Quote: financialtimes "TBF in all the years I have been involved with YJARL (13 years) and including the winter seasons, this has always been the case, there is a signing on/transfer window clearly stated in the constitution, but is does seem ludicrous that 8-16 year olds have to conform to transfer deadlines, I think that once a season has ended all kids should be free agents and allowed to sign on at anytime to any club, I do feel that there needs to be some control during the season but sometimes it is draconian the way that YJARL enforce the rules.
I have no experience in any other "Junior" sport but if it is the same for RU, soccerball or cricket I would be amazed.'"
I couldn't agree more; signing a young player mid-season has all the red tape and seriousness of a professional sport - it's ridiculous and serves only to keep eager kids on the side-lines and out of the game. It's even more galling when certain clubs seem to be immune to the rules.
I was explaining the process to a friend who runs a jr football team in the pub at Xmas - he was flabbergasted.
there's been some good players come from the All Blacks... 
in the past.
