IMO this is only a step in the right direction, they do this in oz and that way the door is never closed to players who aren't physically developed, spotted or fully developed as a player yet. Great examples of this - chris hill, peacock, hardaker etc. I think its great hull fc are the first club to definitely do this. I know warrington, wigan and saints are interested as well as teams like the Bulls according to steve ferres. The championship have operated this style comp this last year has has been a success. Players pushing through to first grade and giving injured players gametime before getting back to action. By having more teams with this it will only strengthen the competitions for home grown players. Another example before I stop - Alex Walmsley who was playing amateur rugby league for Dewsbury Celtic and playing university rugby league at leeds met was luckily spotted by John Kear. There is still a lot of unseen talent out there who deserve to be at a professional standard from amateur leagues to university teams with some great talent especially from teams such as leeds met, Loughbrough, Northumbria etc. Bring it back I say and retain talent!

how many of these are actually any good?

And now i dont think SL clubs will be searching for new players to make up the reserves, i think they will be hanging on to the 19/20/21/22 year olds currently playing championship and league1 rugby. I think the championship and league 1 will then need to find players to take up those spots.

Championship and league 1 clubs are largely sides made up from players let go from SL, those youngsters let go do fall down the league, to championship and league 1 clubs.

And you are right, clubs wont have to make a decision on a player at 19, so they wont, and plenty of talented players who would/could have gone down and come back up will stagnate in a poor quality league and never fulfil their potential.

They would get experience playing against better men in the championship.

Would U19s be allowed to play in the U23s seeing as they are not allowed to play with 'men' now in the U19s sides. I don't know, just asking.

You can play super league from 16, NRL from 18 I believe. Imagine reserve league would also be 16.

I went to a fans forum given by Ian Lenegan at the start of the season. If I recall correctly the RFL set a limit of 65 registered players for the combined first team and u19s Academy. Wigan try to fill all these places and were at 64 registered players. Leeds were pushing for the numbers to be reduced (can't remember whether this was to 55 or 60 registered players).

Given the nature of the game every team is going to suffer injuries or suspensions to some extent so I don't think that 65 players is excessive if you are running 3 teams. What is worrying is that the Wigan U19s had games postponed last year due to the opposition not being able to raise a team. I hope this doesn't occur with the proposed u23s competition as well.