Academy Farce

[Perth Red]

Only the RFL would think that stopping clubs that want to run elite Jnr programs is somehow going to make the professional game stronger! Whole thing has been farcical and should cost Rimmer his job. Good to see clubs that have been shafted fighting back.


RFL Statement: Elite Academy Licences
by Broncos Media | May 21, 2021 | 2021, Club News | 0 comments

Eight clubs from the Betfred Super League, and two from the Betfred Championship, have been awarded Elite Academy Licences for 2022-27, having demonstrated that they achieve the elite standards required by the process.

The licensing process had been delayed since 2019, partly as a result of the disruption caused by Covid-19. Over recent months an expert panel convened by the RFL and Super League Europe had considered 15 applications.

Key decisions that were agreed by the clubs before the process began were for the licence term to be extended to six years, because of the long-term nature of player development, and for the importance of the Community Game to be factored into deliberations.

That led to an agreement that a maximum of 12 licences should be awarded – up to nine in “Core Affinity Areas”, up to two in “Emerging Affinity Areas”, and up to one in France.

The rationale for this was as follows:

1. To ensure that Academies are operated sensitively and proportionately to the continuing good health of the Community Game;
2. That the number of players selected for Academies is proportionate to the number of players within the Community Game at the relevant age and that the players selected have a genuine opportunity of progressing into the Super League and National teams;
3. That the talent pool is extended beyond the traditional heartland of the sport.

The panel was chaired by Air Commodore Dean Andrew OBE. The RFL representation was led by Dave Rotheram (Chief On-Field Officer), also including Marc Lovering (Director of Participation and Development), Samantha Allen (Head of Professional Game Delivery) and Paul Medley (National Player Progression Manager).

The panel also included Duncan Truswell, Sport England’s Strategic Lead for Performance and Talent who shared a wealth of expertise from other sports.

The 10 clubs awarded elite Academy Licences for 2022-27 are: Catalans Dragons, Huddersfield Giants, Hull FC, Leeds Rhinos, London Broncos, Newcastle Thunder, St Helens, Wakefield Trinity, Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors.
RFL Statement: Elite Academy Licences - London Broncos RL

Responses;

Powell blasts "hugely disappointing" RFL academy decision - Serious About Rugby League (seriousaboutrl.com)

Bradford Bulls 'shocked' by RFL academy decision as club hits out - YorkshireLive (examinerlive.co.uk)

Hull KR demand "urgent" independent review into failed academy licence bid | Yorkshire Post

"What a load of rubbish" - Rob Burrow criticises RFL academy decision - Serious About Rugby League (seriousaboutrl.com)

 

[Perth Red]

So the logic is that a RL hotbed like Hull doesnt have enough U19's to run two elite academies without impacting the amateur game. What a load of horse sht! And that having less jnrs exposed to elite pathways is somehow going to close the gap to Australia?? What is he smoking?

TOC: There are mootings of George Williams coming back to Super League. If he goes back to Wigan, there's a benefit of him going back to Wigan on the salary cap. So if you're Castleford or Hull KR, Salford or Leigh and you've not got an Academy, where do you get that benefit from?

RR: These are not counted out forever, there's work to be done between now and 2024.

TOC: I get that but to get kids through your system, it doesn't just happen in year one, if you're not in Super League, Hull KR will see all their best players leave...

RR: Of course there is, but some of these Academies haven't been performing to the right level at this moment in time, so do we just keep doing the same thing over and over again to get the same results? No. I think there are lots of things we need to do in this game a bit differently, take a helicopter view of how we're going to grow the game going forwards. And I absolutely agree that there is going to be some short term pain in lots of decisions that had to be made. The RFL always sits in the middle and is given a hard time and that's fine, but this was not done without everyone involved.

Full transcript of Ralph Rimmer's controversial Sky Sports interview on Academy decisions - Hull Live (hulldailymail.co.uk)

 

[Perth Red]

After all the pressure RFL has done a massive backflip and granted the three clubs who missed out a two year provisional license. Clowns!

RFL climb down after snub to Tigers, Bulls and Rovers sparked anger across the game

A U-turn by the RFL has allowed Castleford Tigers, Bradford Bulls and Hull KR to continue running an elite academy side beyond the end of this season.

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk