To be honest I cannot see what the motive is for this other than a cost saving exercise. So much talent will be lost to the game at a stage when some of these lads will really benefit from working in a full-time RL environment.

I really wonder where the game is going these days. Perhaps the RFL has some answers. Several clubs are posting on here that no money is available for the u20's and they are being disbanded as a result. This will not stop the degradation of the International Game but just open the doors for more Aussie imports. Where is the foundation going to come from.

As I understand it scholorship grades are combining to form an U16's and the U18's & U20's combining to become U19's. At this point a club has to decide whether to offer a player a fulltime deal or not. So if by your 20th birthday you haven't made it to fulltime level the club have no real choice other than to release you rather than see if you are a late developer. Many of these kids will go play part time in the championships but with superleague clubs partnering up with championship clubs there won't be as many spots open to them as they have their own squads to run as well. A lot of potential will just drift back to the amateur game or maybe out of the sport altogether IMHO.

The clubs said they could do with ways of cutting academy costs but personally I don't think this is the answer.

By doing this you are going back to the past. The best thing that ever happened in the NRL was the under 20s comp. it's televised and just as much interest as seniors. and great sponsors have come on board. They don't do that for the NSW cup (reserves). There will be no real pathways for the up and coming. What's wrong with their thinking - dumb. Need people who are thinking of the future talent. League will never grow strong in England!

yes there is

Sign of the times I am afraid and with another Comprehensive Spending Review on the horizon from the Oovt money is likely to get tigher sadly it has an impact everywhere for professional sport its trimming squads by the looks of things, the money aint loshing about like it was. Thats why 1873 is so important Wakefield must ensure it gets the best talent in its scholaships so we have the initial pick of the crop,

I agree that cutting players is not the best way for the future but if you look around you in our communities its pretty tight and bleak for a lot of people. we must develop the best talent and that talent must want to be part of Wakefield not other clubs so we must make it better than others and that why we must asssist in its funding