Hull KR and FC joined forces to form the Hull academy and the Cas CEO recently warmed to the idea of a Calder academy.

I believe that these 'Service Areas' need to be extended across the breadth of the game in the UK and their remit deepened to promote the sport across the wider catchment area.

An example is the Hull academy, in this instance the remit of this service area should be to run elite, centre of excellence type U16 & U19 teams and work with local amateur clubs to develop young players underneath that. In addition, the catchment area of this 'SA' should stretch into Lincolnshire, to broaden the reach of RL and increase playing numbers. Other examples are that a Wigan 'SA' would stretch to central Lancashire, Wire/Widnes cover and extend across the whole of Cheshire.



'SA's can also minimise financial burdens on clubs by the sharing of costs and facilities.



More important than that is that such a system allows the countries best players to play against each other more often. Only a small percentage of U16 and U19 players make it as SL players so these elite service area comps will get young players playing in tougher matches at an earlier age. No point in future England stars in playing against players who have no chance of turning pro.

Players should then be funnelled into a clubs U23's or dual reg system when they develop further.

There would obviously be different levels of 'SA' a Midlands one would obviously be at a lower level to Hull for instance.



Another 'SA' which is sort of forming is in Manchester where Salford, Rochdale, Rangers, Mancunians and I think Oldham and Swinton work together to deliver programmes as an entity.



Anyway here are my 'Elite Service Areas'.



Calder (Wakefield/Cas)

Wigan

Leeds

Hull academy (fc and kr)

St Helens

Cheshire (Widnes/Wire)

Bradford/Huddersfield

Manchester

London and South

Cas Tigers CEO Steve Gill has recently said that a joint academy with Wakefield Wildcats has been looked at but nothing put in place yet. I can see it happening.

There are already regional academies in the Midlands, Cumbria and the North East and London still run an academy.



This I think is along the same tracks as what you're proposing.



I'd like to see similar regional academies set up in future for South Wales, North Wales, South West (Bristol/Gloucestershire), Scotland, Ireland, South Yorkshire and another in London.



The main focus should be on enabling any talent from junior teams the pathway to becoming a professional. Youngsters playing in these regions can effectively be lost to the game either through their talent not being noticed or there not being a high enough standard to play at.

Neither can I, but probably for different reasons.



If both clubs were reasonably successful & therefore stable, I think they would carry on as they are.



But the fact is they're not



One seems to dice with relegation every few years, & the other, whilst seeing better days of late, has fairly recent "form".



I'm quite surprised Gill has even considered it, but remember Carter is/was an accountant, & if he can see a cost saving he'll be tempted.

I really really really hope the OP is joking.

With the high standard of players which are coming out of the Wakefield [uTRINITY[/u academy at the moment, I can't see them giving it up easily. They are also developing good links with other clubs in many leagues up and down the country where they can also begin to bring talent in from.

If the clubs are willing to play as a combined team at under 19 level, why not at 1st team level.



If you can't run your own academy you should not qualify for Super League IMO.

Why ? , there's more to just saving money in his suggestion

If you can't run your own academy you should not qualify for Super League IMO.'"

or a reserve/u23 team too

This was a proposal tried to bring in by certain members (with a past RFU background) of the RFL. The plan then was to do away with individual team academies and have regional academies, and also to implement a draft system similar to the one that they have in the NFL. A friend of mine was involved in some sports trials with academy teams a few years ago to gather information for this. It was blocked by certain clubs- no prizes for guessing which ones....



I personally think this would be a brilliant way to improve the game and spread talent, whilst ensuring that talented young players stay in the game- but some teams didn't want their stranglehold on talent broken...

A lot of valid point have been made here, however the reason for scholarships/academies merging is to save on cost. The suggestion that if you have less players and only the very best talents are given this opportunity is pure spin. Surely the more players that are within the professional system, given the right coaching at the academies, then the more talented individuals will emerge. The important thing here is the right coaching by the right mentors.



One issue raised is that not enough players make the grade from scholarship to academy, then academy to full time. If a club take on more that half a dozen of its academy players each year it is a surprise. This is not because they are not talented enough as many do find themselves at other semi professional clubs, it is because there is nowhere for most players post 19 to go at their initial club. All clubs are full of overseas players, many of whom given the mere sniff of an NRL contract would be on the first plane back, or they do not run reserve grade teams where players can make the transition from boys to men.



Some clubs maintain that dual registration is the best way forward, this I find very hard to comprehend, the number of post 19's that have gone out on dual registration, then returned to their parent clubs and made the transition into first team rugby is very few and far between. In some instances playing for a community club is a higher standard than their dual registration partners.



In my view all SL clubs should be made to run a reserve team to prevent the talent drain, and the RFL should make this a viable competition with regular fixtures. I remember summer rugby being sold on the concept of the Australian model of watching under 19's, reserve then first team all on the same afternoon.