a better option may be to have an extra academy competition with a limited number of over age players allowed. eg, u18s, u21/23s

this way you can still play your fringe players and returning from injury players.

The reserve grade is a little closer to "first grade" rugby, which makes it a better option and gives the young players the change to play against blokes, instead of youngsters.
With the 2 academy sides and reserve grade, it seems about right.
Unfortunately, there aren't enough reserve sides, which has led to a couple of clubs stopping and of course, some clubs dont have either, which is just plain wrong.
In the mixed up world of RL, it seems plastic seats are more important than bringing young players into the game.

I wonder for the bigger clubs whether having a 'wigan b' team and playing in the lower leagues would be financially viable? That way they would have an opposition every week and be playing against men, but they would still be within their own system playing under their own structures etc, which should then help with a transition in to the first team

Barcelona and real madrid to it in their competitions.

Don't one of the Yorkshire junior cricket sides play in the Yorkshire senior league?