Indeed they are. I certainly would not want any of them involved in my business. I fear I'd be out of business in a very short period of time.
Their incompetence and lack of vision is at times staggering to say the least.

Neither can I. Total lack of vision by the useless RFL.

It probably will set the sport back years. But thats what you get with the RFL... Total lack of vision. No wonder the sport continues to be laughed at in some professional circles.

This is what the RFL have done to the dreams of many young kids. The RFL are absolutely worse than incompetent. I wouldn't put them in charge of a circus never mind the sport of rugby league. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... dium=email

This is what the RFL have done to the dreams of many young kids. The RFL are absolutely worse than incompetent. I wouldn't put them in charge of a circus never mind the sport of rugby league. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... dium=email

Ralph doesn't care. He literally said that most of those kids would be crying later anyway after being dumped by their clubs when they didn't meet the standard required.

So that's alright then.

Does anyone actually know what this means for the clubs and players? Does not having an elite licence prevent them from doing anything they currently do? Is it just funding they no longer receive, or are they actually prevented from operating now they don't have a licence?

Without the elite licence they can't be in the Elite academy league.

As has been the case in the past they can help form and join another league.

But as it would be a poor standard with little prospect of developing professional talent it's not worth it.

The Rugby Football League and Super League have awarded academy licences to 10 clubs, believing a smaller pool of academies will strengthen the sport and community game.

"[iHull has been identified as not having a big enough playing pool to warrant two academies, with Hull FC the sole representative for the region.It has left many children who had their sights set on an academy contract with Rovers upon leaving school this summer feeling that chance to represent their club has gone".
[/i

Lesser but better teams creates a more elite development environment, I think that's a fair point......

Less kids taken out of their community club teams means less such teams disbanding through the loss of their best players, which reduces the numbers of kids left which are often not enough to continue the junior team at their community club. e.g Cas sign four kids from Lock Lane Under 15, and so it ends up with the kids left struggling to raise a team and disbanding - Fair point again....

The chance remains for the next Roger Millward to step up to academy with Hull and once through that process sign for Hull.K.R. AFAIK you are not committed as an academy player to sign for the senior club who runs that academy....

Too much Rimmer bashing here, he's not the point......

It is said he set the requirements for the continuance of the Academy 2022 onwards three years ago giving clubs a long time to meet them Cas as an example dragged their heels and didn't meet them....

We need to be rid of people like Rimmer who is obviously clueless and out of his depth. If these sort of people are allowed to remain in their positions, the game of rugby league will be damaged possibly beyond repair.
Rimmers lack of understanding of the grassroots of the game plus LACK OF VISION is breathtaking. Why do the RFL keep managing to shoot themselves in the foot with such appointments of personnel who are not up to the job. Who are out of touch with the fans and players, and who do not act in the best interests of the game?

This might all be true but I'm not sure how it helps to actually grow the game at grass roots level and increase player participation.
In regards to Castleford, the reasons given by the RFL specifically mentioned their geographical location being a factor, which on the face of it doesn't seem to be very fair.

If the RFL keep shooting themselves in the foot with such appointments, then presumably it's the governing body what make the rules and does the hiring and firing which to a great extent exonerates Mr Rimmer for a large part of the criticism he is receiving as it's the RFL making the legislation, and he's simply the front man taking the flack, you can of course say that's what he's paid for, as he's the only one the fans can identify with.