The reserves should be a better more attractive option to both the club and player than using dual-reg, certainly a higher standard than L1.

There's a great article from Fax's Head Coach ahead of 2018 regarding their reserves:
https://www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/article/5 ... x-reserves

And another on the benefits Fax are seeing via LoveRugbyLeague:
https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ha ... erve-team/

Superleague squads operate with around 30 players, so the bulk of a reserve side are already on the payroll, supplemented with some top local talent where & when needed. Exclusive sponsorship deals separate to the first team, a small entry charge for matches, chuck in a beer tent, food, a merchandise stand etc, along with some dedicated central funds - it's doable

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I think the issue with the reserve league was the lack of matches, a lack of clubs that made the commitment. Wigan spoke very highly of the reserves, but it's very difficult to run when you only have a handful of games a season. I'd make it compulsory, immediately gets rid of that problem, and trial it for a couple of seasons.

The reserves should be a better more attractive option to both the club and player than using dual-reg, certainly a higher standard than L1.

There's a great article from Fax's Head Coach ahead of 2018 regarding their reserves:
https://www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/article/5 ... x-reserves

And another on the benefits Fax are seeing via LoveRugbyLeague:
https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ha ... erve-team/

Superleague squads operate with around 30 players, so the bulk of a reserve side are already on the payroll, supplemented with some top local talent where & when needed. Exclusive sponsorship deals separate to the first team, a small entry charge for matches, chuck in a beer tent, food, a merchandise stand etc, along with some dedicated central funds - it's doable

.

I think the issue with the reserve league was the lack of matches, a lack of clubs that made the commitment. Wigan spoke very highly of the reserves, but it's very difficult to run when you only have a handful of games a season. I'd make it compulsory, immediately gets rid of that problem, and trial it for a couple of seasons.

Super league squads may typically contain 30 players but they rarely contain 30 fit players. With extra fixtures to fulfill the number of injuries would be likely to rise. I think you’d have to be looking at adding about 10 part-time players to the squad to have a decent chance of fulfilling a worthwhile number of fixtures. They won’t be immune to injury themselves. That is doable, but i’m dubious there’d be a good return on the required investment.

As for making it compulsory, what sort of sanction would you have in place for not fulfilling fixtures? I suppose you could do it on an escalating scale, so a team that is genuinely struggling for numbers for a couple of weeks isn’t unfairly punished, but not really bothering has a serious cost associated with it.

I just can’t help but feel that if something is attractive, it wouldn’t have to be made compulsory.

Super league squads may typically contain 30 players but they rarely contain 30 fit players. With extra fixtures to fulfill the number of injuries would be likely to rise. I think you’d have to be looking at adding about 10 part-time players to the squad to have a decent chance of fulfilling a worthwhile number of fixtures. They won’t be immune to injury themselves. That is doable, but i’m dubious there’d be a good return on the required investment.

As for making it compulsory, what sort of sanction would you have in place for not fulfilling fixtures? I suppose you could do it on an escalating scale, so a team that is genuinely struggling for numbers for a couple of weeks isn’t unfairly punished, but not really bothering has a serious cost associated with it.

I just can’t help but feel that if something is attractive, it wouldn’t have to be made compulsory.

Your last paragraph is a really good point, and one I've thought about myself. There are a number of towns an hour or so away from Hull, that could sustain a community club, yet don't have one, or have potential fans that could be engaged. Immingham Wasps for instance have just been founded and are looking for fixtures, our two clubs need to get in there if they haven't already.

Immingham has what, 10,000 people? It doesn't take vast populations to sustain a junior club, maybe one or two decent sized schools in the area. Wetherby Bulldogs are a good example, 20,000 population and they churn out Alex Foster.

My local club are on the outskirts of Leeds & set up 9 new sides in 4 years or so, and they do so via engagement with the Foundation and two local schools. They contact the Foundation & say, "we want to set up an U10 age group", for instance. The Foundation then goes into the schools to deliver taster classes, perhaps with a player or two, with the local clubs coaches there (speaking to the kids & parents). They set up a first training session at the community club through the school. Done. This has worked every single time. In fact, they've had too many kids at times, so finding coaches/touch-line managers have been their biggest issue (also supported by the Foundation).

Another thing the Rhinos do (sorry to bring them up again, but I've worked a lot with them in the past) is set up supporters branches here there and everywhere. They meet regularly, players go along, they share travel, they get exclusive offers etc.

Our community clubs are also (generally) pi£$ poor at going after lottery/charity/government funding. There's a huge pot to be dipped into. Ever wondered why RU community clubs seem to have these plush clubhouses and the RL slide nex tdoor are using a container to get changed in? It's because they're told how to go after the funding. Some of our clubs do it/have done it, but they've done so themselves. The RFL really need to lead on educating the clubs as to how to do it. If anyone can be bothered, Google what Guiseley Rangers have done over the past 2/3 years to see what hard work & knowhow can get you.
https://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/documents/s131027/app


Sorry, gone off on a bit of a tangent there.

Your last paragraph is a really good point, and one I've thought about myself. There are a number of towns an hour or so away from Hull, that could sustain a community club, yet don't have one, or have potential fans that could be engaged. Immingham Wasps for instance have just been founded and are looking for fixtures, our two clubs need to get in there if they haven't already.

Immingham has what, 10,000 people? It doesn't take vast populations to sustain a junior club, maybe one or two decent sized schools in the area. Wetherby Bulldogs are a good example, 20,000 population and they churn out Alex Foster.

My local club are on the outskirts of Leeds & set up 9 new sides in 4 years or so, and they do so via engagement with the Foundation and two local schools. They contact the Foundation & say, "we want to set up an U10 age group", for instance. The Foundation then goes into the schools to deliver taster classes, perhaps with a player or two, with the local clubs coaches there (speaking to the kids & parents). They set up a first training session at the community club through the school. Done. This has worked every single time. In fact, they've had too many kids at times, so finding coaches/touch-line managers have been their biggest issue (also supported by the Foundation).

Another thing the Rhinos do (sorry to bring them up again, but I've worked a lot with them in the past) is set up supporters branches here there and everywhere. They meet regularly, players go along, they share travel, they get exclusive offers etc.

Our community clubs are also (generally) pi£$ poor at going after lottery/charity/government funding. There's a huge pot to be dipped into. Ever wondered why RU community clubs seem to have these plush clubhouses and the RL slide nex tdoor are using a container to get changed in? It's because they're told how to go after the funding. Some of our clubs do it/have done it, but they've done so themselves. The RFL really need to lead on educating the clubs as to how to do it. If anyone can be bothered, Google what Guiseley Rangers have done over the past 2/3 years to see what hard work & knowhow can get you.
https://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/documents/s131027/app


Sorry, gone off on a bit of a tangent there.

Sorry, back to reserves for a moment, there's a great article here on Chester Butler:
www.totalrl.com/fax-star-butler- ... rve-grade/

Butler was picked up from Siddal, a local amateur side when he was 22. Exposure to the training and support at Fax, he improved and went to the World Cup with Wales last year and is a regular in Fax's first team. What a success story.

Even at Hull, Chris Green and Jamie Shaul were playing locally and almost lost to the professional game.

Sorry, back to reserves for a moment, there's a great article here on Chester Butler:
www.totalrl.com/fax-star-butler- ... rve-grade/

Butler was picked up from Siddal, a local amateur side when he was 22. Exposure to the training and support at Fax, he improved and went to the World Cup with Wales last year and is a regular in Fax's first team. What a success story.

Even at Hull, Chris Green and Jamie Shaul were playing locally and almost lost to the professional game.

It sounds like it is working well for Halifax. If Rovers were relegated and eventually had to go part-time, for example, I can see value in running an inexpensive reserve team as part of wider reshaping of the club, along a similar model.

However, all clubs have different circumstances and a variety of approaches is fine imo. Presently we’re a SL club and our partnership with York seems to be working well (for both parties, based on what their coach has said). Equally, i’ve got no issue with other SL clubs running reserve teams if that suits them. Making it compulsory, just reminds me of licensing - of people who don’t have the pressures of running a club more or less accusing those that do of doing it wrong, and trying to force them to do it differently.

Edit. I’ve just been looking for Jamie Peacock quotes for t’other thread, and I quite like this Queensland-inspired model (details towards the end of the article).
www.seriousaboutrl.com/peacock-r ... rade-5023/
Which is pretty near to a reserve team, but I especially like that the younger lads stay with their amateur clubs longer. Obviously, KuH and the East Riding isn’t Brisbane and Queensland, but investment in links with community clubs, and 19s and 23s (with a limited number over age) is attractive imo. And if the 23s were a joint team under the CoH banner, it could be worthwhile and affordable. Karen made a good point about about building a club identity through these teams, a while back, but imo it’d be better to focus resources.

It sounds like it is working well for Halifax. If Rovers were relegated and eventually had to go part-time, for example, I can see value in running an inexpensive reserve team as part of wider reshaping of the club, along a similar model.

However, all clubs have different circumstances and a variety of approaches is fine imo. Presently we’re a SL club and our partnership with York seems to be working well (for both parties, based on what their coach has said). Equally, i’ve got no issue with other SL clubs running reserve teams if that suits them. Making it compulsory, just reminds me of licensing - of people who don’t have the pressures of running a club more or less accusing those that do of doing it wrong, and trying to force them to do it differently.

Edit. I’ve just been looking for Jamie Peacock quotes for t’other thread, and I quite like this Queensland-inspired model (details towards the end of the article).
www.seriousaboutrl.com/peacock-r ... rade-5023/
Which is pretty near to a reserve team, but I especially like that the younger lads stay with their amateur clubs longer. Obviously, KuH and the East Riding isn’t Brisbane and Queensland, but investment in links with community clubs, and 19s and 23s (with a limited number over age) is attractive imo. And if the 23s were a joint team under the CoH banner, it could be worthwhile and affordable. Karen made a good point about about building a club identity through these teams, a while back, but imo it’d be better to focus resources.