Unfortunatley there are problems a plenty with the proposition.

1) kids dropp-off rugby in big numbers between the ages 11-13 - so investment too early will be wasted.
2) physic plays a massive part in the mini-mod game - the bigger kids can run riot but as the sizes level out so does their advantage - so that complicates matters.
3) the early years coaching should be based around enjoyment and core skills

Rovers and FC should be looking to get involved around with players 12-13ish... however there is the thought that if kids dont get 'drafted' at this early age they may feel second class and leave the game.

Its a difficult call but both clubs could do alot more to attract juniors and keep them happy once they sign them as academy players - seems both clubs need to improve in this department.

In all honesty any joint inititive fail - FC are infront in these stakes but will soon be overtaken with the academy function. Parhaps this is an area Mr Pearson will 'invest in'?

I believe in the NRL all clubs have junior teams that they look after and most of their players come from the junior teams when they are ready why dont we in this country

Just a thought, but is there a possibility that the synergy could be in joint sponsorship? Get one massive company to invest into a central pot and that company becomes the shirt sponsor for all three main clubs? This would get year round TV exposure via Sky which would be more highly visable when the football and rugby season cross over.

Try assembling a fantasy team of Hull born players, for a supposed hotbed of the game it's not that impressive.

The junior development in the area is clearly breaking down at some level.

There wasn't even a service area this year so how are the kids who turn out week in week out getting encouraged? Less scolarships available means unless they are committed players there's a chance many will walk away. It's not the likes of skirlaugh that have to worry, they can attract kids with their success, it's the less high profile junior teams that will struggle. No players, no teams at certain age groups, sad in a city which claims to be a hot bed of rugby. I'd like to see more scouts from both teams watching all clubs on a regular basis, players can be very talented and not get picked up because they don't play for one of the higher profile amateur clubs.

I know it's a forbidden link but a reflection of what Pearson is driving for....Synergy, but as rover49 said, we know how it will end. If link removed go to the unmentionable site and search "Hull 2013: Anything is Possible with Twice the Passion"

I know it's a forbidden link but a reflection of what Pearson is driving for....Synergy, but as rover49 said, we know how it will end. If link removed go to the unmentionable site and search "Hull 2013: Anything is Possible with Twice the Passion"

The problem i see at the minute is a lot of talented players who play for so called smaller teams in our youth leagues are being poached by club coaches from so called bigger clubs attending school matches and there isn't much the league authorities are doing about it. I know that these smaller teams don't have the turnover of players that the top clubs have, how many kids these days play for the same team they started with at under 8's again i think the local youth league has a lot to answer too they allow certain clubs to break rules and these have implications on the number of kids playing our sport.
I believe the kids who play rugby now are pamperd, when i played youth rugby i would be training twice a week for my club ( the "Hull Boys Club ) then train for my representative team (Hull Schools,Humberside,Yorkshire) then train with my school team on a dinner time, at weekend we would play on a saturday and a sunday, i played against some players who are legends of our game now so maybe we need change around with the way we are developing the kids.

Thats spot on. Poaching players goes on as young as under 8's. The two pro clubs exaserbate this by picking the majority of their scholarship squads from the so called bigger sides which encourages players and parents to move clubs.

I htink a few people have missed RBA's original point. Nobody is talking about having joint scholarships or anything like that. What is being suggested are joint initiatives whereby Hull/Rovers get together and put together a joint strategy to get into local primary schools to encourage participation in general. Also a joint community team could could go into local club sides and offer a training session from a Rovers/Hull community coach and make sure that ALL clubs benefit from it.

The only way to increase success is to get more kids playing the game at a young age and to keep them playing. Sport England believe to become an elite athlete in any sport you need 10,000 hours of particpation. In most cases lads picking up the game at 14/15 years old is too late.

This is the area the clubs need to be investing momey into the 6-10 age bracket and a joined up proper targetted approach is the best way to achieve that. The pro clubs need to educate junior coaches and geuninely engage with the community game instead of just viewing it as a franchise "Tick Box" excercise.

100% correct.