mar 17, 2016 10:50 am  

Perhaps the money that's being used to try and expand the game into ridiculous places like Canada would be better off spent helping an U23 competition get off the ground.
Unfortunately the relevant authorities are too obsessed with expansion instead of realising that the existing structure needs work.

I appreciate it's not down to those authorities why it got scrapped, but they need to push to get it back. And SL and Championship clubs at least need to commit to making it happen.

They use Jamie Peacock as the example every time this argument comes about, but with good reason. One of the best forwards to play the game and in the current structure, he would be dropped before he broke into the first team. Ridiculous.

[Bullseye]

Re: Under 19's Lack of Progression in the Game : Thu Mar 17, 2016 10:55 am  

The trouble is a lack of money in the game fullstop. The game needs to expand. It also needs to offer opportunities for players to play the game, that's pretty fundamental.

The clubs themselves voted to get rid of U20s and A Teams. It's penny wise pound stupid.

Re: Under 19's Lack of Progression in the Game : Thu Mar 17, 2016 11:11 am  

HamsterChops wrote:

I appreciate it's not down to those authorities why it got scrapped, but they need to push to get it back. And SL and Championship clubs at least need to commit to making it happen.

.

I think it is down to the RFL. IK get fed up of them having a clubs vote of what to do with the game and when it doesn't work out, they can just blame the clubs (like with licensing, stobart deal, scrapping of reserves)

They should make it compulsory for an SL club to fund a reserves side. What is the point of the RFL if they just let the clubs decide on everything.

Re: Under 19's Lack of Progression in the Game : Thu Mar 17, 2016 11:59 am  

Bullseye wrote:

The trouble is a lack of money in the game fullstop. The game needs to expand. It also needs to offer opportunities for players to play the game, that's pretty fundamental.

The clubs themselves voted to get rid of U20s and A Teams. It's penny wise pound stupid.

Now that they've all got an approx £300k TV money increase this season, it should be put back on the agenda for discussion. Some of the middle tier clubs may be more comfortable with their turnover now to get the vote away from 8:4 back towards 6:6 or even 5:7