Looks like yet another format change for the Under 18s this year. Last year they played the comp in two phases. The first phase graded each side into groups based on points difference. It proved a bit poor for my liking but perhaps served its purpose.

Anyway they've scrapped that this year and will have a 16 round competition instead. Haven't seen a fixture list yet but it looks like more Championship sides will be involved than last year. Judging off Bradford's fixture list we'll be playing most sides only once, a couple of teams twice. Not a clue if play offs are returning.

Their will be a months break in June during the Under 18s season (and the Under 20s for that matter) for an academy test series against France which incidentally sees Wigan's Danny Bridge, Greg Burke, Liam Carberry, Matt Russell and Chris Taylor called into a 38 train on squad.

Full Squad - Six Warrington Wolves players, five players from Bradford Bulls, Wigan and St Helens, four players from Leeds Rhinos, two from both Hull clubs and Harlequins and a sole representative from Castleford Tigers and Salford City Reds.

2011 England Academy 38 man Squad

John Bateman (Bradford Bulls)
Michael Bishay (Harlequins RL)
Daniel Bridge (Wigan Warriors)
Alex Brown (Widnes Vikings)
Greg Burke (Wigan Warriors)
Liam Carberry (Wigan Warriors)
Jordan Chase (St Helens)
Daryl Clark (Castleford Tigers)
Jack Cockerham (Bradford Bulls)
Ben Crookes (Hull FC)
Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves)
Ben Evans (Warrington Wolves)
Rhys Evans (Warrington Wolves)
Thomas Gilmore (Widnes Vikings)
Bobbie Goulding (Warrington Wolves)
Robert Hawthorne (Bradford Bulls)
Daniel Jones (St Helens)
Josh Jones (St Helens)
Reece Lyne (Hull FC)
Liam McAvoy (Bradford Bulls)
Andrew Morris (Salford City Reds)
Adam O'Brien (Bradford Bulls)
Gene Ormsby (Warrington Wolves)
Jack Owens (Widnes Vikings)
Jay Rossi (Whitehaven RL)
Matthew Russell (Wigan Warriors)
Liam Salter (Hull KR)
Daniel Sarginson (Harlequins RL)
Declan Sephton-Hulme (Widnes Vikings)
Ryan Shaw (Warrington Wolves)
Louis Sheriff (Hull KR)
Brad Singleton (Leeds Rhinos)
Daniel Smith (Leeds Rhinos)
Jared Stewart (Leeds Rhinos)
Chris Taylor (Wigan Warriors)
Steve Ward (Leeds Rhinos)
Greg Wilde (St Helens)
Daniel Yates (St Helens)

Good strong squad that with 10 players still eligible from last years squad.