Gallop fears a draft system may drive players to rugby union

[beige]

While a draft largely works in the AFL as there is no alternative code for any disenfranchised player to go, Gallop warned that wouldn't be the case in the NRL with rugby union likely to reap the rewards.

"There is significant strategic downside for the game in our competition to attract athletes if we're saying to mothers 'come and play our game but we might have your son (sent) to out of town when he's 18'," Gallop said.

"(Warriors coach) Brian McClennan was telling me in Auckland last week how much he had noticed the migration of rugby union players to rugby league since he's been away coaching in Leeds and (Warriors player) Konrad Hurrell is a great example of that.

"The welfare and education programs around our Toyota Cup (under-20s) are being noticed by parents of rugby players and we're getting rugby union players coming across. Now if we had a draft those kids would be very likely to want to stay at home with their family and their friends and their church and therefore would stay in rugby union."

Full article: http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/n...-1226298868820

[Burgs]

...and their church and therefore would stay in rugby union...

I appreciate their may be a few, but really...

[beige]

I appreciate their may be a few, but really...

If he's referring to Polynesians maybe more than a few.

I think the bigger issue in the article from a rugby point of view is the implication that its development systems aren't up to scratch - and not just from a numbers point of view.