New era to dawn on youth game
THE national under-20s competition is set to be abolished at the end of 2017 following a major restructure of the game’s pathways.
The national competition will be replaced by state-based Under-20s leagues comprising 20 competition rounds and a four-week break during the season to cater for study and rest. The NRL estimate that it will save $10 million by scrapping the current format and will spend $5 million to provide resources for lower-tier clubs.
The state-based competitions will become third-tier competitions, while the Holden Cup was widely viewed as a second-tier competition.
“We have been concerned about welfare issues affecting many young players struggling to cope with the pressure of the NYC,” said NRL Head of Football Brian Canavan. “This model will enable more juniors to stay…
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Official Rugby League Annual (Digital) - 1 Issue, 2016 Edition