PULLING NO PUNCHES
GARRY SCHOFIELD welcomes the RFL’s decision to restore elite Academy licences to Bradford Bulls, Castleford Tigers and Hull KR after an outpouring of criticism
ICAN’T quite believe I’m writing this, but congratulations to the RFL for coming to their senses and having a rethink over taking away the elite Academy licences of Bradford, Castleford and Hull KR.
Those three clubs have been given a chance over the next two years to show they can meet the criteria and join Catalans, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds, London Broncos, Newcastle, St Helens, Wakefield, Warrington and Wigan in operating a top-level development system.
It’s a long time since such a hornets’ nest has been stirred up in the game, but the original decision to deny those three clubs the best opportunity to develop their own players was baffling.
As so many people have said, we should be trying to expand, not restrict the number of youngsters playing, whether through the Academy system, which the RFL favour, or the community game, which has a really important role and which I am passionate about.