Wigan Warriors U19 centre Liam Forsyth has joined the Bath Rugby Academy with immediate effect. www.bathrugby.com/news/bath-rugb ... 19-centre/

Wigan Warriors U19 centre Liam Forsyth has joined the Bath Rugby Academy with immediate effect. www.bathrugby.com/news/bath-rugb ... 19-centre/

It annoys me that Rugby League is developing players for RU, that Mike Ford is bad news.

Have to say the sooner Ford and Farrell no longer have any influence on signing players the better. If anything signing Academy players is more problematic for RL in the long term than losing the odd star player.

Did we get a fee for him, or had we allowed his contract to run down?

Old news this isn't it? I'm 99% sure we knew before the final

I'm starting to think this is the only reason they are employed in Rugby Union. After the way they both misused Sam Burgess, it can't be for their coaching nous.

RL has a track record of paying young players peanuts. Much as I hate to see young players leave for the other code, in many cases (and I don't know the details of this one) you have to say you can't blame them. I don't think you can blame Farrell and Ford either.

Given the low salaries on offer generally in RL you wonder whether some young players don't even bother trying to make the grade and don't even make it through to academy level. I suppose if they have a go but realise there is more money in Union and leave for RU then we still might be able to get them back one day.

Needs to stop. Cut all ties with Bath. All this pinching RL talent means Farrell has gone down massively in my estimation. Ford was never in my estimation.

Not sure this is such a big issue. Welsh rugby league has signed young players from rugby union and we've benefitted. There will always be players crossing codes, especially young ones. He wasn't likely to make it at Wigan and Bath saw an opportunity. Had they snared someone like Williams or Hampshire I'd be more concerned.

The problem is that if this kid makes it, or even looks like making it, they'll be back. Do you think they aren't looking for the next Sam T or Williams?

I'd be surprised if Williams wasn't already on their target list. He's plays in the halves, which as we know is a very different role in Union from League, plus he's never played Union before - but he's shown that he can score tries, which will probably be enough for the likes of Mike Ford to try to convince his bosses to pay a fortune for him. Ford can then worry about whether he actually fits in later.

Don't think Williams has the kicking game to make it in Union.

I think you're missing Cruncher's point.

At the same age Thornley went off to Sale and came back pretty quickly. They go for the money. You can't blame them or blame Wigan. The lessons learnt from the Burgess fiasco will take a little time to sink in all around.

It'll be interesting to see how Josh Jones goes with Exeter. I believe he's been farmed out to Taunton (?!!) to learn the game. I reckon he'll be back in League this time next year - and so will Forsythe.

I know the point was that they'll just shove him in somewhere but if he goes I think he would struggle. I can't think of a non-kicking back that has gone to RU and done alright. Maybe Ashton but even he kicked a bit.