if a club dual-registers 8 players like hull fc have with york, only 5 players can be played in one game

the abolishiment of the u20s has meant that some SL clubs may have fringe players who wont get games for weeks so its is sensible to send these players out on dual contracts, it works both ways, the players keep match fit and also help lower level players progress in their own game

Having seen what has happened at Swinton, and giving thought to how the part-time Swinton players, for whom the playing money is probably pretty vital, must feel, I am now very much in the "this is NOT the way forward" camp.

The problem is quite simple though: far far too little money in the game.

Totally agree with your thoughts. Batley are twinned with Huddersfield. Keighley are independent.

I am agreeing with you , but just pointing out the hypocrisy of the RFL in their statement

When the DR system was 1 st introduced some of us suggested how it might ' evolve ' , we were ridiculed , even by SL fans suggesting even they would not be happy with wholesale squads involved in it , well now our fears have happened , so this is not like the margin meter , this is ' real ' clubs , and real fans involved here

You mention ' disaater ' , who for ? , the SL clubs who want this system , or the Championships as a stand alone ' Vibrant, worth winning in its own right ' competition ?

It isn't at all sensible for championship clubs to accept these players.Loads of championship standard players have now been lost (and it will get worse over the next couple of yrs) and sub standard players have taken there place.Consequently the standard of the league WILL drop but fans WILL still be asked to pay the same £15/18 to maintain it.

What I find interesting is all the ' usual suspects
' avoiding this thread like the plague

You were told

Or they're spending there money in areas that clearly don't benefit the game as a whole.

When has that ever been the case ? , it isn't the ' joining jack ' league , its the I'm all right jack league

will it?

fcs' link up with york will also see hull help them out on coaching skills, club operations, sponsorships

what would happen to the players who dont play week in week out in SL and are not elidgable for the U19s? in a perfect RL world i would like to see the return of the b teams/colts but that wont happen and as for the sub standard players that have taken their place, look at teams now, most have players who were released from the disbanded u20s!

Its great that your club is helping the york BOD on how to run the club and ii applaud them for it but surely you should be asking your club WTF they are doing if they cant run junior levels?

Removing the age Limit for DR players and changing it from only being able to register 4 to being able to register full squads but only play 5,well this was always going to happen .
The DR system was never ment as a way to keep established SL first team players fit,it was always about developing the younger players .
We have linked up with saints and were offered 3 players this week but declined as it being the first game the coach wanted to give our own players a chance.Widnes registered their full squad on DR with town,so they must see this as getting any player game time .

The DR system as it was worked well

Was it though ? , or was it always intended to work this way in the end ?

Ask yourself a question , if you were a SL club , what do you really want , How would a feeder systen operate to your optimum benifit ?


How much do the SL clubs and the RFL really care about the credibilty of the lower tiers ?

First post so please be gentle!

The whole idea of having a SL club linked with a championship club is good idea. The number of players registered on dual registration is the problem, I believe that if you are in a SL teams first 21 then the chances are you are and have been a professional sportsman for a number of years. If you are at this level you shouldn't have too much difficulty getting yourself up to speed when coming back from an injury (you know if you are fit enough, you have trained for a living and know your body, you may need to come off the bench to get to match fitness but that's the nature of the job)

If you are in the clubs top 21 (I'm talking first choice player not squad numbers) then you should not be dual registered. After this I believe then you are looking at players which will enhance a championship side/keep the player on his toes, and will make a coach think about who is best for the match ahead. It should make the semi pro player up his game if he wants his appearance money, and the SL player will want to shine and prove his quality to his real boss.

I'm a Wire fan and I think it's wrong that Woody is playing for Swinton, as for Tyrone, he's still developing (even with his finals experiences) and is the type of player that can enhance the Championship.

Unfortunately a Championship player is going to lose money no matter what unless the SL player donates his appearance fee to the player he displaced.....and that's never going to happen!

So you have pointed out a scenario , fantastic , but what in your opinion is the current situation ?

What should happen now ?

Well, as I said the current situation is wrong, a club should not be able to dual register an entire squad.
I'm not sure anything can be done now that the RFL in all it's wisdom have decided this is the way ahead. I'm ed off that Warrington are not aligned with Leigh (I think we've had a good relationship over the last few years) as I get down to the LSV as often as I can.

What I think this thread highlights is a need for a change in mindset. Perhaps there could be a caravan to give the Championship fans an education in sporting culture. Gone are the days of automatic promotion and relegation multiple divisions and historic clubs and in have come franchises and feeder clubs.

Love any post regarding Rugby League structure at the minute and how it's being run overall!
This is the same rugby League that we all know and love without a major sponsor! I was mascot for Halifax back in 1996 when we beat wire at Thrum Hall, a certain Nigel Wood was chief exec at Fax then, says it all really.....

I class myself as a RL supporter first, and then a Fax fan, I´ve attended SL games, Grand Finals and Wembley Finals in recent times, oh and a World Club Challenge, I was fully intending to go to several World Cup games, but I will only attend Halifax home games from now on, and perhaps an away game at the four other clubs who are standing alone.

The drop into the Championship 1 is too great a drop in standard and clubs are desperate not to go down, hence an unseemly scramble.

Good luck Keighley and Barrow, lets hope you are too good for the drop.

Maybe this caravan could look for a brain,heart and soul for you why its at it

So congratulations the RFL , in world Cup year you have caused further division and disruption among your paying customers , we now have essentially 4 separate groups of clubs , all playing within their own little groups with growing gaps and discord between them

Well done Mr Wood , you are indeed one prize pillock

I echo the above as this is exactly what I will be doing this year, I will not be putting a penny the way of any club who has done the link ups. I'm sure as the season goes on more and more will do the same further declining the attendances, when this happens it matters what the SL clubs bring to the championship teams in order of help with sponsorship, no one sponsors a team with no fans. Except Sheffield.

What about the fact that championship teams get players for nothing and can then invest any saved money in advertising, youth development and improving the stadia??? Or with they not invest it wisely



RL has always driven change and innovation... If this doesn't work it'll be scrapped.

As for widnes making the whole squad DR probably says more about their intentions than other clubs. SL players will lift the intensity and provide fresh ideas both on and off the field.... I hope.

For who ?