This is something which new Zealand and South Africa have with their NPC and Currie Cup which is missing in other countries. The stepping stone between pro and academy.
The kids who get picked at 16 are usually developed and have stopped growing, late developers who continue to grow and some of whom tower over the academy boys by 19 will never get a chance because they haven’t had the exposure to a good level of rugby.
My nephew was with one of the regional academies, unfortunately, even at the age of 16/17, they had decided who the ""Preferred" player in his position was, so he spent most of his time on the bench, it didn't matter how good or bad the player in front of him played in a game, that player was they're choice, so my nephew sat there for sometimes 70+ minutes, then he might get on, he got so disheartened with it, that he left, he's now 6'3 and 15+stone, he plays now and again, but it's put him off the game and he's fallen out of love with the game, another great prospect lost to Welsh Rugby, all because of the ""It's who you know culture" in Welsh academies, by the way, he's a scrum-half, who can play fullback too, it's not as if we're in position to be able to afford to lose good young talent, but, if this is how young boys are treated, how many more have we lost...
'05 '08 '12 '19 grandslams woth '13 and '21 championships. Cardiff winning challenge cups '09 and '18. Scarlets and Ospreys winning the league. Regionalism isn't the problem. Short term decisions and selfish management is. In fact regionalism is probably the most long-term decision ever made in wales rugby - granted implementation has been flawed
The problem for wales is they hung on to the glory days players and weren’t bring anyone through. Then they got old you won the six nations yes but that was more than half luck tbh. You clubs have been awful for nearly 10 years now. Attendance dropping Just utter denial by WRU and now it all boiled over feel sorry for the fans wales hate a passionate bunch when it come to rugby
fair play good comment on young props losing out due to lack of U21
This aged well
Hahaha just what I was thinking
Lol
This is something which new Zealand and South Africa have with their NPC and Currie Cup which is missing in other countries. The stepping stone between pro and academy.
💯 agree need better development and care through 14-20 as so many talented players drop out due to poor care
The kids who get picked at 16 are usually developed and have stopped growing, late developers who continue to grow and some of whom tower over the academy boys by 19 will never get a chance because they haven’t had the exposure to a good level of rugby.
Best yet. Go head the boys
Fairplay I love how diverse your podcast is. From Mike Phillips to Tommy Robinson to issues like stradey park. 👏👏👏
100%... we have such great World rugby heratige yet always shoot ourselves in the foot.
Your rubbish never made a world cup final 😂
agreed 100%
My nephew was with one of the regional academies, unfortunately, even at the age of 16/17, they had decided who the ""Preferred" player in his position was, so he spent most of his time on the bench, it didn't matter how good or bad the player in front of him played in a game, that player was they're choice, so my nephew sat there for sometimes 70+ minutes, then he might get on, he got so disheartened with it, that he left, he's now 6'3 and 15+stone, he plays now and again, but it's put him off the game and he's fallen out of love with the game, another great prospect lost to Welsh Rugby, all because of the ""It's who you know culture" in Welsh academies, by the way, he's a scrum-half, who can play fullback too, it's not as if we're in position to be able to afford to lose good young talent, but, if this is how young boys are treated, how many more have we lost...
So true
Welsh rugby is terrible, well, terrible for Australia lol
Welsh rugby has gone downhill since we went to regional rugby.not enough games.
'05 '08 '12 '19 grandslams woth '13 and '21 championships. Cardiff winning challenge cups '09 and '18. Scarlets and Ospreys winning the league. Regionalism isn't the problem. Short term decisions and selfish management is. In fact regionalism is probably the most long-term decision ever made in wales rugby - granted implementation has been flawed
The problem for wales is they hung on to the glory days players and weren’t bring anyone through. Then they got old you won the six nations yes but that was more than half luck tbh.
You clubs have been awful for nearly 10 years now. Attendance dropping
Just utter denial by WRU and now it all boiled over feel sorry for the fans wales hate a passionate bunch when it come to rugby
Yeah and it's not if the region's don't have any talent, Scarlett's won the urc it's just mismanagement and incompetence throughout the organisation
Half of Wales is English players. There's the problem.
No its not lol 😂😂😂😂
Eerr no.