nb. and when i say kids, I mean the 16,17, 18 year olds makin the step up, i appreciate the youth are movin to summer aswell.

Wigan St Pats dont have an under 18's playing Summer, Wigan St Judes do in the Gillette National Youth League.
i heard yesterday 5 lads had recently moved from Pats to Judes to play Summer rugby.
Judes now full with 30 players, i believe Ince has a big squad with 25+ players;
clearly the kids at 16,17,18 want to play summer and will vote with their feet. If you stop in winter - your youth players will drift away. No future in winter RL.

Thats because there not puttin as much meat in the meat & prayter anymore, going soft these kids

But on a serious note...My point exactly i think the like of Ourselves, Hindley, New Springs, Orrell, have to in some way compete against the like of Judes and Pats and it ain't easy as you obviously knowonly to well based on your knowledge of there respective youth set ups, and no matter whther we play summer or winter the lads are always going to want o go down to the big 3, and this will be backed up by parents.

I sure as hell don't no the answer, but as far as open age goes I think to say winter rugby has no future is discredited by the fact that there are still a majority as local level that want to stay with the winter format.

2nd string open age will remain in winter for many teams

Youth teams will be down selected to a few "big" clubs, the RFL rules allowing players to be picked from the lesser "training" clubs as and when they feel the need.

We certainly will have a larger number of "elite" clubs than we do today (albeit still a relatively small number - say three per pro club), however the manner in which they will have free access to anything below willl be the death of the lesser clubs.

Hands up any youth league in this country where it's smaller clubs coaches and volunteers are always more than happy to carry on without issue when their best players are poached or have their heads turned by the big boys.

Yes grass is green in summer for some, but decidely dusty for what will in effect be the majority (soon to becone a minority).

Still perhaps the free sprinklers will help