Quote: Seth "Hi all, just wondering what other peoples thoughts are on the RFL 'Embed the Pathway' programme? My opinion is that the RFL are attempting to dress up the loss of funding and infrastructure to run a meaningful rep' programme as something that will be a positive for the game.
The continued (quality) CPD of coaches is something im in favour of, though I think getting volunteers to profile players throughout the year and feed this back to the RFL is bonkers. Up-skilling coaches should always be important regardless of whether there is a rep programme or not and for the RFL to say that one replaces the other is just a cover up of a poor situation.
What other sport has no rep player pathway til U15s? As an example we've a very talented lad whose been offered so many opportunities by British Cycling (BMX) to represent his country etc, he's also an outstanding Rugby player and im trying to encourage him to stay when we go to 14s (he races on a Sunday), letting him know doors will begin to open for him. The problem is that the elite player pathway no longer exists until 15s.
I began coaching on Service Area and Scholarships in 2004 and think its a massive shame that the current group of players do not get exposed to this environment where they can begin to consider it as a career and also really challenge themselves. I don't agree with Football picking up 7 year olds but we've been gradually moving towards the extreme.'"
Anyone going to the nonsense rfl induction for the 'embed the pathway' programme next month?
