The Rugby Football League has issued its annual assessment of the Academies run by Super League clubs and the governing body claims that they are “performing at an all-time high”.
However, Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington has questioned the audit after his club, which was rated as a Grade 1 Academy in 2013, saw its rating drop to 3 this year.
“We’re are very supportive of having an external audit, it’s a very useful exercise as it provides important feedback to the club,” Hetherington told this week’s League Express.
“We are disappointed that our grade has been reduced and that is purely on one aspect of the operation. That is that our coaching staff have not maintained or gained Level 3 coaching qualifications.
*YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THIS WEEK’S LEAGUE EXPRESS ONTO YOUR COMPUTER, SMARTPHONE OR TABLET BY CLICKING HERE*
“Chris Plume [Under-19a coach] has not maintained his qualification, while Rob Burrow and Carl Ablett [Under-16s coaches] have not been able to get on a course to achieve their Level 3.
“We took issue with the grading because there is a significant failure in the RFL in not being able to deliver coaching courses. Rob and Carl, along with other personnel at the club, are very keen to go on the courses and get accredited, but it was at a time when the RFL couldn’t deliver an appropriate course.
“We see that more as a failure of the RFL than ourselves, and for that reason we are disappointed that our grade has dropped. I don’t believe it’s warranted.”
Hetherington is unsure when his staff will be able to their qualifications, adding: “We have asked the RFL to deliver the coaching courses because we have people waiting to go on them!
*YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THIS WEEK’S LEAGUE EXPRESS ONTO YOUR COMPUTER, SMARTPHONE OR TABLET BY CLICKING HERE*
“It’s a significant failure of the RFL and if they had audited themselves they would have come up short in a number of areas.”
Clubs are given an overall rating between 1-4 as follows (1-Outstanding; 2-Good; 3-Requires Improvement; 4 Weak).
The 2014 assessment, with 2013 figures in brackets, are as follows: Bradford Bulls 2 (2), Castleford Tigers 3 (3), Huddersfield Giants 3 (3), Hull FC 2 (2), Hull KR 3 (3), Leeds Rhinos 3 (1), London Broncos 4 (3), St Helens 1 (1), Salford Red Devils 4 (4), Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 3 (4), Warrington Wolves 2 (2), Widnes Vikings 2 (3), Wigan Warriors 1 (1).
