TBF the standard of the U-20's comp is very poor and most clubs better players are either in the first team or out on loan in NL1. IMO the U-20s are a total waste of time and does nothing for player development, most of the teams would struggle against NL2 sides and the step up to SL is way too great at present.

The RFL needs to look at the structure of player development at all clubs (some more than others) right accross the board because contrary to what the likes of Eddie and Stevo says there is not enough SL standard players coming through let alone International standard players. The amount of very average overseas players we have currently have over here on huge salaries is a case in point.

how many 'world class' English players has there been since Lee Jackson?

Exactly, the issue isn't that we're not producing 'world class' players, but were producing few who can hold down a place in the first team - Briscoe & Houghton being the only two for 10 years.

Is World Class even a useful term for a sport which isn't played anywhere near globally?

Golden generations are often attributed to innovative set-ups or excellent systems, and there is probably some truth in that.
Mostly though it is luck and numbers, without those the well will run dry from time to time. The Manchester Utd conveyor belt that turned out Beckham, Giggs, Scoles, Butt and the Nevilles hasn't been able to maintain that level of productivity. The magnificent Hungarian team of the 50s faded away into obscurity as its best players defected or retired. Total football by itself wasn't enough by itself without the brilliant Dutch players of the 70s, and after being runners-up in the World Cups of '74 and '78, Holland failed to even qualify in '82 and '86, while they 'waited' for Gullit, Rijkaard and Van Basten to come along.
The Brazilians produce top players so consistently simply because they have so many kids playing the game. Coming back to RL, it is a similar story in Eastern Australia.
I'm not sure whether Hull (the FC club or city) is failing to punch its weight or is just having a fallow spell. Despite the size of the place and the strength of the amateur game, it is a bit isolated compared to places in west yorkshire and lancs. Maybe recruitment the of T. Briscoe or Watts at Rovers is a sign of efforts being made to expand the talent pool/use somebody elses.

we dont produce them just find them and keep em off the beer

Good point



OK classy enough to be picked for a SOO team if they were eligible

Less focus on the game at Junior School level due to the insurance factor has a lot to do with it thus children are badgered into playing "less dangerous sport" hence the academies nationwide are showing less and less involvement from under 11s year in year out thus we produce less at Colt age level
Simple dynamics of risk versus school involvement

Also remember that many other areas, Saints, wigan Leeds Bradford have a much wider catchment

On the flip side though, these clubs will often be fighting over the signitures of the same players. Since the early 90s when Dougie came across and took the cream of our local talent to Leeds it hasnt been a major issue to compete with out of town clubs.

A close friend once said that since the emergence of Hull City as a bigger force in football the last few years have definately seen a much smaller influx at their junior set up compared to before.
There are lots of reasons that both the RFL and so on have thrown in as the issue areas because believe it or not all clubs are suffering just the same with junior recruitment .
My personal opinion is that simply a wider range of those of junior set up age have simply gone soft and chose easier sports to play than Rugby at young levels due to the high earning and media profile of wetnecks like Rooney and Ronaldo etc etc coupled with some schools fear of the injury versus insurance senario of young kids
but thats just my opinion

If the under 20 comp is a total waste of time and didn't exist then how would the players be developed as they would have no games to enable them to develop?? What would you do with them in terms of development.
You also mentioned that most sides would struggle to beat an NL2 side.....and so they should!! the under 20 squad are essentially teenagers that are learning a trade under a professional banner..in contrast the NL2 sides consist of grown men that are physically stronger and some of which have a wealth of experience previously playing at a higher level eg Bovill, Thorman,Riley. I am sure any coach/supporter of an NL2 team would be very disapointed if they were to get beat by a team of inexperienced kids.I have watched several NL2 games this season and believe the division is not given the respect it deserves.

In the ciriculum for sport its only played during winter of year 9 or 8 so thats about 3 months of rugby once a week were as footys on most weeks due to the facts its less injury renowned and it is more popular so unless the kids brought up with rugby hes or she is not going to get into playing it at school with the ciriculum being as it is.