Again, a Pearson and Smith said, Hull is a small city with 2 SL teams. If the aim is for 8 academies then it's the logical thing to do. Hardly going to have 2 of the 8 in Hull are they?

I didn't say I agree with it, but if you listen to the detail, it isn't as bad as it first appears. It's also done, so we have to get on with it.

They did say it would be reviewed after, I think, three years.

Absolutely this. Our academy was probably the sole source of pride and optimism for fans right now. A half-d scheme to share its wealth with Hull KR is poor, and timing could scarcely be worse.

Me. Won't be going to watch a merged team though. What's the point? Who gives a fook if a merged team wins or not? it's not my team

Presumably we would have been one of them. I'll bet 4 of the 8 will be warrington, st helens, leeds and wigan with no pressure for any of those to merge.

I guess it'll come down to catchment areas, but you're probably right.

Exactly. I won't wait with baited breath for close neighbours like Wigan and Saints to announce a merged academy.

Clearly it's an opportunity to cut costs under the guise of RFL driven mergers. What a bloody week this has been.

A date for everybody's diary, perhaps.

Saturday, 11th July 14:00 Hull FC U19s v Wigan Warriors U19s @Hull YPI

Do Catalan have an academy?. If so surely they would be 1 on its own. So that would leave 7 Or am I missing something where rfl want 8 on British soil and Catalan not included?

Wonder how many will turn up to next derby in blue and yellow stash and clap both teams

Quote: ComeOnYouUll "May be worth reminding ourselves that at present we sit third in the U19s competition and looking very likely to make the top four plays offs. Rovers sit eight points behind us in seventh.'" Not sure what table your looking at as we sit in 5th 4 points behind Hull in 3rd. www.therfl.co.uk/matchday/league_tables

Quote: ComeOnYouUll "May be worth reminding ourselves that at present we sit third in the U19s competition and looking very likely to make the top four plays offs. Rovers sit eight points behind us in seventh.'" Not sure what table your looking at as we sit in 5th 4 points behind Hull in 3rd. www.therfl.co.uk/matchday/league_tables

Why would they? Saints, Wigan & Leeds all bring through better quality & quantity from their academies then both FC & KR. Add in the fact that none of them share the same town with another SL club I can't imagine they will be made to merge.

Don't like the idea of this merger at all. The only positive for me is that we have all our players down to under 15s ringfenced for the next 4 years so won't be sharing them with KR. Read somewhere on here that the RFLs merged academy idea is going to be reviewed in 3 years, knowing the RFL they'll probably scrap the idea & come up with another crackpot idea so hopefully won't cause to much damage.