YORK Rugby League Club coach Dean Robinson is demanding that the Rugby Football League give youth its head.

The Wasps boss is leading calls for an under-21 competition - first mooted with the demise of Alliance team rugby at several clubs - to be introduced next season.

Robinson believes it would allow clubs like York to aid the development of younger players in a competitive environment, to the benefit of the likes of Andy Preston, Mick Hagan and Danny Crampton.

With the club ditching their 'A' team this season there may be limited opportunities for youngsters to play regular rugby, leaving the Wasps to gamble on a player's potential and increase the risk of a gem slipping through the net.

However, an under-21 side would allow Preston, Hagan and their peers to press claims for a first team shirt throughout the season.

"I am hopeful we will be looking at an under-21 side next year. I do wish there was an under-21 competition with, perhaps, a system where you can play three over-age players," said Robinson.

"A lot of players need a couple of extra years development for them to come on. If we have got lads of that ilk who are out of the game as per professional rugby, then I am sure other clubs are thinking likewise.

"The quicker we come up with the competition the better."

FORMER York player St John Ellis has joined the grand ranks of the 1,000 points club.

The Hunslet Hawks utility player passed the milestone with a try and four goals in his side's 36-25 victory over Rochdale Hornets last weekend.

The former Great Britain international has scored 145 tries, 210 goals and four drop goals in his 297 senior starts since making his professional debut with the Wasps on December 20, 1986.

The 33-year-old moved to Castleford in 1989 and has since had spells with Bradford Bulls, Halifax Blue Sox and Keighley Cougars, before joining the Hawks last year.

THE annual bash of the Rugby League Writers' Association has been heralded with the announcement that none other than the great Nobby Stiles will be the guest speaker.

Surely that must be Nobby Stiles the famous Huyton centre three-quarter who played three minutes as a trialist substitute in the early 1970s.

Either that, or it is the little-known footballer who bagged a World Cup winners' medal with England in 1966, and the RLWA is stooping to the level of poaching a personality from the round ball game.

CHINESE whispers became reality this week when York's partners in kind Castleford received backing for success in the year of the Tiger. The Wheldon Road outfit unveiled a shirt sponsorship deal with local company Clear Sport - who produce breathe-easier nasal strips as donned by soccer star Robbie Fowler - worth more than £100,000. The Wasps' fellow amber and black wearers also unveiled a new - mainly black (?) - strip.

WASPS Watch has been asked to point out that former Evening Press rugby league writer Dave Fletcher is not a jinx on the fortunes of any team he reports on, as may have been suggested in this column last season. The lofty hack is currently the Halifax Town Football Club scribe for the Halifax Courier and, with 'Fax perched atop the Vauxhall Conference, Fletch requested the record be straightened.

FORMER Radio York commentator Jon Champion adds a further notch to his microphone when lending his voice to the Beeb's screening of the Challenge Cup tie between Featherstone Rovers and St Helens tomorrow. A repeat of the ease with which he established himself as a fixture on football's Match of the Day could see him crowned the new Champion of the oval ball as the BBC steps up its cup coverage.

A RUGBY league money-spinner has been identified by Wasps Watch. So many eyes have viewed the video of the York v Norland cup tie that had the RFL charged all viewers £3 each, the tape could have grossed more than the box office hit movie Titanic. Meanwhile, the spectator who ran on to the pitch in the 70th minute is already most people's tip to pick up the 'Best Supporting Actress' Oscar.

THE York Academy squad start their pre-season training at Huntington Stadium on Monday, starting at 7pm. The youngsters' session will be headed by assistant coach Brian Kellett - now chiefly responsible for the Academy side - and development officer Tony Gargan.

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