When the playoffs are missed and the season is done, then blood debutants. Not just for the sake of it.

We need the points, don't we?

I wouldn't even consider it till next year. Kids just left school. Good enough old enough might have worked years ago when you finished training and nutrition was fish and chips not shakes steaks amino acids oils vitamins etc etc. Do him more harm than good. By next pre season friendlies he'll have had a full years full time training and a serious pre season. 16 17 year old debutants are a rare thing these days. For Good reason. Their health and well being!

i agree - the time to start bringing him into the 1st team fold will be next pre season

Making him first choice 7 and playing him week in week out is out of the question. But I would like to see him get slowly integrated with two or three games before the end of the season, just to see where he is and whether he is a viable option for next year with another pre season under his belt. London away would be ideal imo, he will be behind a dominant pack and tbh even if he struggles we can afford a passenger, hook him at half time if he's out of his depth. Physically I doubt he's up to the demands of regular first team rugby yet, but he's got all the skills.

What harm will that do to him?

One year in the 19's, then a year on dual reg and maybe a years loan too. 2016 should be the earliest we see him.

Why 2016, he will play some games next year (if not this year), if he is better than the players we have in his position then he should play regardless of his age. Start of next season he will be 18 and ready for first team IMO.

Based on what we saw this year, the under 16 SH will get more game time preseason

Do you mean Reece Dean, looks a good prospect, if you have chance Chris get yourself down to Bishop Burton and watch the 19's. The two stand outs have been HTW and Jordan Abdul.

If he has the right attitude it will do him no harm whatsoever. You think only playing 40 minutes on debut at age 17 will ruin his career?

I really want to see this kid get a chance with us but can't make my mind up on what the best thing to do is. The timing has to be right. If we were a better team than we are then maybe we could afford to blood some youngsters in games against the "lesser" teams but right now I'd much prefer us to play our strongest available team at all times to give us our best shot at securing two points.

If we end up out of playoff reckoning and are safe from relegation come the end of the season then give him a run out then. If there's something to play for still then keep him in the 19s until next pre-season.

It sounds like he is going really well with the 19s this year. Would it be worth looking at getting him out on dual-reg/loan now maybe?

I am a bit surprised that Jordan Abdul wasn't considered for the England academy team when he is better than half of the players named.

We need all the points we can get at the moment. Blooding a youngster however much potential they have now will not do anyone any good. Physically it's a massive ask let alone anything else.
Some say put him in against the "lesser" teams. Who might they be at the moment. I'd say WTW are the 12th best side in the comp at the moment (on paper) so that doesn't leave many "lesser" teams.
Let him develop slowly. U19s dual reg and a pre season game or two. But not in a situation like now when the pressure is really starting to build.

He has been playing Loose Forward for the academy which really suits his skills.

Think he let himself down last year with his fitness, I've been told he has really knuckled down this year and he is having big year so far, certainly the best player in the 19's this year.

It's hard for clubs to blood youngsters especially for teams like us who are regularly involved in close games where it's just not possible to have a youngster on the bench unless injuries dictate otherwise, plus the fact your only allowed 4 subs and how you use those subs can have a massive effect on the result makes it difficult to fit a youngster on the bench.

So I've often thought that having a fith sub would be a good idea but it has to be a youngster i.e under a certain age and under so many first team starts, keep him separate from the normal rotation of the four subs and not to be used for injures as well so basically if you find yourself running away with a game then you have the option of bringing on a youngster to gain some first team experience.

This seasons already over, giving him a game against London makes sense. If we have the mentality to think we can't win if he plays then he can't be any good.