Thanks for putting the "poster" straight, much appreciated as is the Mods intervention.

There's some great discussions in these interesting times, I can only think being insulted (on a regular basis for me ) puts some interesting people off bothering.

Thanks again........I urge people to report not reply to this sort of thing........

Do you not see a value in the reserves competition? I go back far enough to have been to many "A" team games? Is a reserves side a more settled environment for a fringe player....or is championship Rugby the better game to be playing??

Thought Northern clubs didn’t need academies these days as they just nick young players from London?

From the Widnes announcement:

“Current Academy licenses across the sport are due to expire at the end of 2021, and it has been indicated that Super League membership and the ability to draw players from non-heartland areas will be integral to successful reapplication.”

This reads as though SL will not allow non-SL academies from 2022 onwards. I assume by license they mean permission to run one not just the funding that goes with it although not sure from the wording if non-heartland Ch and L1 clubs will be allowed to continue.

I don't know if people agree with me but for my club Bradford, the idea of telling us we can't have an Academy would be beyond belief. The single shining light in our years of disaster has been our ability to attract and develop local lads, plenty of which have then become established players, some at SL teams. Do we really want to shut down a proven entry point for young lads to enter the professional and semi-professional game? I really hope its not quite as black and white as that Widnes statement suggests.

Agree 100%, if someone (or a group of someone's) are happy to fund it, the coaches are suitably qualified and vetted, it is to be encouraged.

A few years ago Bradford,and presumably the other clubs,were given 100k from the RFL towards the costs for running academies. Just like some clubs were NOT permitted to run reserve sides,some clubs were not permitted to run academies. Para 2 (g) for the 100k bit - https://www.rugby-league.com/article/39 ... n-bradford

A few years ago Bradford,and presumably the other clubs,were given 100k from the RFL towards the costs for running academies. Just like some clubs were NOT permitted to run reserve sides,some clubs were not permitted to run academies. Para 2 (g) for the 100k bit - https://www.rugby-league.com/article/39 ... n-bradford

Go steady, Academies only drain existing young players from community clubs in their hundreds. That can lead to amateur clubs having to disband what's left of junior and youth sides. Players are then lost to the game. Then when most of the academy lads are rejected after a season or two they generally don't go back to the community clubs and more are lost.

The SKY contract provided £17.8 million to pay for the charitable foundations via the RFL, These foundations do not run academies, they encourage youngsters to take the game up in the first place. Thus the pro game promotes the game to youngsters and gives them a pathway to become professionals via amateur clubs then academy. then pro for the very small number that make it.

For me the Bradford Academy was protected because it worked.. It produced. The Salford academy was shut by Koukash. but Salford were not pressed to re-open one. I assume this is because Salford lads can choose to go to such as Wigan Academy. Hull clubs ran a joint academy as they felt Hull only needed one joint academy which was accepted. But now it seems they are running their own again which could mean come 2022 one rule could be all clubs must run academies to be in SL.

So the Bulls were passed over to keep building the business up, the team up and keep that academy going. Meanwhile Leigh will act as stop gap, unless they manage to not come bottom....

Gary Schoefield has Wakefield to come bottom next season. so maybe Leigh and Salford would need academies 2022 but it seems pointless

The phrase "[iThe ability to draw players from non-heartland areas will be integral to successful reapplication[/i". is puzzling???