A REPORT about the demise of some of Wales’ most famous rugby union nurseries made for grim reading last week.

The story of clubs who once fielded half a dozen open age sides now finding it difficult to fulfil first XV fixtures and the desperate measures needed to entice players over will have struck a chord in rugby league circles below the top rung.

For years we have seen the number of open age amateur clubs and players dwindle - although clubs like Thatto Heath locally buck that trend.

But even at Championship level semi-pro clubs have been unable to get 17 players on a match day.

Of course, there were special circumstances around Leigh’s high profile difficulties in the Shield final when rules were lifted to enable them to borrow players.

But generally, although the game has seen welcome growth in the women’s, masters and disabled sections, it appears we are struggling for players.

How does rugby league persuade players, rejected by the pro clubs academies to carry on?

This is where you can make the case for reserves. Although some cannot see the logic of having more teams to fill, but playing under the umbrella of the town’s pro team may encourage players to carry on.

And do we do enough for youngsters in that difficult transition period? At amateur level is there not scope for having an under 20s competition - a place where players can go to after the 18s but before open age.

And lastly, allow some clubs to go back to a winter game, away from holidays, family days out, stag dos and weddings.

And although not every player wants to play ankle deep in slutch, some bigger fellas don’t want to play in the baking heat of last summer either.

There are some things that we cannot do anything about at a sporting level.
The world has changed - specifically when it comes to the work of work and relationships.
On the whole now it takes both partners in a household to work to pay for a mortgage these days.
Overtime is precious, pays for essentials or an odd luxury. And what happens to your job if you break your leg playing?
And both partners to tend to share the household and childcare duties more these days.
The idea that it is easy to drop all your family and work duties for a training night and then the best part of a whole day on a Saturday never seems to be factored into the participation surveys.
It is not just a rugby problem, it is the same with cricket and football.
It would be a shame if we became a nation of watchers and those community clubs across the country just dropped off, one by one, particularly because those open age bases are used to nurture the next generation of players at junior level.