Well said.

I watched four of the six U15 and U16 Wigan games. Apart from the U16 game v Saints the rest weren't contests.

I've been arguing about the levels of academy/junior rugby for years, and something has to be done about it.



What I don't know. I've sunk a million beers (slight exaggeration) with friends and foes alike trying to find the answer.

I've often wondered if the Uni's could not be dragged into this, a bit like the universities in America. Some kind of scheme part funded by the RFL, could help with game expansion and a higher intensity wider spread competition. The uni's have all the sports science stuff already in place.

Agreed, it would certainly help in bringing players through. Some which develop later and may not have gotten the chance.

That's an excellent point.

Over in Aus the better kids are identified at an early age and put into what are basically sports colleges.

Where Saints are concerned, they used to link up with Edge Hill, using their facilities. And Edge Hill already play in the Super 8 comp; they did well last season. So they already have an interest in RL. Your idea is a good one. Why not write to Saints about it? G'won! I dare ya!

It's not so much the facilities though, although I agree that would help. It's a complete restructuring of the competitions. Are teams at younger ages too focussed on results based rather than skill based?

Look at how many teams will play "big lads" rather than more nimble ones. What happens when the "big lads" grow only as big as smaller than the others.

Should there be encouragement for clubs via the salary cap to produce more of their own?

Should the first team squad players be helping out at the local amateur clubs?

Should our scouts be looking "outside the box" i.e looking at basketball, football, athletics for players?



So many questions.



I take a lot of stick on here but I've never been frightened to put my head above the parapet. I'm very passionate about this great game of ours, and before I go to that great Central Park in the sky I want us to beat those bl**dy Aussies.

One of my friends plays for Edge Hill, was top try scorer and player of the year last year. We probably would of seen him in the Saints squad if he hadn't spent his childhood years playing for Sale and then getting fed up of it. A good example of how you can pick players up later on in life, especially at university.

The U15s beat Crusaders 38-4 in Caerphilly today. Good team performance with a couple of lads out on England duty and a couple more carrying knocks.

He as been playing for Thattos conference side. Also on a pay as you play deal with Saints iirc.

Can you do a match summary for us?

I not good at anything like that if I am being honest. I wouldn't like to single any of the lads out as it was a good all round team performance.