What Pearson talks about is elite academies. As far as I understand the RFL will have eight Elite coaching academies but individual clubs will still run academies.
If not we have to ask why Rovers have drawn up plans for Educational & Training facilities for our academy behind the East stand, Wilf mentioned about Hull signing 17 full time players as if it's something new, The question put to Pearson was "Last year you created the ASSE apprenticeship" That talks as if Pearson actually created the apprenticeship scheme which is misleading as Rovers already had players on the ASSE Programme last season and have added a further six players to that system in readiness for 2014.
Quote Last year you created the ASSE apprenticeship“Six of the boys – Ben Holdstock, Cory Sanderson, Chris Smith, Liam Wake, Liam Harris, Kieran Moran - will be going onto our AASE Programme (advanced apprenticeship in sporting excellence) which will provide them with a rugby league orientated education and a BTEC Level 3 qualification.”
“That’s based down at Craven Park where they’ll do the education side of things alongside their rugby league training. The boys will be with us in a full-time environment so we’ll be able to keep an eye on their progress on both fronts. '"
Rovers have had to play catch up since 2007 and considering where we currently stand I don't think we've done to bad. With the level of investment coming into Craven Park and with the South stand development due to be announced and the building of decent academy facilities not to long in the distance I think it's wrong of people to think that the academy structure in Hull is sewn up.
