There is a tried and tested process that does work in many sports. Its currently working very well in Trafford thanks to Salford Reds, the RFL and the North Trafford Sports Partnership.

1 Delivery in curriculum time
2 Delivery for after school clubs
3 Festivals and competition in school time
4 Festivals and competition out of school time
5 Formation of a junior club
6 Nuture and development of the infrastructure - volunteers, officials, coaches, refs, facility use etc...
7 Regular competition
8 Links to elite pathway

Thing is from 1 to 8 can take years to impliment. It has to be constant, regular and reliable. Break the chain and you start back at one again.

Its these steps that have created clubs all over the country. Those that fail, fail on one of the points and have to go back to point one! Skipping too far too soon also has the same effect.

You are way off on your figures. Even in the places like Wigan you wouldnt have a few hundred playing at the age of 5, or the age of 10 for that matter.

Quote Scorpions for SL="Scorpions for SL" Why would RL kits be cheaper? Buying playing shirts is a pretty minimal cost. I went to a school that was big on RU and we didnt have a scrumaging machine, I dont think any school would have one, well maybe some rich private schools do. Im pretty sure there is no such thing as a mauling machine. '" I went to a state comp. We had a scrum machine and In fact only 1 school we played against didn't and they had only just started up the rugby program. As for kits for schools an ru kit is 22 shirts and rl kit would have what 17-18 over 5-6 teams for the whole school equals a saving of 1 full kit granted only a couple of hundred quid but every penny counts. www.predator.uk.com/mauling.htm a mauling machine/sled

Quote Scorpions for SL="Scorpions for SL" Why would RL kits be cheaper? Buying playing shirts is a pretty minimal cost. I went to a school that was big on RU and we didnt have a scrumaging machine, I dont think any school would have one, well maybe some rich private schools do. Im pretty sure there is no such thing as a mauling machine. '" I went to a state comp. We had a scrum machine and In fact only 1 school we played against didn't and they had only just started up the rugby program. As for kits for schools an ru kit is 22 shirts and rl kit would have what 17-18 over 5-6 teams for the whole school equals a saving of 1 full kit granted only a couple of hundred quid but every penny counts. www.predator.uk.com/mauling.htm a mauling machine/sled

Quote chubbs1981="chubbs1981"I went to a state comp. We had a scrum machine and In fact only 1 school we played against didn't and they had only just started up the rugby program. As for kits for schools an ru kit is 22 shirts and rl kit would have what 17-18 over 5-6 teams for the whole school equals a saving of 1 full kit granted only a couple of hundred quid but every penny counts. www.predator.uk.com/mauling.htm a mauling machine/sled'" Im sorry but I think your I played RU all through school (7 years) and dont remember ever seeing a scrum machine at any other schools at away games. Scrumaging isnt a big part of the game at low level RU and especially not in kids rugby. As for the number of players, in pro rugby yes match day squads are bigger in RU, but in junior rugby the number of subs is just however many kids are left over after the starting line up has been picked. Also the shirts we used to wear were hand me downs 5+years old, its not going to be a major cost to a school, and also are you seriously suggesting that schools will play RL over RU because you believe it will cost them less in playing shirts which it wont do anyway

Quote chubbs1981="chubbs1981"I went to a state comp. We had a scrum machine and In fact only 1 school we played against didn't and they had only just started up the rugby program. As for kits for schools an ru kit is 22 shirts and rl kit would have what 17-18 over 5-6 teams for the whole school equals a saving of 1 full kit granted only a couple of hundred quid but every penny counts. www.predator.uk.com/mauling.htm a mauling machine/sled'" Im sorry but I think your I played RU all through school (7 years) and dont remember ever seeing a scrum machine at any other schools at away games. Scrumaging isnt a big part of the game at low level RU and especially not in kids rugby. As for the number of players, in pro rugby yes match day squads are bigger in RU, but in junior rugby the number of subs is just however many kids are left over after the starting line up has been picked. Also the shirts we used to wear were hand me downs 5+years old, its not going to be a major cost to a school, and also are you seriously suggesting that schools will play RL over RU because you believe it will cost them less in playing shirts which it wont do anyway

I'm not sure what sort of special school you went to or where it was but down here in the darkest southwest we got a new school kit each year. And as for scrummaging not being big part of the game at kids level? Down here it's the main part if the game. We is renowned down ere for producing top class front rows.

And for a school to set up from scratch a rugby team it requires much less in terms of time and money to get a team up and running if it's rl. Not having to teach ru rucking and mauling all those stupid lineout laws that change as the age grades do.

So your school bought approximatly 100 rugby kits every year? Maybe this is the waste the conservative government is talking about cutting.

well no the school didn't our sponsors did

on very good terms with a local car dealer.

anyway lets not derail the thread with the darker code. but i'm more than happy to continue this converstation this coming super sunday at the Gnoll i'll probably be there in time for the dragonhearts game and will stay till the end of the crusaers match has finished. how about a beer and exchange of views at say 2.30pm? mines a Guinness cheers for offering.

My mummy said I shouldnt meet strangers of the internet.

Very few schools buy kits. They play in their PE tops so they wash them themselves. Much easier and ensures they fit!!

My school plays both as many many do. Not seen any scrum machines IIRC at any state comps in the last 6 years Ive been teaching.

Its not cost at all that determines what schools play. Its either tradition of the school, especially for the grammar schools or old grammar schools or it is the preference of the PE staff in the department.

Both the RFU and the RFL run their competitions for free unlike the FA who charge for comps entered. Doesnt hamper schools football - though the behaviour of footballers in general is damaging schools football massively

Chubbs you've got as much chance of seeing him at the game as Iolo.

could that be something to do with him not actually being a scorpions fan?

Surely not!!