im right with you on that one. sadly i dont think it's going to happen

But clubs only have a proper say in a player's development (scholarship aside) once they reach 16; if anything, more help could be offered to amateur RL clubs to make sure their kids continue to play RL during their development, rather than going to local RU clubs.

but that would involve getting barla onside. easier said than done

More chance of getting the WRU onside. IMO.

we have Barla and the RFL/WRFL to take responsibility for that, though it is good and to be encouraged for pro teams to involved in the amateur game,

they ultimately have the responsibility for providing a pathway for elite players to get to the top,

however good the amateur game gets in Wales, its crazy to think we are ever going to get to a stage where they can afford to lose players to RU, we cant even afford to do that in the heartlands

But, in terms of the Crusaders, are their local amateur sides BARLA-affiliated?

personally this is great news.

I look forward to the days when RU clubs in Wales are poaching players from the Crusaders because it will prove that the Crusaders are heading in the right direction. the publicity for the Crusaders would be huge as well. When Welsh RU fans are looking at Wales RU players who are good because they have played league it will showcase the Crusaders.

Most RU clubs look to poach established stars farrell, robinson etc. they are not looking at developing there own players because if they did start recruiting them too early it would not do anything for their development because they would just be RU players.

It is up to the crusaders to develop there youth system to constantly keep churning out the new yopungsters to replace the ones who are poached by other clubs whether RL or RU ( have wire not signed to promising Welsh kids). As they do this they will be developing a good welsh team and with the development of a competitive international game this will hopefully keep many of those players in the game.

This comment from Gatland is an encouraging thing for the crusaders. Not something to be used as a stick to beat them with.

I agree. It actually sounds a bit desperate from Gatland. "We are going to pouch the players you have not yet developed". It is almost admitting that he thinks the Crusaders are going to produce better rugby players.

Anyway poaching Crusaders players does not make sence. They will play for Crusaders not WRU for 2 reasons.
1. they are not gifted RU players.
2. They want to play League not Union.
Either way a cross code switch does not make any sense.

Even if they do poach some players it will only encourage young players to join Celtic. Celtic can just say... "Here is your choice if you want to play for the welsh RU national side. You can either fight it out with everyone else or you can come here, recieve better training then get poached by the WRU on a big contract and get fast-tracked into the Squad"

These are stupid comment from what I can only assume is a stupid man.

I think it wasn't thought through.

If we have a conveyor belt producing players thata re playing first team for the Crusaders and also catching the eye of all including the WRU with their performances then I am happy with that.

I just hope South Wales get behind this venture. If they were all like me we'd sell out most weeks just hope we can get the interest and keep it.

I am a huge Welsh rugby (union) fan and also supporting the Crusaders - and some of the stuff written in this thread is bollox.

First the general feeling among Welsh rugby fans towards the Crusaders is either supportive or at worst disinterested. There is very little animosity, and certainly no worry or fears about RL success.

While there is always an element of an alternative sport competing for spectators cash. the fact that the two seasons do not overlap much has largely eliminated this concern.

I think the real purpose of gatlands statement was to assure any budding youngsters that if they wanted to give League a try it would not preclude a future union career.

Because the second point is that Welsh rugby, while not awash with money, is very well off - the WRU collected 18 million from the Autumn internationals, another 12 million from the 6N games, and another 4 million from the European TV money. Sure they have a 40 million debt in the bank, but that is secured against 120 million Millenium Stadium.

That leaves a lot of money for player development and funding to the 4 regional sides - who each have their own revenue streams.

While Soccer is genuine competition - RL is barely a blip on the graph, and will never get in the way of RU. The WRU are openminded about the Crusaders and recognise that they can live with them and can even benefit. But nobody is worried.

And once more - I am a Crusaders fan and am not attacking RL - just the views of some posters.