St Helens R.F.C. Academy

James Roby is an example of a player to earn international honours after coming through the ranks at St Helens

More early examples of players that made the grade following on form their stints in the academy and reserves (previously known as the "St Helens Colts") include Steve Prescott,[1] Paul Forber,[2] Gary Connolly,[3] and Chris Arkwright.[4] St Helens traditional policy with youth was to make them better players for the club. If they did not make the grade immediately, they would either be loaned out or demoted from the first team to the "A" team squad. At the end of Super League XIV, the "Reserve Team Championship" was replaced with the Under 20s Championship, in a way to develop youth products of clubs. Now, however, it can be argued that Saints look to make them internationals, with no less than five of the current St Helens squad's youth products having gone on to represent either Great Britain or England or both. St Helens youth policy does not operate solely in the borough boundaries of the town. Indeed, many of St Helens current and past squads call areas like Widnes, Wigan, Cumbria and Oldham home. St Helens have, also, branched even into rugby union territory and other wider national areas for youth players; most recently, Daniel Brotherton, a winger from Northampton, signed a professional contract with the club, and has made great strides in the under 18s after his signing from Northampton Demons.[5][6] The club now operate their youth programme out of Cowley Language College's sports facilities, and the clubs system now incorporates a more liberal system, not totally governed by age. Three over twenties can appear for the reserves or Under 20s, and some of the better players of the Under 18s may make a quick transition to the Under 20s if they are good enough. Similarly, some of the first team or Under 20s squad, either those fast tracked too soon, or returning from injury, or simply out of form may be demoted to the Under 20s or Under 18s in order to regain form and playing experience. As well as having Under 18s and 20s sides, St Helens also have two Under 16s sides; a permanent squad made of players on part-time contracts, as well as a service area side based on local amateur players. There is also a service area Under 18s team.

Every two years, both the Under 18s and 20s sides embark on a month-long tour of Australia, to play against some of the NRL's youth sides. Their first and most previous tour was in 2009.

2011 October tour