Alot of rumours circulating regarding the disbantion of the Under 20'S next season. Is there any official statement with regard to the set up next year. Are the current super league clubs allhaving an U23's competition or are they going into collaboration with Championship sides and using them as feeder clubs.

going by twitter feeds, a few of hull fc u20s are now without a club and are seeking extra employment elsewhere, not related to rugby league either



great work by the RFL!



we need somthing like the old colts system or b teams

Couldn't agree more - The RFL are a joke, we are going to lose alot of quality lads before they fully develop. I'd love to see the official line why they are going down this route. More overseas players and a lack of home grown talent. And they RFLwonder why we cant beat the Ausies!!!!

I'm not sure the blame for this one can be laid entirely at the RFL's door.

There's only going to be U19 academy. The rest will be fed out to Championship or Championship 1. Some clubs will have a joint team apparently. I expect Championship U23 will fold as well.

I wish someone would just come out and explain what's actually happening and the reasoning behind it all.

the rfl are pushing for joint acadamies as some teams cant afford to run u20s, salford rumoured to be one, others want their partner club to do all the work and then just cherry pick the best players! again the rfl are pandering to the clubs who dont have the money as to those who are willing to invest in youth

Think Wigan, Saints and Leeds will keep their own side in it.

Widnes - North Wales

Wigan - South Wales Scorpions

Wire - Swinton

Saints - Leigh

I don't think the RFL are pushing for joint academies, as that will lead to more problems than it solves. They are responding to claims from several clubs that the current reserves comp isn't good enough and doesn't develop players well enough (which I agree with). In order to develop players need to play against open age players but clubs can't afford to run an old style 2nd team. So the current solution as I understand it is that the current u20's and u18's will be merged into an u19's comp but with no over age players, the better prospects and over age players will be loaned out or DR'd with a lower league club who the SL club has established a link with.

How the details will work I'm not sure. A Wire academy coach was quoted saying along the lines of "it could work if both clubs are prepared to make it work and give & take, if one side doesnt play ball then it wont" and at the moment I'm in agreement with him.



Effectively it's an attempt to get the better young players playing at a higher level whilst realising that a full 2nd team is unrealistic.



Oh and I'd take issue with the assertion there are more overseas players, I'm sure I'd seen stats showing the number has steadily decreased over the last few years.

What happens to the 150+ 20-22 year olds now then?

I believe Trinity have tied up with Doncaster, and a number of players in-between the u20’s and the first team have already featured for Doncaster this season. Seems to work well.

They get full time deals with the SL club, or get DR/loaned orare released (to join another club or persue another career path).

Leeds have Hunslet and the All Golds as feeder clubs.