Just had February’s copy off the mighty Trin drop through my letter box.
On page 4 of Micheal Carter’s column he talks about the 16 lads we have training that have come through our academy, and the credit that should go to Mark. Applegarth in helping to achieve this.
Indeed all associated with this deserve great credit for these achievements
He then mentions that the RFL are trying to reduce the number of academies and that Trinity’s is one that hangs in the balance, but he is fighting to retain our status.

Have I missed something?
Why on earth would the RFL want to do this?
Can anybody please explain the ins and out of this ?
Thanks.

Purely speculation but if I were to take a punt I would guess that clubs receive some level of funding or additional funding for academy set ups. With the tv deal potentially reduced the logical business sense is to review your costs.

It may simply be financially driven decision making.

Though to be blatantly honest the club should fight with all they have to keep an active and prosperous academy.

Look at how many have come through these past few years. I think it is vital to our future both medium and long term.

Players like Crowther, Batchelor, Kershaw, Johnstone, Bowes, aydin, Croft....the list goes on. Any talk of shutting it down should be shot down imho.

Not just for Wakefield but the game as a whole. Reserves are gone, academies go and your seriously cutting the talent pool in a professional environment. This would not be good for the game or international future rugby league.

makes you wonder if the RFL and thinking of going to like a central academy where clubs get the opportunity get draft pick similar to NFL

Didn’t/Do, the two Hull teams FC&KR, have a joint Academy team? Has that been successful for those clubs, and the sport.

It seems a very short sighted approach if true.

I know Mr Carter doesn’t like being on here nowadays..
But I was wondering if there is someone who could provide us with a bit more information as to what the RFLs intentions are?

After the vast amount of Time and effort that has gone in to getting our academy into the position it is today. It seems a shocking decision if they’re cutting funding. as T.H .says this does need to be fought tooth and nail!!!

Maybe the next TV deal is going to be a hell of a lot less and they are looking at ways of softening the blow.
IIRC part of the current TV monies is to fund Academies and maybe, someone thinks that "merging" some of them will "help".

The on certainty is that if clubs cant keep youngsters coming through into the top level, the game in in real trouble and the other certainty is that it wont be the likes of Leeds, Saints and Wigan that do without.

Is RL really worth so little to Sky (and other broadcasters) ??

It's mickey poor that with a "home" world cup coming later in the year, that RL is still unable to "sell" itself for a decent wedge.

If the rfl are trying to stop clubs or rather some clubs from having an academy its nothing short of disgusting.what right do they have let say leeds and wigan to keep academy but not us its just another way of keeping the big and rich happy.if this happens think that will be me done with the sport

Having a set of central Academies is a great idea. Well, it is in a Utopian world where nobody lies, nobody is corrupt and money and trophies is the last thing on peoples minds.

If I believed for one second that a third rate organisation such as the RFL could police it properly and fairly, I'd back it. I'd back it because, in theory, it's a great idea, a concentration of the best young players in a centralised environment with top-class coaching and facilities for all. Thus allowing all SL clubs an equal chance to draft quality players. Young players who know they will almost certainly have a club to go to if they try hard, which it has to be said is great motivation.

Sadly it's such a foreign idea to not just RL but British sporting culture. It would simply be a set of containment camps from which the big clubs would find ways to manipulate it to their advantage. Shame but it's a non started in my opinion.

Although it’s just speculation at this point I completely agree with the above. All the best players would be migrated into the big 4 with the other clubs fighting over the rest and likely paying a premium.

I have received notification from Sky that the price my Sky Sports pack will be increasing next month.As a Sky VIP user of over 18years I have a 3digit phone number to contact their admin' dept' so I used it to "complain" to them and ask them to justify the increase in view of the lack of content they supply. One channel is devoted to American Football, one to Basketball another one shows continuous repeats of all last years GP races,they do not have the tv rights to the current cricket tests or the RU internationals. They ought to be increasing their offer for the tv rights for what is the best spectator sport played. I obtained a slight price reduction in some parts of my overall package to offset the increase in the sports section, but I got a lot of satisfaction in explaining to them in "plain Yorkshire" that just because they are now American owned doesn't mean they can expect to be able to convert us to watching their boring home grown sports !