Thanks for the information DaveO.
It makes no sense whatsoever for years the RFL have been going on about developing the kids and just as it seems to be working they do this. I wish I could say its unbelievable but nothing surprises me about the decisions these idiots are making. Are they deliberately trying to kill this game? I think so as nobody can be as thick as these people.

A few times last season teams couldn't raise a team at U18s and U20s. Obviously, as shown with Salford, Bradford and Wakefield, some clubs just don't have the funds to run a club professionally. It's a cost saving exercise and depending who you believe it's either been brought in and backed by Leeds and Wigan or they're the 2 clubs who opposed it.

But it's not just the U20's players They've lost a players. It's coaches, physios, support staff etc. Then too add to that the merging of the U15's and U16's.
The most senseless ideas I've seen in Rugby League for a long long time.

Heatherington was championing the new U19's comp in one of the weekly RL papers saying it will be the most competitive ever.

It'll be a two horse race (Leeds and Wigan)

Leed and Wigan were the two clubs who pushed this proposal with the clubs seeking to cut costs gladly jumping on board (to be fair Hetherington came up with the idea but Lenihan(sp) was easily won over).

Warrington and Saints were the only clubs who opposed it.

We are in a sad state when we have to stop are youth development. As a money saving action I cannot get my head round the fact that when a lad hits 19/20 years of age if he is not super league (Wigan )quality he is lost to the club.
Have the Australians done this?
Reading about rugby league at this moment in time is so depressing. The site should have the Samaritans phone number on it.

The Aussies have sister clubs in lower leagues. for instance Newton Jets are the feeder club for South Sydney. The RFL seem to be pushing the same sort of idea. My concern is lads who are physically not mature enough at 16 and 20 will get very little game time, if any at all if they stay at their SL clubs under the current system.

I think it was a very short sighted decision.

A fixed proportion of the TV money could have been specifically allocated for EVERY pro club to have/afford a reserve side.

Trouble is the top clubs never give a thought to the others.

Sometimes you have to speculate to accumalate.

The sport has got it all wrong at the moment. All the growth plans seem to be centred around reducing costs rather than increasing revenues. You won't cut your way to success.

TBF the RFL could sign a $1B tv deal and RL fans in the UK would whinge about it.

In Australia the NRL teams all have U20's obviously but some clubs like Brisbane prefer to send promising U20's to play in the QLD Cup with their aligned clubs, so the kids get some experience from the older/hard heads. It's not perfect but it doesn't seem to be forcing kids out of the game by any means.

I have also heard that IL opposed the idea.

On a number of occasions Mr Youane has come on here and made this accusation against the club and never once has he provided one shred of evidence to back his claim up.

A legitimate link would be nice please if you could!