It sounds like it is working well for Halifax. If Rovers were relegated and eventually had to go part-time, for example, I can see value in running an inexpensive reserve team as part of wider reshaping of the club, along a similar model.

However, all clubs have different circumstances and a variety of approaches is fine imo. Presently we’re a SL club and our partnership with York seems to be working well (for both parties, based on what their coach has said). Equally, i’ve got no issue with other SL clubs running reserve teams if that suits them. Making it compulsory, just reminds me of licensing - of people who don’t have the pressures of running a club more or less accusing those that do of doing it wrong, and trying to force them to do it differently.

Edit. I’ve just been looking for Jamie Peacock quotes for t’other thread, and I quite like this Queensland-inspired model (details towards the end of the article).
www.seriousaboutrl.com/peacock-r ... rade-5023/
Which is pretty near to a reserve team, but I especially like that the younger lads stay with their amateur clubs longer. Obviously, KuH and the East Riding isn’t Brisbane and Queensland, but investment in links with community clubs, and 19s and 23s (with a limited number over age) is attractive imo. And if the 23s were a joint team under the CoH banner, it could be worthwhile and affordable. Karen made a good point about about building a club identity through these teams, a while back, but imo it’d be better to focus resources.

It sounds like it is working well for Halifax. If Rovers were relegated and eventually had to go part-time, for example, I can see value in running an inexpensive reserve team as part of wider reshaping of the club, along a similar model.

However, all clubs have different circumstances and a variety of approaches is fine imo. Presently we’re a SL club and our partnership with York seems to be working well (for both parties, based on what their coach has said). Equally, i’ve got no issue with other SL clubs running reserve teams if that suits them. Making it compulsory, just reminds me of licensing - of people who don’t have the pressures of running a club more or less accusing those that do of doing it wrong, and trying to force them to do it differently.

Edit. I’ve just been looking for Jamie Peacock quotes for t’other thread, and I quite like this Queensland-inspired model (details towards the end of the article).
www.seriousaboutrl.com/peacock-r ... rade-5023/
Which is pretty near to a reserve team, but I especially like that the younger lads stay with their amateur clubs longer. Obviously, KuH and the East Riding isn’t Brisbane and Queensland, but investment in links with community clubs, and 19s and 23s (with a limited number over age) is attractive imo. And if the 23s were a joint team under the CoH banner, it could be worthwhile and affordable. Karen made a good point about about building a club identity through these teams, a while back, but imo it’d be better to focus resources.