Wigan Warriors U19 centre Liam Forsyth has joined the Bath Rugby Academy with immediate effect. www.bathrugby.com/news/bath-rugb ... 19-centre/

Wigan Warriors U19 centre Liam Forsyth has joined the Bath Rugby Academy with immediate effect. www.bathrugby.com/news/bath-rugb ... 19-centre/

It annoys me that Rugby League is developing players for RU, that Mike Ford is bad news.

Have to say the sooner Ford and Farrell no longer have any influence on signing players the better. If anything signing Academy players is more problematic for RL in the long term than losing the odd star player.

Did we get a fee for him, or had we allowed his contract to run down?

Old news this isn't it? I'm 99% sure we knew before the final

I'm starting to think this is the only reason they are employed in Rugby Union. After the way they both misused Sam Burgess, it can't be for their coaching nous.

RL has a track record of paying young players peanuts. Much as I hate to see young players leave for the other code, in many cases (and I don't know the details of this one) you have to say you can't blame them. I don't think you can blame Farrell and Ford either.

Given the low salaries on offer generally in RL you wonder whether some young players don't even bother trying to make the grade and don't even make it through to academy level. I suppose if they have a go but realise there is more money in Union and leave for RU then we still might be able to get them back one day.

Needs to stop. Cut all ties with Bath. All this pinching RL talent means Farrell has gone down massively in my estimation. Ford was never in my estimation.

Not sure this is such a big issue. Welsh rugby league has signed young players from rugby union and we've benefitted. There will always be players crossing codes, especially young ones. He wasn't likely to make it at Wigan and Bath saw an opportunity. Had they snared someone like Williams or Hampshire I'd be more concerned.

The problem is that if this kid makes it, or even looks like making it, they'll be back. Do you think they aren't looking for the next Sam T or Williams?

I'd be surprised if Williams wasn't already on their target list. He's plays in the halves, which as we know is a very different role in Union from League, plus he's never played Union before - but he's shown that he can score tries, which will probably be enough for the likes of Mike Ford to try to convince his bosses to pay a fortune for him. Ford can then worry about whether he actually fits in later.

Don't think Williams has the kicking game to make it in Union.

I think you're missing Cruncher's point.

At the same age Thornley went off to Sale and came back pretty quickly. They go for the money. You can't blame them or blame Wigan. The lessons learnt from the Burgess fiasco will take a little time to sink in all around.

It'll be interesting to see how Josh Jones goes with Exeter. I believe he's been farmed out to Taunton (?!!) to learn the game. I reckon he'll be back in League this time next year - and so will Forsythe.

I know the point was that they'll just shove him in somewhere but if he goes I think he would struggle. I can't think of a non-kicking back that has gone to RU and done alright. Maybe Ashton but even he kicked a bit.

Robinson?

I think Robinson was ideal for Union because his greatest asset was his broken-field running, and that is transferrable to Union relatively easily. Perhaps, to a lesser extent, the same was true of Ashton. But a player like Harris, for example - such an effective pivot in League - was totally wasted in Union. I think for the same reason Williams would be - but as I said before, I'm not sure that will stop them sniffing.

It seems to be a constant 'trial and error' thing where Union is concerned. When Andy Farrell went over there, they stuck him in at centre - a position he'd never played in League. And it failed. And yet all these years later, they've made the same error with Sam Burgess. It's almost like a tacit admission that there are certain key roles in Rugby Union - mainly the forwards and halves - where only long experience can teach you the necessary 'skills', but that it's so important to sign all the best League players that room will be found for them somewhere, usually out on the flanks where they won't get in the way.

It's difficult to break down that mindset, especially when former RL players like Mike Ford and even Andy Farrell - people who are actually supposed to know - appear to typify it.

Good point. I should have my morning coffee before posting

He is the only one though

Shontayne Hape? Didn't make the impression that Robinson did but played a few times for England ru.

Big Les played for England RU too.
Thought Henry Paul went well at times too.

They all play for England at some point. I think Vainikolo's only impact was one game where he scored 5 tries.
And Henry Paul was a kicker tbf.

Perhaps we should have adopted that tactic.

If we'd persuaded Kenny and Meninga that they were English (with some financial assistance, of course), Maurice Bamford would have found himself with a Test-winning GB team overnight.

As far as I know Jones has at least played a bit of rugby union at school and for Preston Grasshoppers (though I may be wrong). Given what he's apparently earning compared to league, I'd be surprised if he's back by next year.

His old school is a football playing school, although they do have a link with Tarleton RUFC, he was at Saints from a young age. His experience of Union is minimal. Like Joel Tomkins and Sam Burgess he'll learn that playing centre in Union is more lucrative than it is interesting. He'll be back at Saints within a year, surrounded by family, and on an improved contract. He won't be short of offers because he's a more than decent RL player.