Virtually same discussion (number of local players, development programmes) happening across TW, Canterbury and Otago threads (plus of course ACFC), so it really begs the question: what is the ASBP really all about and what is being done about the state of elite junior player development? Gareth Morgan's blog site has more to say on it too.
The Wanderers, being elite youth eligible for NZ, and currently preparing for the 2015 U20's World Cup, is I guess one way NZF in endeavouring to improve the state of elite junior player development.
I know not everyone is in agreement that Wanderers should be in the ASBP in the first place, but at least there is a group of 20-30 players getting regular game time against the best NZ has to offer - together with a selection of overseas players who are in NZ on a holiday, short term job or whatever of course.
I agree that another way NZF could help foster the growth and development of NZ eligible players is to review and rewrite the regulations around imported players. If we were to limit each franchise to 2 imports, (and extend the timeframe before which an import is considered "local" to 3 seasons), immediately a large number of spaces open up to NZ representative eligible players.
I'm from Auckland, so I'm not knowledgeable about Waikato BoP youth players, however I am aware that a Cambridge (?) based team made the semi's of the Schools Nationals in Taupo in early September (breaking the Auckland monopoly from 2012 in Nelson when Auckland Schools filled places 1-6 in the Premier Pool) and the Hamilton Wanderers were unlucky to lose their 1/4 final at the U19 Nationals at Napier over Labour Weekend, (their striker missed a second half penalty which would have won them their 1/4). Given the strength of the local school and U19 teams, surely some of those players would have been in the reckoning for the WaiBoP squad?