So an impressionable 14 year old is asked to join several junior schemes at a selection of clubs and of course chooses his home town club that he and in particular
dad has supported since he can remember. Its a dream come true.
During two years of trying to be more stand out than the other 35 lads his age he gives up everything that his friends are doing including partying at weekends he wants to give 100%.
Thereinvested in your position with an unknown sawever a nagging issue whilst he volunteers to ball boy for the 19s he sees a regular pattern emerging. Players who he looks up to and are tearing the league apart constantly get overlooked . An injury to a 1st team player is covered by a loan player then as 1 player departs an overseas player lands on Saturday and plays on Sunday.
Its obvious that some of the lads are playing for the love of the club as they have been there since 14 and are life long fans with qualifications that could lead to a good banking position but one of them is about to get some devastating news as the 16s are now pushing for the 19s and the new wave of 14s continue the production line they are to be told that the home club dream as come to an end as they have just invested in an unknown Kiwi who has failed to get a 1st grade game in 8 years.
Whats more they are being offered to a club 140 miles from home on a pay as you play contract with a small token salary.

The sad thing is when they departed the schooling system they had the grades and potential to really go places. The dream was to be a teacher of science and now almost 20 years old hes in a wilderness where he has a very very tough choice. How much does he love the Game ? This player was once muted as GB material did everything right anx has been shafted by the import system after giving up his career to play for his club.

So now after leaving school this spring gone and seeing whats happened to his mentor in the 19s and now adding in to the mix this is the 5th time hes seen this kind of thing happen in the last two years what should he do ?
Have faith in a club he loves and dreams of gaining a 1st team jersey or carry on his education and play play for fun in the Conference telling his Grandkids what might of been in his paid for 5 bedroom detached house in the pish part of Cheshire?

Please note I dont actually have to be talking about anyone currently 16 at Wakefield.
Its a theoretical question based on exegerated circumstances of past goings ons at all clubs.

Comments please and Hi im pleased to finally break my virginity on this site.

WOOF!

The OP highlights a scenario which is as common as the day is long. That is sport.

I know of a few people who signed on as youngsters at professional football teams, came through the academies but never quite got that pro contract. They are smart lads and have a good level of education (university).

Professional sporting clubs have a responsibility that kids are educated appropriately. Isn't it against the law for a kid not to be (going to school that is) unless an appropriate form of home schooling is agreed.

Sport requires a level of commitment and discipline, especially for aspiring professionals. People will not make it. That is the way it is. It is a competition. There is a risk v reward scenario in every case.

Not making it at one place doesn't mean you won't make it elsewhere. In football look at the careers of Peter Beardsley and Ian Wright - clear examples that you can battle the odds and make it to the top. Also players performance can vary with age too. You might not have the talent at 17 but at 23 you could do.

Like some, I think the marquee signing is a bad move for the game. That money for each club could fund an academy which the clubs previously said they could not afford.

We need internal player development. It is good for our national game and our national team.

As long as young lads are fully aware of the risks involved by signing up with a club then I don't have a big problem with it. That is life.

He should get himself sorted off the field, the reintroduction of relegation has and will see an increase in the use of short term measures by clubs threatened by it and a reduction of use in junior players. If it was my lad i'd be telling him the chances of success are so slim and likely to get even more so that he should stay at school and play amateur rugby. If he is good enough a local part time championship club will spot him and give him a chance.

To persue a rugby career from 15yr old the kids have to sacrifice normal teenage yrs and education to a point,you can lead a horse to water and all that,but,the kid as got to live and breath rugby,I've seen it first hand,believe me.How they do it ,missing out on mates and socializing,in their rooms all night for next day training,god knows but it's got to be done.plenty don't make it at every club but these paths have to be taken to give yourself a chance,hopefully Jordan will be one of those

Kris Radlinski's book is a good read for any young aspiring rugby player.
He describes being over looked at that ages and only given a non contract place in Wigan's youth system but he describes how he felt and his decision to knuckle down and try to make it.
He gave up on holidays away with his mates to be back early to training before others had started training and even though he was told he was too small and not as good as those that were given professional youth contracts, eventually passed them and were brought into the first team.
In his words, he puts it all down to dedication and hard work, and does make comment that those that were recognised as being good enough at 17, didn't put the work in, and didn't make it to first team at all, never mind the heights that he got to.