Yorkshire Rugby

Fair Point but why dont you ask Bradford and Bingley for an honest answer.

Wharfedale Foresters have been given a bit of wages, admittedly not much, to train and be available for several years. Let the Jousting begin.

Quote from: Ribbflagman on May 30, 2026, 08:26 PMFair Point but why dont you ask Bradford and Bingley for an honest answer.

Bees pay their 2's?
Come on now

Play devils advocate
What's to stop Yorkshire 1 teams poaching players from the 2's sides in the league with the promise of a match fee?

Probably club finances with only 11 home games still, rather that the 13 we were ALL promised by the schemers.
Dont think Bees 2s played that many games last year so might have to pay a few lads just to get a side out.!!!!!!

Theres some ridiculous offers flying about in the Wharfe Valley already. Be very interesting come the seasons kick off.

Bees second team played once last season v Yarnbury 3rds we won !!! sadly a fixture prior to that was cancelled as the other team couldnt get a team ( may have been Yarn again ) so to think we pay lads to get a second out is a joke. we have two or three returning players so far from other clubs back to the bees  , so the assumption from some of the more acerbic contributors is that we must be paying ! yet other players returning to their beloved clubs are doing so out of pure loyalty.I have no idea at this moment in time if the Bees have changed their policy( I HOPE NOT ). lets just wait and see before making unsubstantiated suggestions - Cheers   

Quote from: GK on May 31, 2026, 08:24 PMBees second team played once last season v Yarnbury 3rds we won !!! sadly a fixture prior to that was cancelled as the other team couldnt get a team ( may have been Yarn again ) so to think we pay lads to get a second out is a joke. we have two or three returning players so far from other clubs back to the bees  , so the assumption from some of the more acerbic contributors is that we must be paying ! yet other players returning to their beloved clubs are doing so out of pure loyalty.I have no idea at this moment in time if the Bees have changed their policy( I HOPE NOT ). lets just wait and see before making unsubstantiated suggestions - Cheers   

Haven't Bee's just signed Ross Peltier (Ex Bradford Bulls) and Tom Cummins?

Yeah, I was stating that certain clubs in higher leagues, who currently already have 30+ players on the books and rotate about 25 throughout the season, will be gunning to get a 2XV up and running (of course they should)  but realistically what is their easiest approach? I would say offering players a steady little package, I was not saying they will be firing 1XV wages and perks over.. but to some lads, a little back hander and the "promise." of been looked into for the 1XV if they are ever short, would be rather attractive (to some.) not saying this is going to happen in high volumes, but I would bet a lot, that we do see this happen at some clubs before Xmas.

I think what the above were referring to with Bee's was not the fact that they are paying their 2XV it was that they are certainly doing something for recruitment and some big names into Yorks 2 - which is the same level as a lot of the higher level's 1XV's are now playing their 2XV.

Either way it's going to be interesting to see how it all develops. I feel some will struggle in Yorks 2 (even probably conceding games) while others in the lower leagues are at too high of a level and will walk the first few seasons.

You would say the start of the season the 2XV will do well, but as injuries and the gloom of winter comes, that is where some of the fringe players will be called up. Ilkley would be a prime example, where they have certainly called upon their 2XV to help the 1XV and the 3XV to help the 2XV multiple times throughout the season.

Having been in and around 1st XV management/selection for many years, using 40ish players a season is average and anything below 30 exceptional. A couple of times we've needed 40 players by the end of November.

Totally agree Percy, we used 40 players in our first team last season and got punished for using some of the said lads in the merit final. Hey ho, but I you are correct.