The England U16 team was abbounced today and Wigan are represented by Craig Mullen and Lewis Heckford. It got me looking at the scholarship at Wigan and to my surprise there is quite a few lads from Yorkshire including Heckford. This for me is why a salary introducing new rules for home grown players is flawed as teams with money can go and cherry pick all the best young lads from across the country and class them as there own. I know Wigan are not the only club who does it but should'nt these lads be playing for there local team ? Cumbrians have always been snatched up but that cant be helped as they have no SL club.

If we put the effort into developing a 15 year old boy into a Super League player I think it's right we get the benefit. If Yorkshire clubs don't like it they should put more effort into scouting etc!

Alot of times its money related aswell thou mate. You cant say that Yorkshire clubs dont scout these lads. Each lad will probably recieve 3-5 scholarship letters from each club. Wigan at the moment are very appealing as they have a great academy and some money to go with it. This is not a dig just a worry for when this home grown salary cap comes into place.

I was told tonight that Max Dudley has also been picked. Heckford chose Wigan (not for the money) despite being offered scholarships from three other clubs.

But it's the same for all clubs, Charnock, Percival and Greenwood at Saints. Currie and Learmonth at Wire. Clubs try to pick up the better players from wherever they can.

Not exactly a new thing though, Hampshire, McIlorum & Jason Robinson for example.

young players also have a big say in where they want to go, some may sign for less money and go to a club that has better facilities and a proven track record of developing a player into a future professional of the highest calibre

Listen, I am Leyth to the bone and if my lad had a choice at 15 between you or us he would be at yours, we must change that eventually but that is current reality
I would never allow him to kiss the badge, would make him cross his fingers when pulling the shirt on and would get a thorough scrubbing in the garden before being allowed back in the house though

Top football clubs have youth squads with players picked from all over the planet. Those players are willing to move countries for what they see as an opportunity to develop at the best clubs in the world, and it's no different in rugby.
If we start limiting where players can sign for then we will hinder their development and potentially lose them from the sport, which is the last thing we need

It would be typical of the parochial nature of the game over here though, and certain sections of fans. Wasn't someone on here the other day advocating a system whereby Hampshire would be forced to play for Wakefield or not play league at all?

Hampshire didn't come to us from Wakefield but Hull FC.
As I understand it we offered peanuts for the best 14 year old in the game.
That egit K Hetherington snatched our hand off.
They got few grand and we got Ryan Hampshire.
As long as there's exec's in the game of her calibre messing up then there will always be a difference between clubs when some know what they're doing and others haven't a clue!

Not sure you're correctly informed on this one. Hampshire signed for Wigan when turning professional after playing service area for Hull. Hull would not receive a penny in such circumstances so there is no snatching-off of hands to be done. Plenty of clubs will have approached Hampshire to sign for them, Wigan will have paid him the going rate to sign.

With central funding for service areas stopping clubs are now free to recruit players from anywhere in the country not just their own "service area". There are a couple of clubs not happy about this.

simple answer is if clubs want to retain the best junior potential in their own area then they need to invest in facilities and staff and pay the young players what they are worth. If they don't want to spend on youth development then don't moan at clubs who do. Some forward thinking clubs realise that a fantastic youth set up is the best way to bring players to the club that will be an asset to them in the future.

Remember you can only invest if you can keep them

Wigan lead the way again at youth level. www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... -1-6316589

Wigan lead the way again at youth level. www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... -1-6316589

Wigan Warriors... The curse of RL... We do so much harm to RL, it's no wonder everybody hates us..

FIOS