Quote: The Lucky Black Cat "The RFL should force ALL championship clubs to run a u23 team. Championship 1 clubs optional though if they get promoted then they must put in a U23 team.And maybe even help subsicize some of the travelling costs. The RFL have made a real mess of the u23s and as they are responsible for its operation should be making sure its run well. I remember BJ Mather from the RFL telling Fax and others how he wanted things and not best for the clubs-I think he forced Halifax to stop the scholarship programme a couple of years ago. I am sure MM can add more to this story. This saw a load of Fax scolarship lads end up at SL clubs. I know other clubs have not been impressed with the attitude of the RFL and how they run the u23s and see it as either a waste of time or something they want to do but get little help from the RFL to make it a good challenging comp.'"
Most teams scrapped there under 23's because of the cost .Teams where also forced under the rules of the competition to play players due to there age rather than ability which means if you have players over the age of 23 who are recovering from injury or need a player to gain some confidence and form you are restricted to who the team can play.
The under 23 competition should be scrapped altogther and replaced with the old system when teams run an open age Academy side and an Under 18's side. The current standard of the Under 23 Championship is probably on a par with Conference Rugby. Halifax's 62-0 thrashing against North Wales Crusaders highlights that Halifax's under 23 side would struggle to compete with the likes of Siddal and other top amateur sides.
