Reading yesterdays League Express it appears that there are moves to scrap the U20 academy next year. Super League teams will form a partnership with Championship teams and the over 19's will be playing with them.

The U18's competition will change to U19's, and the U15's/U16's will be merged. Some clubs will field joint academy teams (Hull and HKR were mentioned.)

My main concerns.

1) Where are the players going to go when they leave the 19's. Are the Championship clubs essentially going to became A teams for the Super League clubs.

2) It's going to be difficult for the U16's going straight into an U19's comp. A lot of them won't be physically ready, so where are they going to play?

3) The Rugby Union clubs will probably be clapping their hands as so much "unproven" talent becomes available

4) Why merge the U15's and U16's, again the majority of U15's will struggle at that U16 level.

There's certainly going to be an issue with players who are over the age of 19 but not ready for Super League. Forwards will be particularly at risk. I mean just look at Crosby, Spencer and Dudson. All are overage players yet they are forwards with plenty of potential but what happens if the team linked with Wigan don't need another prop forward? Do we have to get rid of them or will they just have to sit out weeks and weeks of the season?

Surely there's a risk to the size and strength of playing squads if this was introduced. Fringe players may have to leave clubs to get regular rugby but who takes their place? The step up from under 19's to Super League level is massive so does that mean teams will have to call upon players who aren't even fully developed physically should they suffer injuries?

I can't see how this will do anything other than reduce the talent pool and drive some players away from the game.

What happens to young players at Championship clubs who dream of playing for their home town club? Surely they'll find it much harder to break into the team if their club just receives however many SL academy players they want.

This just seems crazy to me.

Also how would the partnerships work? There's 14 SL clubs and 10 Championship clubs.

The article gives the impresion that it's all about reducing costs.
Clubs have come under criticism for their financial affairs and running massive losses. It appears player development come second to all this.
Has this been happening on a small scale already as under the DR system academy players are going to Championship clubs on a regular basis?

This is an awful move. It is as if we want to destroy our game. I just hope this is looked at again.

Who would we pair up with, would it be leigh due to rthe Wigan and leigh Service Area or would Wire slip in their and harness their relationship?

Does that mean we would pair with a cumbrian team?

Wigan will be with South Wales Scorpions, Leeds with Gloucester or Hunslet. Saints and Warrington dead set against the proposals so not sure who they would go with.

What is wrong with the system now? We have been producing some good young talent.

I like the idea of linking with championship clubs with them being part-time... but I can't see the advantage of scrapping under 20's. They should be aiming to get that to the standard of the toyota cup in aus.

The only overhaul that is required is within the hierachy at redhall. Its time for a complete change and bring in guys with new ideas & concepts, they are all antiquated and a change is not just required but in my opinion is....essential for survival.

So Super league clubs will be paying their players to play for another team?

A whole layer appears to going to be taken out, not just players, but coaches, physios etc.

What happens to the players who are 2nd year U20's next year. What if they are on two year contracts?
They can't all go and play in the Championship. What about fringe 1st team players or players coming back from injury, surely the U19's comp isn't going to allow overage players playing against 16 year olds.

Far more questions than answers I'm afraid, I suppose we'll have to see what the proposed changes bring.

This is ridiculous!

My mate has been involved in Barla/RFL youth development for years so when I get back from my hols in 2 weeks I shall be asking what is going on! I am sure he won't be happy with these proposals.

Why are clubs so hard up that they have to cut costs like this?

The inept management of many of our clubs and the incompetent regulation of the sport by the RFL are slowly killing the professional game.

It seems apparent to me this is the exact reason for the South Wales link up at the risk of making an obvious statement after all we have already sent the majority of our U20's on dual reg at some stage this season. In some ways you can see why its being ditched after all teams like Huddersfield failing to raise a team for one plus the ridiculously one sided results involving Saints, Wire & Wigan at its almost those 3 alone that take that competition on but there are just as many reasons why ditching it is not a wise move for the reasons stated.

Does seem yet again to be pandering to those clubs that have no youth development system, just as the salary cap panders to those clubs without any kind of decent financial system in place.

You really do wonder if the authorities want this great game to grow or slowly shrink in size each year.

For next year only there is going to be an U23s comp as well as the U19s.