Official West Hartlepool RFC

Tom Wilson has joined Harry Readhead at Rovers and Ben Glaister-Smith has joined Seaton. Good luck to all the lads.

Have the Buck / Ams got suitable replacements for these lads

Yes good luck to them. Haven't really seen Ben play but Wilson and Readhead are a couple of talented lads who had a bit of a baptism of fire last season.

Harry is not available this week anyway as he is shopping for his holidays

The question is why are around 7 or 8 (not sure how many) young very talented players from a very successful U18's team a couple of years ago, are now playing at other clubs. Before anyone pipes up the same old "not willing to fight for their place crap" I'm not buying it. Or am I reading too much into it?

Pushy parents I heard

Yes (IMO).
Maybe they want it too easy, which they didn't get at West, so go elsewhere.
Hasn't that always been the case?
Gotta put in the hard effort in training and playing to reap the rewards.
Players move on (and good luck to them) and quite often come back!
Is business as usual to me.

If they'd turned up for pre-season they might have been in the first team squad for Saturday like Liam, Coatesy, Gav and Joe.
As it is they'll probably get into Rovers firsts withouit having to do much training and thats not good for Rovers or them.

Just wondering what advice last years U18's coach's gave the lads. Surely he / they would have not just cut them loose but introduced them to the senior teams coach's who would have put an arm round the lads shoulder and made them feel welcome.

Shame Ben has left also, he is a good player. Good luck

The only real loss is Tom Wilson in my opinion. Despite saying that, both lads are not really into rugby much anyway and don't/didn't have the right attitude anyway but are both canny lads! As for the others I can't really comment on but we would be better served looking at the quality young lads that are still at the club and praising them and the current set of coaches from all teams for their efforts to date! Don't forget these people are young men not children and the more effective ones should not need an arm round the shoulder for them to stay, I never got(or wanted) that as I'm sure many others will agree! If I were a betting man, rovers will not get a full season out of the two lads!

P

My point was that there must be something not quite right about the change up from that level to seniors. Just seems such a shame that all the coaching that went into that team could and should have produced more. Thats my opinion anyway. I'm sure some faceless braveheart will have an answer for me.

I honestly think a lot of the youngsters think that there is no real step up from Junior to Senior rugby and a lot get a shock with it. They may be really good as a youngster and expect to carry on the same in Senior Rugby when in reality it may take them a season or two to adjust and realise their full potential.
Also, not all will play 1st team rugby and they may not like that idea and so move on to try their luck elsewhere

I am positive everything you said is right quinny, we did the same thing ourselves. A massive effort has been made with these players over many years, yet the transition does'nt seem quite there.

At work - do you expect all 15 players of an age group team to all make the first team together in the same season :oD:oD

your not too bright 1-15 are you, cant remember saying anything about 1st team in any of my posts, was speaking about the club in general 1st's to bucks. seems to have gone over your head that one.

sorry forgot to mention the ams

maybe the lads left to enjoy their rugby, not to get an "easier" ride. who ever thinks that obviously has never spoke to the lads. they know it is a tough team to break into and enjoyed the opportunity to play. both have massive potential to progress well in senior rugby. good luck boys.