Is it a concern that Rovers U18's are unbeaten this season yet don't have any players in the tour to France? http://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=22278 Our U18's results this season. St Helens (H) W 34-28 Feath (A) W 48-18 Wigan (A) W 54-18 Wakefield (H) D 24-24 Leeds (A) W 46-26 Bradford (A) W 32-62

Is it a concern that Rovers U18's are unbeaten this season yet don't have any players in the tour to France? http://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=22278 Our U18's results this season. St Helens (H) W 34-28 Feath (A) W 48-18 Wigan (A) W 54-18 Wakefield (H) D 24-24 Leeds (A) W 46-26 Bradford (A) W 32-62

Easty wrote:Is it a concern that Rovers U18's are unbeaten this season yet don't have any players in the tour to France? http://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=22278 not to me, the success or failure of a youth system is judged by how many players make it into the first team on a regular basis not by honours or trophies at the age group level. Many highly rated youngsters never make it anyway.

Easty wrote:Is it a concern that Rovers U18's are unbeaten this season yet don't have any players in the tour to France? http://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=22278 not to me, the success or failure of a youth system is judged by how many players make it into the first team on a regular basis not by honours or trophies at the age group level. Many highly rated youngsters never make it anyway.

Would some of our young lads not thrive playing and training alongside some of the country's brightest young players with international recognition spurring them on to higher levels?

Perhaps they havent got their passports Kev ?

young players are all different and develop at different rates and respond to different situations, look at the 2 welham brothers for example, liam was the one more highly regarded outside the club as far as age group recognition goes but look at where both are now. not too concerned with our lads missing out on this its more important to continue their development in house imho and will pay dividends inthe end

I agree with you on this. As was said on our board, we won the U20's comp 2 years running and only have Houghton to show for it. Admittedly, I think he is superb, but you would think another couple of graduates would have shown through.

I agree, its more about progression of our academy set up that matters. In some ways I think getting call ups for the inernational set up can damage a player. A lot of these young lads start to think they are shoe ins once they've had a call up and never progress to the next level. This will maybe keep them hungrier and be a spur to show what they can really do.

I maybe wrong but I don't think Sam Tomkins ever played for the England academy side.

Out of interest do you know how many of the FC team you mentioned got international call ups out of the team that won it 2 years on the bounce?

Lovegrove, Green and Dobson all played for Australia's School Boy team yet struggled or didnt make a name for themselves at NRL level. It happens on both sides of the world and there is nothing to say these lads won't make it just because they don't have youth honours.

I'd guess at Houghton and Lee.

Washbrook maybe.

Tommy Lee is probably a prime example of a player being told how good he is from a very young age and then either not living up to the hype or it going to his head and him taking his eye off the ball.

Don't get me wrong I think its a great honour for these kids (and there respective clubs) to be recognised with an international call up, just stating there are pitfalls to be had.