Interesting to hear all of that. Given the whole salary cap (or lack there of, if you are the mighty Tahs) i would have assumed the academy would have been a match payment if that, but the extended squad guys would be playing to get a shot at impressing for next season, not paying for cash.
The "Academy" this year worked in a similar fashion i understand and looks to have unearthed some talent in the form of Skelton and the young Randwick Flyhalf and centre.
I get really p****d off with how a bunch of morons in an office can make such a simple structure that could be hugely beneficial so damn difficult. I wonder if Mr Pulver has the melons to put the foot down and make it happen his way.
If a decent Academy team of the next best guys behind the starting 23, made up of the other squad guys, quality SS players right on the edge and some rising stars fresh from school, i would go to the footy 2 hours early to get a double dose of quality rugby! Then again i could just be a bit of a tragic