Page 101 - All Shapes & Zebras From Treorchy

More encouragingly though, there might be the case that recruits from the youth system don’t progress to the club’s senior side because they are signed by a professional or semi-professional side – and what an achievement this can be for the club, feeling invested in a player and proud of the involvement in their development. Needless to say however, you don’t get quite the same feeling when a youth team player is poached by another nearby amateur club (almost certainly a close rival!) with the promise of cash or “beer money” as some clubs have – and will continue to - put it.
The result of these numerous trials and tribulations for youth players? Quite often, only a handful of youth team players make the step up to their club’s senior sides – and crucially – remain with the club past a few years. For many, if clubs are lucky enough to have a second team (or, heaven forbid, even a third or fourth team like some did back in the halcyon days of old!) then this undoubtedly helps and aids the transition for players when stepping up from youth team rugby to senior sides.
So, raise a glass for youth team rugby: the conveyor belt for the seniors and an experience that offers many a valuable life lesson along the way.
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