The RFL didn't give us a reprieve because they thought we added value to the division. We got the reprieve because another club went pear shaped and effectively took our relegation spot. Batley would've got the same reprieve. (If you look at the football, its something RMI benefitted from for a few years in the conference).

The cynic in me suggests that the is more to it, in which the bigger picture is for the Championship to become like an equivalent of the Aussie's Premier League (think that's what its called). I.e. a 2nd grade feeder club. Dual registrations was the start of it.

RFL - think? Whats that, think for the good of the game, or think for the greedy selfish SL clubs. At the end of the day the RFL are no longer there for all there member clubs, they are ruled over by the SL clubs, they do not rule the SL clubs.

Oh and I understood what Fred was saying.

i was on the leigh scholarship system and just recieved a text confirming this.

So the RFL have made a decision on your Scholarship scheme and no-one from last night or possibly from your club thought fit to ask why?

You really dont understand how the RFL works do you ?

Why are you asking on here, i'm sure you can get AR or AT by phoning the club. See official site for details. My guess is that the rfl decided no one else could afford it but surely that is a decision for the clubs themselves and not the rfl

Looks like it.

ATEOTD the sl clubs cannot bring through enough juniors for the future development of our game. Still at least the championship clubs can't now be blamed for that.........or can they

I agree with you. I was at the LISA meeting when AT told those attending.Did I ask why the RFL had done this ? No because AT seemed as dumbfounded by it as everyone who has contributed to this thread.

Now if anyone takes the trouble to write to the RFL about what has been said and you get a response I for one will be surprised.

In six months time when they do respond they will deny saying anything of the sort. Bit like "Toulouse have to qualify the same as other Champ teams, but have a clause in their rules which state any foreign team invited to apply by the RFL can.

Thanks Derek I thought it was plain myself, AT wouldn't have been informed personally but by (I presume the PP manager who would be discussing such issues with the RFL reps) someone who recieved the info, hence he wouldn't have had the opportunity to ask the RFL why, and the person at the RFL may have not told the Leigh person who recieved the info the reason. I even doubt whether there has been time to have it discussed in a board meeting, when it has I expect a full disclosure will be given.


The 'select few' were people at an open meeting.

But don't Widnes depend on O'Connor, and several other SL teams depend on just one benefactor. eg What would happen to the Giants if they lost their benefactor

Wilkinson at salford

The RFL still had it in their power to relegate us. Nothing in the rules stated you will be relegated unless Gateshead go bump or any other club. The correct decision was made, but it wasn't an automatic one so we should be grateful for it.

To be fair though we have run the full youth systems for the 6/7 (?) or however many years we have been at this level so it isnt just a case of SOC and his money.

Just to throw one in there but is the scrapping of the scholarships anything to do with the new player pathways that have been created at junior levels by the RFL whereby young lads on scholarship are no longer eligible to attend regional camps or service area level.

Players who would have been on Championship sides scholarship schemes now gain their next level of coaching at Regional Camps or below at service area and clubs at this level pick them up as Mr Chairman has stated in an affiliation with an amateur club where they play in National Youth League.

Saves the Championship clubs money and from what I have read the idea is then to give more players access to better coaching at regional and service area levels rather than the 'Elite' 25 or so who would make up the same at each.