SAINTS chief executive Mike Rush has confirmed the club is working with "six to ten" clubs to run a reserve open age competition next season that will aim to stop junior players being cut from the system too soon.

He detailed the plans following Keiron Cunningham's comments in this week's Star that the UK game's current structure is restricting the development of talent.

Rush, who warned in 2012 that proposals to scrap the under 20s competition could result in a lost generation of young British talent, said Saints success in the under 19s and the dual-registration partnership showed they had made the current system work.

But the Langtree Park hierarchy, including Rush, whose career and reputation in the sport has been founded on youth development, believe that does not take away the need for a competition where players who are too old to qualify for the under 19s can compete and develop.

Saints believe the competition level and the type of player than can be used in dual registration is limited. There is also an added issue that ‘weekly' dual-registration allowed in the Super 8s mean some players may have already played their last game of the season.

Rush, who oversees a club renowned for bringing through young players in Super League, said: "We originally voted against the scrapping of the under 20s and also voted against the current system from its outset.

"I'm very passionate about is developing young players and we have probably produced more than anybody in the last decade and we believe we know how to take a kid from the amateur game into full time rugby league.

"All young players develop at different rates and the three tier system gives more kids a better opportunity of making it to SL."

The suggested format would see Saints working with its partnership club by allowing those not selected to play for the Championship side the chance to gain game time with the Super League Reserve team.

Saints say this will be a step forward in "allowing players to gain that game time in a competitive high level environment whilst ensuring they are not lost from our sport".

The idea of a three tier system has always had the support of the RFL and now many clubs can once again see the value in the reserve competition.

Rush is hoping that the group of clubs will be in a position to announce the ‘extra tier' shortly.

He added: "It's clear we need as many opportunities for these players to get as much game time as possible. The current system of an under 19s and a first team isn't sufficient and we are denying youngsters, the lifeblood of our sport, the chance to develop.

"A new reserve system, which will allow players all ages to play, would be a step forward and we hope to have more details soon."

In a statement issued to the Star, following Cunningham's comments, Jon Roberts, RFL director of performance and coaching, said a new structure could be in place for 2016.

It read: "Dual registration and loans work for some players but the ideal is to have a programme of competitive reserves games," said Roberts.

"However over recent years the significant majority of clubs have felt that there was insufficient return on investment from that structure and have made the decision to not take part in a reserve grade.

"As part of the recent policy review into player development and production we again raised the issue of a reserve grade as the optimum structure for player development, whilst appreciating the need to achieve the appropriate balance financially.

"The outcome of the policy review was that a reserve grade would be optional for 2015 for those clubs that wanted to use this structure to develop their players.

"Therefore, we are supporting the clubs who have shown commitment to the reserve grade competition and hope that with the increased interest that has been shown from other clubs we can find a solution to produce the optimum structure for reserve teams in 2016.”

The plans became clear this week after Saints great Cunningham, himself a product of the club's academy system, said: "Getting juniors through the system is the biggest part of rugby league. I am a strong believer in producing youngsters but if you're not going to give your kids a chance you are going to struggle.

"A system of reserve rugby is much needed. You nurture players from being nine or ten and get to a point where you have them in your system, put three years into them and then have to make a decision on their future.

"Some aren't ready for Super League but you can't go to your partner club and say you have someone with potential but you're not sure if they are ready.

"The system is upside down - the cart is certainly in front of the horse - and it's understandable why you have to go overseas and get players. I'm sure we've had players that could have still been at the club with a better system."