Please note this is leveraged off elsewhere which is dated a while ago, hence some information might not be applicable anymore due to the changing landscape of the game. If in doubt, ask around the forum.
Congrats on getting your team. This game can seem complicated at first look, but it's much easier than you think.
This guide is aimed at seeing out your first three seasons, with aims for improving certain elements which will make your team stronger in the long term.
One thing you have to look at straight away is the youth academy, generally I suggest it's not worth investing in immediately, but if you decide to, make sure you check out how many 19yr olds in your academy, less than 4, then it's probably not worth it this season. More than 4, well you will be running a tight ship financially but it can be done (I did it!). You will need to invest 50K each week, and most likely have to sell most of the guys you pull in the first season. It will take 8 weeks to see the benefits of this investment, you should pull those new players in the first season as soon as they arrive in your academy, they will probably be better than your current players. At the end of season, all your 19yr olds are replaced with a mixture of 16 and 17yr olds, and you can drop the investment level back so you can improve other areas of your team.
Either way, the following article still applies...
Season 1.
The first thing we need to look at is getting 4 trainees. These guys should be no older than 19yrs old. You may have some of these guys in your squad already, after reading what we are after, see if your current players fit the mould. As well don't forget to go to you academy and pull one of the 17yr old players and hope you hit the jackpot!
You can either go for 3 Backs and 1 forward, or 2 backs and 2 forwards. In your first season it's probably preferable to go with the 3 backs/1 forward training scheme.
All players require stamina. Make sure that your trainees do not have less than 5 (Moderate) stamina to begin with (same goes for any player you purchase)
Main things backs require are attack, speed, handling, agility and defense.
So to find these players do a search on the transfer market with these variables
Bid : Max 15K
Attack : Decent
Speed : Satisfactory
Handling : Average
Age : Max 19
This should show enough players who are able to be trained as backs. You do not really want to spend more than 15K on these players, as you have a whole XV to assemble.
As for the forward(s). Generally I suggest looking for a lock straight up, now this lock won't be your permanant lock, probably end up as a number 6 or 7, but currently you don't have the funds to buy the best ones. If your going for 2 forwards, I suggest looking for a prop as well (or a second lock, they can be your breakways down the track).
Bid : Max 15K
Strength : Decent
Technique : Average
Handling : Average
Height : Min 195
Age : Max 19
This should show up guys who in the short term can provide value in the number 4 role.
Once you have all your trainees, you will need to kick your L1 facilities off, as well as employee a L1 coach. Depending on what you decided to purchase as trainees, you will require to hire either 3 attach coaches and 1 defensive (if you went the 3 backs/1 forward), or 2 attack coaches and 2 defensive coaches (2 backs, 2 forwards).
Backs should get the following sessions
1xattack
1xhandling
1xspeed
1xagility
1xdefence
Forwards should get the following
1xattack
1xstrength
1xtechnique
1xhandling
1xdefence
This is for the first season only. If you not sure what players to get, or if you have suitable trainees already, head to the Mentoring section of this site and post your squad and a request for assistance.
As for team training, these are the key skills of the game, in order of how I suggest you apply them (each higher level coach provides an extra team training sessions to a maximum of 4).
Stamina
Attack
Technique (Once you have a L2 Coach)
Defence (Once you have a L3 Coach)
You will notice that I do not suggest training stamina or kicking, stamina team trained, and via ingame training goes up fast enough if you make sure you recruit people with a decent level of it to start with, while kicking is probably better off bought, the expense of hiring coaches, and taking away sessions from your players to train kicking properly, doesn't make it worth it. As well as decent kicker probably won't be requried for quite some time, hopefully enough time that you will have enough cash by that stage to buy someone else's guy on the transfer market!
I don't suggest spending much cash at the moment. As early on it's better to see how your finances are progressing. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your team. Though I do suggest recruiting someone to be your kicker, he should have at least a 9 for kicking, and some other skills to go with it, though don't overspend, plenty of cheap guys available under 15K with these skills!
Another thing to look at is trimming your squad down to 25 players to save money. Actually you need to trim to 20 players (So 5 decent reserves) and 5 players whose wages are as cheap as you can go. This will then provide you with extra income over the season, and hopefully accelerate the development of your squad.
__________________________________________________
Now to setup your default lineup for games.
First tip is for the first season, and all friendlies, play using With Next Week In Mind (thats the intensity level), this will provide your players with a bonus ingame training. Though you should still aiming for making the finals, so sometimes you will have to select play Normal, or even Like there's no tomorrow (LTNT) - but expect a huge energy hit from this, and no ingame training!!!!
Another thing, as you don't have players with high technique, you should select play by the book. This will stop you team trying to steal the ball, but at the same time, you will minimise penalties you give away. This is very important early on, as it will provide you an advantage of your opponents because you will recieve more than you concede, and hopefully gain a lot more field position than the other team.
As well for the lineout and scrum, read this guide, as it's a little more detailed than whats available in the documentation.
Another guide to picking your lineup and tactics can be read by clicking here
Or even better there is a tool which will help you place your place in there optimum positions - click here
Or if you prefer to do it yourself, there is also a guide to the positions available by clicking here
You will have to repeat the same thing for your youth team. I suggest making sure all the youngest guys are in the team, and the older ones are left out.
If your still struggling, try the Mentoring section of this site, most of us are more than willing to help you pick your lineup, assist with tactics, or any other areas you may have questions about.
Make sure you click on save as default before you leave.
___________________________________________________
Now that you have that done.
You need to look ahead to the second season. As you move along the season, if your cash is high enough, I suggest you look at upgrading to a Level 2 facilities, this will provide you with 24 sessions. I suggest you give those extra sessions to double up key skills on players already in training. No point this season in getting another trainee in.
Another thing you have to consider is your stadium. I suggest going with 10xyour members base to make sure you sell out. You can try some of the stadium calculators by clicking here
___________________________________________________
Season 2
Hopefully you have been able to upgrade to a L2 facilities.
This is the first season where you can arrange a training program.
We are going to look at getting 2 new trainees in. They will both get 6 sessions each.
Forward
1xattack
1xhandling
1xdefence
1xtechnique
1xstrength
The last sessions depends on how you are going to use them. Flankers another technique sessions, Number 8 1xspeed, Hooker give them another handling, props get an extra extra strength session, locks 1xjumping,
Back
1xattack
1xhandling
1xdefence
1xspeed
1xagility
The last sessions depends on position. Scrum half an extra attack or strength sessions. Fly half/12/13 an extra agility sessions, 11, 14 and extra speed sessions, 15 give them an extra defence session.
The rest of your sessions will be spread amongst your previous seasons trainees.
3 will get 4 sessions, and one will get 3 sessions, you can make that decision. The one who gets 3 sessions will also finish his training this season, so remember that!
Aims of this season is to upgrade to L2 everything (including coaches), and also aiming to have enough money to get a L3 facilities, and maybe even a L3 coach!
___________________________________________________
Season 3
From now on in you only need to employee one new trainee each season as you will be following this as a training plan. (Provided you got to a L3 facilities, if not dump the season E sessions and make season F 2xsessions).
Season A
7xsessions
Season B
7xsessions
Season C
4xsessions
Season D
4xsessions
Season E
4xsessions
Season F
1xsessions (Rotated around the areas until you get pops in all the main ones, once done transfer sessions to season 1 trainee).
For Season A + B sessions look like this.
Forward
1xattack
1xhandling
1xdefence
1xtechnique
1xstrength
The last sessions depends on how you are going to use them. Flankers another technique session and a speed session, Number 8 1xspeed and an extra technique session, Hooker give them another handling and another technique, props get an extra extra strength session and an extra technique, locks 1xjumping and an extra strength session.
Back
1xattack
1xhandling
1xdefence
1xspeed
1xagility
The 2 last sessions depends on position. Scrum half an extra attack and a strength session. Fly half/12/13 an extra agility session and an extra attack session, 11, 14 and extra speed session and agility sessions, 15 give them an extra defence session and an extra speed session.
Though this season, your probably better off splitting the season 2 trainees with 5 and 6 sessions each rather than the 7.
For season C, D and E
Forward
1xattack or 1xhandling (up to you, you can mix it around if you like, or double up on one of the other sessions, or for locks continue jumping training).
1xdefence
1xtechnique
1xstrength
Back
1xattack
1xhandling
1xdefence
1xspeed
By now you should have a good idea of what your doing, if not use the Mentoring section of this forum to seek advice (or even earlier if your struggling). Plenty of people who can advise you on what to do!
If your not Australian, you probably don't have access to the Mentoring section of this forum, but I suggest you get in contact with the offsite forum of your particular country - click here to find links to other offsite forums
