The subject of academies and the RFL’s role within them has been a frequently revisited topic in recent years.
It all came to a head in 2021 when Castleford Tigers were denied an Elite Academy Licence. In the years since, Castleford Tigers and Bradford Bulls fought hard to gain an Elite Academy Licence which shed light on the RFL’s control of who can run such an academy. It is important to note that when not permitted an Elite Academy Licence, teams can run a form of an academy as the Tigers and Bulls did.
Nonetheless, it is this control which means that IMG cannot factor academies into their grading system and we know that IMG is the main reason for London Broncos bringing an end to their academy so they can use the £250,000 used running the academy in other areas to improve their IMG grade.
This has led to criticisms of the RFL’s current model but there are some important factors that we must remember. The question around the number of academies arguably gets to the root of the problem. The sport is sadly struggling for player numbers at top end of the community game and if you have too many players going into academies, history suggests the majority who don’t make it would be in real danger of being lost to the sport. This hurts the community game at the top and if clubs can’t run at the top then they can’t run the game at the younger levels and won’t be able to produce the players who emerge in these academies. This is why the RFL can’t hand out an academy to everyone.
In terms of IMG and their grading, they do have a focus on academies with all clubs are required to have an agreed performance and development pathway – that’s part of minimum standards that run alongside grading – some details here. So the Broncos will still have a player development pathway.
Furthermore, Serious About Rugby League understands that there is a feeling within the RFL that if London’s new system is developed in the right way, it could be more beneficial for the Broncos and the wider game than an elite academy due to it being more cost effective but also as it gets the sport into local schools and spreads the game in an area where it is not traditionally well known and picks up young players who would never have picked up a ball otherwise.
Furthermore, the London Junior League became an RFL Member League recently allowing the RFL to offer more support to the grassroots game in London which will only help the game.
