Yorkshire Rugby

Quote from: BishBashBosh on Apr 15, 2026, 02:10 PM

Quote from: avinastella on Apr 14, 2026, 10:01 AM

Quote from: Differ Lid on Apr 14, 2026, 06:19 AMWho has been poaching already?

A local N2 club currently without a 2nd team but who said they want 2nd teams allowed in the leagues.
The club is at serious risk of ending up in the relegation play offs

Is it poaching or recruiting though?
Surely it's good thing that your players go up the league to play a higher level?

We all know that since covid there isn't near enough players to go around

But they are playing for a higher placed clubs 2nd team at a lower level, they are not progressing.

It's pointless and will lead to the loss of some clubs unless it is very carefully monitored.

If a club is changing how it's approaching players based on its 2s playing in Yorkshire 1 or 2 then it's not right, targeting first team squad players in the normal way would be expected.

Would be very hard to monitor though. Can't imagine many players are leaving a club with the view of playing 2nd XV rugby for a Nat 2 side

Quote from: BishBashBosh on Apr 15, 2026, 02:08 PMMoney to play 2's - insanity!

They openly admitted to it on the zoom meeting 18 months ago

Players have always moved clubs, either to challenge themselves at a higher level, because a club has more attractive facilities (gyms, physios better coaching) or Money. The money trail for clubs lasts as long as the 'sugar daddy' is around. The leagues are littered with once mighty clubs where the cash ran out.

Well run clubs that have medium and long-term plans will survive.

Quote from: backrowbandit on Apr 15, 2026, 02:23 PM

Quote from: BishBashBosh on Apr 15, 2026, 02:10 PM

Quote from: avinastella on Apr 14, 2026, 10:01 AM

Quote from: Differ Lid on Apr 14, 2026, 06:19 AMWho has been poaching already?

A local N2 club currently without a 2nd team but who said they want 2nd teams allowed in the leagues.
The club is at serious risk of ending up in the relegation play offs

Is it poaching or recruiting though?
Surely it's good thing that your players go up the league to play a higher level?

We all know that since covid there isn't near enough players to go around

But they are playing for a higher placed clubs 2nd team at a lower level, they are not progressing.

It's pointless and will lead to the loss of some clubs unless it is very carefully monitored.

This is also my point, surely clubs won't be able to tempt players to play twos and effectively play a league or two lower. They'll be recruiting them to play in the first team.

A player who plays first team for Driff is not going to sign to play Otley two's in Yorkshire 1 or 2
The only way they would sign is to play in the first team/be part of the first team squad

You may get some Driff second teamers to Otley, with the promise of playing yorkshire 1 or 2 and that would be a step up from the Merit leagues

A comment from a match last night.

"We want to put our 2s into the leagues but to do so we need to recruit more players. Problem is, there are too many clubs these days. Some should fold allowing players to join clubs such as ours.
An added problem is R1 being allowed 5 replacements next season, so that will add an extra burden on to the second team".

Exactly what was predicted, and the powers that be totally ignoring it.

I see the Heath v Hudds 2xv play off match has been cancelled. Heath have 4 players with Yorkshire U20s, regs stipulate any players who have played 5 or more 1st xv games are ineligible, also injuries so Heath do not have enough players to safely play.
My question is will these regs be applicable under the new Yorkshire league system?

You would like to assume that any 2nd XV that has given a walkover this season wouldn't be allowed to be entered into the leagues.
That would be a logical starting point. Making Wharfedale 2s and now Heath 2 ineligible for the Pyramid.

With regards to the 5 replacements, it's a clubs choice to take 5 or not. As it is now with 3. The only stipulation is having a front row replacement, and club could travel with 16 currently if they choose.
So the extra replacements shouldn't in theory have any effect on the 2nd teams.

Quote from: avinastella on Today at 09:58 AMA comment from a match last night.

"We want to put our 2s into the leagues but to do so we need to recruit more players. Problem is, there are too many clubs these days. Some should fold allowing players to join clubs such as ours.
An added problem is R1 being allowed 5 replacements next season, so that will add an extra burden on to the second team".

Exactly what was predicted, and the powers that be totally ignoring it.

Would this quote be from someone at Ilkley? Imagine they found 20 players for the AWC last night? Even though they've struggled to get 15 out most weeks without the help of the 3rds

Why are there playoffs in Merit leagues. I can fathom winners of Championship East and West if it led to promotion to Prem.

Playoffs in merit tables though, where you finish calculation seems more convoluted  than the Duckworth/Lewis method

That opens a new debate - will some clubs entering their 2nd XV into the league be sacrificing their 3rd XV? There's numerous examples of clubs cancelling 2s but playing 3s and saying its not safe for vets and occasional players to step up out of their level.