The Kaiviti Silktails will be changed into an under-23 side heading into the 2023 New South Wales Rugby League Ron Massey Cup.
“The under-23s format will be a Silktails only criteria to make the team,” said Silktails interim chief executive officer Stephen Driscoll .
“This is just to streamline our pathways program and strengthen our strategic focus on being a development club.”
The facelift begins next year with the Silktails to squad a majority of U23 players with only a maximum of eight players over that age allowed in the 30-man company for the 2022 season.
The Silktails will also be introducing a train-and-study initiative for season 2022 with both players and staff completing part-time courses as part of the club’s “No Study, No Play” policy.
The Silktails have revamped their Elite Development Pathway squads for U21s only, and will be launching an U18s academy program in 2022 that will target players in the Fiji secondary schools system.
Peni Tikosaya has been appointed head of pathways.
Meanwhile, head coach Wes Naiqama will remain at the helm for the 2022 season.
The players begin their pre-season in Fiji at one of the three high-performance academies in Lautoka, Sigatoka, or Suva before travelling back to Sydney in late December to early January.
