Welcome to the 14th Edition of 'League Leader', the newsletter of the Student Rugby League Alumni. The Independent Student Rugby League World Cup 1999 was a tournament to remember, with New Zealand deserved and outstanding Champions. This edition brings you news of the SRL, post-World Cup, and also of some exciting events in the SRL Alumni calendar. There is certainly no respite after the excitement of a World Cup competition, as there is much to look forward to in the months ahead. 'Rugby League Writes' returns after a one edition break, and there is plenty for you to digest in terms of content, information and opinion in this edition. I hope you all enjoy it.

EDITORIAL

There is much to cram into this edition of 'League Leader'. We look back at The Independent Student Rugby League World Cup 1999 and dwell on a marvellous performance by New Zealand to win the trophy, but also some encouraging signs from the home nations. Underlying this achievement has been the development of the Student Rugby League (SRL) itself, and Vinny Webb (Performance Director and Head Coach of Great Britain & Ireland Students) outlines the progress that has been made in the last three years. Looking further back, we are delighted to bring you a fascinating insight into the birth of the Leeds University club through the eyes of Andrew Cudbertson in Rugby League Writes.

However, we are not solely looking at the past, but also towards the future. We bring you the usual club information, the state of affairs in the Student Rugby League as we reach the Christmas/New Year break, and we also bring you some interesting views and thoughts on junior rugby league development in the Alumni Forum.

'League Leader' itself has developed enormously in recent times. We are very keen to continue this path of development and would welcome your views on how this can be achieved. Once one edition is finished and eventually arrives through your letter box, work on the next one is soon underway. It is hard work, but it is enjoyable, and is testament to all that is going on in the exciting world of the Alumni, the SRL and rugby league in general. Happy reading!

What is going on? There is only one headline section in the editorial of this 'League Leader', but I make no apologies for this as it relates to rugby league in a wide sense in this country at present. Life is never dull in the wonderful world of our sport, but recently there have been so many monumental issues and developments in rugby league that are worthy of comment here, as no doubt, they are being debated long and hard in rugby league circles throughout this country and wider afield. To begin with, let us look at four matters which appear to be recurrent themes in the editorial section of 'League Leader', and which have been the subject of much controversy and attention recently. I shall raise them in no particular order of priority - because there isn't one - even though readers will obviously note my own particular involvement in the first topic.

1) Hunslet To say that all involved in Hunslet Hawks RLFC - from supporter to player, to Chairman to backroom staff - have experienced a roller-coaster ride since September is certainly no exaggeration. My dream of seeing Hunslet win a major trophy and then rise to the higher echelons of the British game was one I alluded to in 'League Leader 13'. On the night of September 25th, that dream became a reality, although, typically, I missed it - being on holiday on Mallorca rather than experiencing the exhilaration of that Headingley triumph! That dream has, of course, turned to despair as the reality was not one of Super League involvement but of Super League nonadmission. It would be superfluous to go into all the intricacies of the debate and outline in detail the decision making processes involved, but, in a nutshell, because the South Leeds Stadium (despite the modern facilities and facade) failed to meet the required capacity for Super League, Hunslet Hawks cannot go up. Can anyone please offer me an adequate explanation of the difference(s) between Hunslet's position this year and Wakefield's twelve months previously? I am aware that a rule or provision that allowed the latter promotion, has subsequently been closed, with resultant consequences for the former? Why?

2) Mergers That once dreaded and often debated 'M' word of yesteryear (1995) has resurfaced. Huddersfield and Sheffield have joined forces to become Huddersfield-Sheffield Giants, and, probably more surprisingly, Gateshead Thunder and Hull Sharks have merged to become Hull FC. There has been so much debate over the desirability of these moves, and indeed, whether one could actually call them 'mergers', and the likelihood is that the controversy will continue. However, the fact that the main centre in both cases will be in the 'heartland' side of the coin, rather than the development area, is one that opens up another massive topic.

3) Super League Expansion It wasn't so long ago, when Super League first became an action-packed reality, that the competition embraced Paris, Sheffield and London, and when dreams of future clubs in South Wales, the North East and even the Midlands were nurtured. Those dreams haven't been killed off entirely, but there is no doubt that putting them into practice is now going to be much more difficult. The reality at present is that, London excepted, the game at Super League level in this country has retreated again into the shadows of the M62. To some, this is obviously no bad thing. The old line of 'getting the game in the heartlands right and strong before thought of expansion' has once more received an airing. Indeed, there have been recent calls for a cut in RFL development funding of nearly £900,000, with a recommendation to focus on strengthening the game in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria (or more accurately, specific parts of these counties) and leaving the diffusion process to BARLA. However, consider the fact that the Hull club are one of the most traditional of all, being in existence for over 100 years in an area that is a hotbed of the amateur game, and yet effectively they have been saved by scrapping a club of one year duration, and it makes you think of the amount of time that is needed to 'get the game right in the heartlands'. Personally speaking, after spending a lot of time and effort in working in development areas - and my contribution is minute compared to many - I want to cry when I think of fellow rugby league people working tirelessly for the game in development regions (and particularly in the North East at present) and their feelings now. One consequence of this present 'restriction' of Super League is to put more pressure on the London Broncos to succeed, as the only development region outpost of the game at this level. All I can say is that it is vital that we all back the Broncos in their efforts, and support the tremendous developments currently occurring in the London and the South region. One final thought on this matter now ... wasn't the opening ever fixture of Super League between Paris St Germain and Sheffield Eagles?

4) Great Britain and Ireland 'Down Under' Any optimistic thoughts on the international front were quickly dispelled by the results and performances of the Great Britain and Ireland side against Australia and New Zealand. Of course, the post-mortem has again raised the question of how much rugby league our top stars play, whether there has been a rise in our standards, but a greater rise in those of the Kangaroos and Kiwis, and whether there is an under-emphasis on international competition. Presently, it could be argued that the appeal of international competition in some quarters has reduced. Only about 12,000 turned up to watch Australia play GB and Ireland. Compare this to State of Origin and some NRL matches, including the Grand Final. The Australians no doubt see the New Zealanders as their main rivals, and for both, this is an intense and keen rivalry. But where does this leave Great Britain and Ireland?

What can be drawn from analysis of these four matters? I do not pretend to know the answers. Indeed, I would hazard a guess, that an answer (note the word "an", not 'the'), can only be arrived at through careful examination, scrutiny and debate, and also through allowing an infrastructure that has been put in place time to work. I am referring here to grass roots and junior development, the base of a 'rugby league' pyramid in a structure characterised and put into practice by and through Service Areas that have, in reality, only recently been put into operation. There are encouraging signs, don't let us forget. The recent tour by the NSW Rugby League Academy resulted in victories for both Yorkshire and Wales against strong Australian opposition. Participation in development regions, in the services and in the student sector continues to increase across a variety of age levels. More qualified coaches are coming onto the circuit. What we must ensure is that in such an expanded junior development, for example, there is an emphasis on quality coaching rather than quantity of matches, with a clear route for movement through the pyramid structure. Also, keeping juniors involved in rugby league is arguably a more relevant and significant issue at present (in the heartland areas in particular) than getting them involved in the first place. I would urge all readers to study carefully the thoughts and experiences of Neil Farrell and Paul Farrell in their piece in this edition of 'League Leader' (see Alumni Forum).

However, whilst the base must be allowed the necessary time to bear fruit, it shouldn't be left alone without modification every now and again (without tampering with the whole edifice) and what happens above it requires considerable attention, as here we are specifically entering the realms of the four matters already mentioned. At professional/semi-professional level, the relationship between Super League, the Association of Premiership Clubs (APC) and the amateur game needs addressing - not in relation to how they work together at committee or club level, but on how they actually interlink. One of the consequences of the Super League re-structuring is that arguably it will be more competitive next season with a higher ratio of high intensity games. The question of whether a restriction in numbers is an adequate price to pay for the geographical restriction to which I have referred already, is a question that needs answering. The reality is, however, that the decision has been made, and the system must be made to work, so that a more competitive competition does not always preclude expansion and national diffusion at this level.

Of course, as Hunslet have found, it is not simply playing criteria that have to be considered. As it stands at present, the vast majority of clubs in the Northern Ford Premiership (NFP) will not be eligible for promotion, even if they win the league. There has to be a place for promotion and relegation in the future, but again, the harsh reality is that for many, promotion to the elite club level of rugby league in this country, will simply not happen for some time. How do we ensure that the NFP attains and maintains an importance and eminence in itself? Perhaps, by investing time and energy into ensuring that clubs feel that the priority is not necessarily promotion to Super League, but victory in the NFP Grand Final. However, a radical alternative is to suggest that the tiered structure we currently have in place, becomes a more formal tiered structure. In such a scenario, Super League would exist as a summer competition, with a player movement system put into operation. The NFP would return to winter (as it has already partially done) and players at these clubs could become eligible to play for the Super League club in their area in the summer. Likewise, amateur clubs in the heartlands would carry on their long-established relationship with local professional/semi-professional clubs in providing a learning ground for players to eventually move into the professional/semi-professional ranks. Similar progressions for players in development regions and in the services/student game would also operate. Obviously, the most contentious issue here is the relationship between Super League and NFP clubs. I don't like using the word 'feeder', as it implies a power balance more heavily weighted in favour of Goliath than needs to be the case, but whether one likes it or not, this could be the most likely future scenario. In any case, it could have the advantage of safeguarding individual clubs' identities, and at the same time, strengthening the game at Super League level so as to make Great Britain and Ireland more competitive internationally. Personally, I have reservations, concerns and many questions about such a system, but I can also see that such a basic idea can be worked at so as to become feasible and attractive to various parties.

I would like to see a situation where any club, anywhere in the country, is given the opportunity and every assistance to attain Super League status. This is my rugby league 'utopia' perhaps, but it is one worth striving for.

At present, whilst the 'powers that be' wrestle over the issues I have mentioned, and many others that I haven't, I would urge all of us involved in the sport to concentrate on getting our own little bit right, at constantly working to improve and set and strive to attain new standards - in Student Rugby League, I believe we are moving towards achieving an appropriate balance between quantity and quality and improving the game at all levels, though again, it will take time - but at the same time, we must all always think about 'what is good for the game'. Rugby league is an emotive sport. It brings out many passions - for some, the deepest passions. It also requires deep thought. Getting this balance between 'heart' and 'head' is essential as we strive to make rugby league a better sport for all it embraces, now and in the future.