He's from Wigan i beleive.

Surely must say once you've fit that criteria at one club - Widnes, then you can't do it at another?

David Houghton has nothing to do with Celtic Crusaders.

I'd say that is right. For a club to claim a player as being club trained, they need to have been at that club for 3 years before thier 21st birthday. For 2 clubs to try and claim a player to be club trained then it would have to go something like: club 1 has the player for 3 seasons (player is 15, 16 and 17). then club 2 takes the player for 3 years (aged 18, 19 and 20). At what age can a player sign a contract with the club? I know we have the foundation academy for under 16's, but maybe the rules have been put in place to make it physically impossible for a player to qualify for 2 clubs?

Sounds like a bit of a grey area that maybe the RFL haven't considered, but to be honest how many times is the above scenario going to happen? Its far more likely that good youngsters get stolen from Championship clubs at an early age and end up qualifying for the new club instead of the old one. Greg McNally, is one - I think he's 19 now but signed for Huddersfield when he was still 17. As far as I'm aware apart from a friendly, he's never played a game for them, but in 2 years time he'll qualify as a Huddersfield trained player.

Currently they sign during and at the end of the U16 amateur season.

All changes to go in line with the changes in academy structure from next year. i.e U 20'S competition.

Players will sign pro deals at the end of the amateur U17 season.

As far as Dave Houghton goes he is Widnes club trained. Signed at 16 from Blackbrook and been with the club 3 years now.