They are equal as they are open age. Gateshead have done well in the past and the Skolars are progressing all the time. I know you're just using them as an example but not everyone can be top of the league.

I'd agree, I can understand why fans wouldn't be keen on watching their team play an U20's side, but that's not what the poster said. He said he wanted to watch his team play sides of equal stature and quality. Well Gateshead & London Skolars are not of equal stature or quality to the top sides in the league or even to the "middle" sides in the league.

Also, a Doncaster fan taking the mick out of other teams finances is just bizarre.

Regardless of how competative Gateshead are they are club in their own right doing their best and in time will become succesful. Why can't you just leave them alone? I am not interested in this idea, it is only of benefit to SL clubs in helping develop their youth teams.

Ok, i meant they are equal as in age, build etc.

Point taken on finances regarding the old Donny club, but under the new regime we have cut our cloth to suit. Surely this is a course of action which all clubs should take?

That's precisely the reason I suggested that any feeder clubs would be likely to be new clubs set up by (or with the help of) a SL club. The only existing clubs that I could see being interested in becoming feeder clubs are any clubs that under the proposed restructuring (the RFL "4 seasons" one) would struggle to find a league to play in, or would be facing a drop of a few levels in the pyramid. Especially if entering such an agreement would allow them to meet requirements for CC1 (for example if the SL club helped to fund ground improvements). I wouldn't see any merit in forcing the existing CC and CC1 clubs to become feeder clubs against their will or that of their fanbases.

Why can't I leave them alone? Won't somebody PLEASE think of the children!

Gateshead managed 1 win in the league last season, hardly competitive or equal quality. Which is what you said you wanted. Yet you are happy to play Gateshead. I would imagine there are at least 2 or 3 SL U20's sides who would be more competitive and certainly more stable than Gateshead. So is it equal quality & stature you want after all?

You D!ck

I suggest that SL clubs sort out their own problems before looking at ours.

I'd suggest, the top Under 20s sides at least, are a better stature and have far more quality than most Championship 1 sides. Like I said I saw Wigan Under 20s turn over Barrow quite convincingly in the pre season just gone and almost beat Leigh's 1st team last year, whilst St Helens Under 20s came close to beating York this year. That's why I made the proposal. Granted those are one offs but all those three sides are playing a level above Championship 1.

Then they will be ok playing their league. CC1 teams have no need to play against your U20s.

You do realise this is just someone's suggestion on a message board don't you? Or has your RFL conspiracy theorist mind gone into overdrive already?
You do realise that some of SL's problems are also problems in the Championship? And that if the Championship's problems were sorted then SL & rugby league in general might benefit?

No of course not. Obviously the Super League clubs have decided already and thought they'd announce it on RLFANS.

Some would have a problem with it. Some wouldnt.

Whilst Hunslet may not wish to, a club like York may be more welcoming.

I wouldnt force it on anyone but its a great opportunity. The lower league club can get access to better facilities, SL quality coaches, and quality young players (not to mention the likely increase in youth products who dont make it joining that club full-time) the SL club gets an opportunity to blood young players, and a higher quality league within which to do that,

It is not an opportunity to a CC club, it is just a benefit to a SL club.

So access to better facilities, better coaching, and better young players doesnt benefit a championship/championship 1 club?

Not just that you'd also benefit the test team. I remain convinced as well that Oldham v Wigan Under 20s for example would attract more fans than Oldham v Gateshead did.