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Kittwazzer wrote:It all comes down to money Josie. What Leeds can't afford, nobody else can have!

So very true

josie andrews wrote: If Leeds hadn't proposed the scrapping of the U21's down to U20's & then the U19's
Why didn't they just leave it alone in the first place??? There wouldn't be all the fuss that has now arisen from this stupid, stupid new academy system

Our own chairman was one of those who backed the changes this season, I think Wire and Stains were the only two clubs against it. Whats happened with Leuluai also effects Gells, he'll probably be lucky to get more than half a dozen games now this season.

Yet another well thought out plan, loads of talented young players possibly being lost to the game, and full time professionals with no games to play in.

DaveO wrote:The only way this can work is if championship sides do indeed become true feeder clubs for SL sides. In effect what should happen is Leeds should simply take Hunslet over and Wigan Leigh( hah!). I am not being facetious here just pointing out the fact that you can't expect independent clubs with their own ambitions to bend to the whim's of Sl clubs who want to use them as a 2nd team.

I don't see why this shouldn't happen, tradition and history aside. It could make the game more stable if clubs lower down the tiers are reined in from ambitions that prevent us from moving to a more closed league structure that might be of greater benefit financially as there are different ways you can agree to structure and share things between clubs - like the NFL and to soem extent NRL are currently structured. History, tradition, entrenched views and a fear that the sport could close itself off from some of the positive investment we have seen lower down the ladder are the reasons why this isn't more seriously considered. I think it should be fully considered.

josie andrews wrote: The RFL has recently lobbied the UKBA for a change to the rules which prevent players on Tier 2 visas playing for a second club on a short-term arrangement. This follows on from changes to the Super League Academy structure, which from 2013 is an exclusively under-19s competition, an arrangement that means open-age overseas Tier 2 visa players returning from injury cannot gain match fitness on short-term loans or dual registrations.

This is just incompetent. They brought in a rule change without checking if it allowed them to do as they wanted?

They are as bad as the bloody government for dreaming up stuff that when scrutinised falls apart.

In many respects I am glad overseas players cannot be dual registered. Surely the aim of dual registration and loans is to allow MORE young British players the oppotunity to develop. Similarly, if an overseas player is not good enough to make a 19 man squad then it begs the question should he have ever been entitled to a visa anyway?

cpwigan wrote:In many respects I am glad overseas players cannot be dual registered. Surely the aim of dual registration and loans is to allow MORE young British players the oppotunity to develop. Similarly, if an overseas player is not good enough to make a 19 man squad then it begs the question should he have ever been entitled to a visa anyway?

I totally agree with you cp & DaveO

cpwigan wrote:In many respects I am glad overseas players cannot be dual registered. Surely the aim of dual registration and loans is to allow MORE young British players the oppotunity to develop. Similarly, if an overseas player is not good enough to make a 19 man squad then it begs the question should he have ever been entitled to a visa anyway?

I agree and I hope the UK visa authorities do not back down.

I think while the aim has been sold as "to allow MORE young British players the opportunity to develop" this episode over KL just shows that wasn't the real or at best only motive.

I can see why the RFL and the clubs want the rule relaxed so senior players can get fit again but they should have thought of that in the first place and kept the existing system.

they'll just allow some overage players in the U19s temporarily.