With the fixtures now announced and the lads back in training, we can start looking forward to our next crop getting back on the field, we start at London on 16th may, be very interesting to see the physical progress the players have made over the last 14 month or so since there last game.

We'l be going with a young squad like most of the bigger clubs academys id expect, with a lot of teams releasing very good 3rd year players, like us releasing joe Burton for example, he'l be one of the best centres in Academy rugby this season with Bradford, with so many 3rd years all across the game going to other clubs, it should hopefully result in a more competitive competition.

My take on what we have to look forward to...

For us, from the first years... the obvious 2 to look out for are Gannon and Edwards as first years going up against lads a year or 2 older than them, described by Agar as generational talents. Alfie Edgell is a very good fullback/6 who, in a lot of age groups, would be the star. Max Simpson, for me, is a better Centre prospect than Stewart or Nichol in the age group above, Kai Morgan is a very highly rated half and Will Gatus is a powerful winger whos been getting hype in the other code since he was 11...Forwards Ethan Spear and Billy Davis were our best 2 players against the NSW touring side imo... Very good group

Our group of 2nd years has a few good forwards, Luca Atkinson, AJ Wallace, Joe Gibbons and Tom N Watten are all England youth players, Ben Mayhew and Nathan Snee are well thought of aswel. Oli field moving from 6 to backrow will be interesting, big lad and lots of skill. Jonah Parsons, i hope, will be used as a 9 and he's a very good one. s Nichol and Stewart are solid, both had England youth callups, im a big fan of fullback Sam Little another England youth player,he's got excellent footwork and wing/fullback Mackenzie Turner is blazing fast, he's one who hasnt had much hype coming through the system, no national callups etc, but he's got the height to add much needed weight and someone who could very easily overtake his peers. Not the star power of the first years imo, but a very solid group.

The few 3rd years eligible are Corey Hall, Liam Tindall, hooker-Oli Burton and i think Halfback- Jack Mallison is still with us.

Any other info, thoughts on who people rate/are looking out for?

Brilliant round-up thank you.

Really looking forward to watching the academy again.

Can you do a similar preview with the scholarship squad once they’re season gets underway too. Thanks.

Is Sinfield still on the books? How old is he? Has he the potential to make it?

Yeah Jack Sinfield is still at the club, he's a second year scholarship player this season, best half in the country in his age group imo so deffinatly got the potential, hopefully his dads work ethic. What i like is that he's not so good in his age group because he's bigger and faster than everyone, its because of his skill and intelligence, his passing of both hands is top draw.

Yeah no bother, when theres an announcement about the fixtures il do something similar

Anyway bit of gossip for you all: I've just had one of Corey Johnson's mates deliver a load of wood to my house, and I've been on knees, begging, crying... asking him to ask CJ to come back to us.

If it happens, you can thank me later.

On a serious note, I didn't realise how terribly badly these academy lads get paid. I know the vast majority won't work out, and there's loads of cost in coaching them etc etc., but we really need to be doing better as a club and as a game. The amounts we find for slightly-past-it NRL stars, and the fact that academy lads aren't on the salary cap calcs... I dunno. Maybe the game genuinely can't afford more but if we're going to build the future on youth something needs to improve.

Why is the womens game up and running and the Academy isnt?

I suspect the women's league is a higher priority because it has commercial potential that the u19s doesn't.

First game of the season today away at London 2pm, 18 man squad named on club website and social media platforms.

All home games at Headingley, hopefully with fans allowed but not confirmed yet.

Unfortunately Jonah Parsons has suffered a torn ACL and will be out for some time.

Thats a shame, was suprised when he wasnt in the 18, this explains it. Whats the rough timeline for a torn ACL?

Torn ACL is usually season ending. 8 month recovery approx. Cant get a much worse injury but hes young and will come back im sure.

Gutting for the lad, wont of played a game in over 2 years by time he's back.

Probably not. Its unclear if he will miss the entire yr at this stage but looks likely.