Southern player pool shrinking : Thu Oct 26, 2017 2:55 pm  

Oxford RL and Gloucestershire All Golds have given up for 2018 season, hoping to combine resources for the 2019 season in Bristol. Hemel team will still be based in Yorkshire. That's three squads of professional/semi-professionals that would have been looking to the Broncos as the next step up in professional sport. The Broncos academy now looks vital to the health of the game in the south. Hope the new coach and DH agree!

Re: Southern player pool shrinking : Thu Oct 26, 2017 6:06 pm  

As s dual Oxford / Broncos season ticket holder the blunt truth is most of the Oxford squad last season lived close to Castleford.

All Gold's had more locally based players, though they also had northerners studying at the Uni and day trippers living up north. Truth be told anyone from that far west would have to relocate to play for London so could just as easily move north.

Whilst certainly not good news I don't think the impact on recruitment will be too bad. The loss of dual reg opportunities to blood youngsters at Oxford is probably a bigger loss.

Re: Southern player pool shrinking : Thu Oct 26, 2017 7:06 pm  

Southern player pool reducing or sensible approach to pool resources and build the product in Bristol
Get a decent stadium, put some money in! SL franchise in the SW?

Re: Southern player pool shrinking : Thu Oct 26, 2017 7:40 pm  

northernbloke wrote:

put some money in! SL franchise in the SW?

If we can't find an investor for the Capital City then I doubt Bristol for SL will be a starter....

Re: Southern player pool shrinking : Thu Oct 26, 2017 9:46 pm  

Whilst I don't know too much about this, I do know a little more than is public.

My impression is that the Bristol club will be aimed at player development and giving semi pro opportunities to players from the south west and south wales and wishing them well if they can move on. I don't think there is any intention of a Superleague set up in the short to medium term, and possibly ever.

It should be noted the Bristol 2019 entry is provisional and not guaranteed.

Re: Southern player pool shrinking : Fri Oct 27, 2017 8:48 am  

Let us hope that it all works out and we do get a team in Bristol.

Re: Southern player pool shrinking : Fri Oct 27, 2017 10:53 pm  

Oohh I remember the days when bath ru were scared stiff of 15 blokes who played league in bath back in the late 80s
They genuinely were worried thinking we were going to establish a foothold in the SW and steal there fans.
There was a rumour Jerry guscott was gonna jump the divide and possibly sign for Leeds, we offered him a run out against Dursley just to have a taste of league, he refused because we would not pay his petrol, this was from the fully amateur player. Hey ho, broke my leg in that game as well.

Re: Southern player pool shrinking : Sun Oct 29, 2017 1:32 pm  

On the plus side with the demise of Oxford and All Golds, the Skolars may pick up some talent and help them push on in the play-offs.

Re: Southern player pool shrinking : Sun Oct 29, 2017 3:01 pm  

Harvey Burnett, who lives in London, would be a good pick up from Oxford for Skolars however I suspect he may return to union. He was playing for Esher and returned to league with a view to making the Scottish world cup squad, with encouragement from the Scottish set up I believe. It wasn't to be though.

I suspect Skolars bigger gain will be getting to see more of the Broncos lads on dual reg. The likes of Tuoyo, Sid and Lewis have played a fair few times for Oxford between them in recent season. With Hemel based up north it seems likely Broncos and Skolars will move closer in terms of player development.