CAS Rugby 2025

[scrumhalf]

Full time at Horden 35-0 to Riverview. Cranbrook simply not good enough today. A weaker starting team than we will see in the CAS rounds yet outclassed by some hard ball running from the View forwards. From what i saw, scrums and lineouts looked pretty even. View putting immense pressure on all game with cranbrook finding it difficult to play out of there 50, and when they did, giving up too many penalties in and around the ruck. In terms of trys, some good kick chase and set peice plays set the wingers and outside backs up nicely for some trys, line breaks from view forwards gaining field postion and puttng them in perfect positions to score. Cranbrook looked good when on the attack and thretened to score many times but the Riverview goal line defense was class. Cranbrooks backs looked to play inventive with many kick chase and chip kicks on attack, not many of them connecting but still putting pressure on the View defense. Line speed and defense was just not there for cranbrook today, something i think they can easily bounce back from when 2 of there more dominant ball runners are back from injury in a matter of weeks. Impressive crowd from Riverview packed the stands.

 

[Fantastic Sir Toad]

I believe High had 4 opens team last year so. Definitely at least 3 as I saw their 3rds play last year. No intention to have a crack at High but I believe they have less rather than more year on year.

Last year was the first time in quite a while that High fielded 4 opens teams.

 

[runningrugbyrules]

Joeys 27 - Waverley 19
Riverview 35 - Cranbrook 0 - not a good day for Cranbrook as they also lost in 2nds 68-0

Joey’s 2nds def Trinity 1sts 38-21.

 

[Ziggy]

Last year was the first time in quite a while that High fielded 4 opens teams.

That's good news. Hopefully not all is lost at High.

 

[The 6 Seat]

GPS man intruding onto the CAS forum. I hear it is a tight comp this year! Was able to see both Knox and Waverley, and no doubt it is shaping up well. Where do the rest come into play? CAS 1sts will give the GPS lads a real challenge this year…

 

[CAS_Rugby]

Barker played their final pool match today. In what was thought to be an easier game just was not to be. Barker lost 36/33 with a penalty on full time. 2 very soft yellow cards resulting in Barker playing 20 mins of a 50 min game with 14 men was the real archilles heal. The standard of refereeing will certainly make other schools consider if the expense of attending this tournament is worth it. Credit to all the Japanese schools though. They play and expansive game with few errors and are great to watch. What was interesting is when the come up against the Fijian school who play a similar expansive game but with bigger bodies. It is suddenly one way traffic with the Japanese schools not being able to cope with the power and speed of the Fijians. Barker will be in the bottom end of the playoffs having 2 losses from 3 games albeit with bonus points in both games for losing by 7 points or less in each game. 7 point loss in the first game and 3 points in todays game.

Rod what was the outcome of the last game?

 

[FNC Rugby]

I believe High had 4 opens team last year so. Definitely at least 3 as I saw their 3rds play last year. No intention to have a crack at High but I believe they have less rather than more year on year.

Can somebody please explain to me why Sydney Boys High cannot get a similar rugby program to that of Brisbane State High? Would it be that hard to offer all the Island kids in Western Sydney entry to the school through "sporting excellence". It is what Brisbane State High do, all the islanders from logan & Ipswich end up at State High and they have a solid 1stXV that challenges for the Premiership most seasons

 

[moa999]

explain to me why Sydney Boys High cannot get a similar rugby program to that

Post probably better in GPS thread.

But Sydney High is and always has been academically selective. It's also got a relatively small enrolment cap.

• Years 7 and 8 (180 per Year)
• Years 9 and 10 (210 per Year)
• Years 11 and 12 (216 per Year)

The maximum possible enrolment is 1212 students

 

[moa999]

Rod what was the outcome of the last game?

Hamilton beat Barker 33-12.
Barker play Fiji's Ratu Kadavulevu today at 9.15 (+1hr for Sydney time)

Video of all games can be found here.

https://wryt2025.sanix-worldrugbyyouth.com/game/

 

[Hector]

St Aloysius 17, Grammar 8

An even game as the scoreline suggests, but one side has the superior pack and the other the slicker backline. Aloys forwards, although not big, were very good. Defending well and mobile, the standouts were both second rowers, the 8, and the openside in particular. The lineouts were a total mess for both sides and the scrums weren’t contested, so that suited the mobile and quick Aloys forwards to get around the park.

Backs were a different story. Grammar looked very well drilled and sharp when they went wide. Aloys were stilted and off all day. Two of the better Aloys backs, including a CAS rep from 2024, started in the 2nds (so unsurprisingly the inside back combo in the 2s looked absolutely outstanding) and the Aloys young outside centre cracked his head open early, so the lack of continuity and combination killed them.

Grammar probably slightly unlucky all things considered. For next week, the Aloys forwards will be competitive against the Kings 2nd XV, but the backline will probably need a personnel reshuffle to threaten anyone.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

As much as the Barker 1st XV are looking promising, the 3rd XV this weekend are looking in spectacular form. As the Barker 1st's squad is overseas in Japan the Barker 3rd's line up as the highest grade against Riverview this weekend. It's amazing to see the spread of talent across different opens teams which was seen as a previous weakness over the years. The 3rds are coached by the finest coach to ever touch the couch grass. This 3rds team is arguably the greatest 3rds lineup over the last few years.

Nice pump up for the fellas but this aged like milk. 36/7 Views way in the 3rd XV fixture.

 

[DaSchmooze]

Can somebody please explain to me why Sydney Boys High cannot get a similar rugby program to that of Brisbane State High? Would it be that hard to offer all the Island kids in Western Sydney entry to the school through "sporting excellence". It is what Brisbane State High do, all the islanders from logan & Ipswich end up at State High and they have a solid 1stXV that challenges for the Premiership most seasons

That would require the Department of Education to be supportive of the history of the school and of GPS values as a whole... Which they are not.

 

[CasualObserver]

Can somebody please explain to me why Sydney Boys High cannot get a similar rugby program to that of Brisbane State High? Would it be that hard to offer all the Island kids in Western Sydney entry to the school through "sporting excellence". It is what Brisbane State High do, all the islanders from logan & Ipswich end up at State High and they have a solid 1stXV that challenges for the Premiership most seasons

The school is predominantly Indian and Asian students who are there via academic selection tests. They can hardly get any sport up, let alone a GPS 1st XV standard rugby program. They have hardly won a cricket game for three years. Brisbane State High has 3,500 students, so I'm guessing 1,750 boys, and is non-selective. SBHS is 1200 academic kids, who traditionally do not fit the stereotype of a "rugby player". I'm not picking on SBHS as James Ruse is also not a rugby powerhouse, nor is the new #1 academy school in NSW, North Sydney Boys High. SBHS was actually very competitive before it went selective.

 

[Joker]

Post probably better in GPS thread.

But Sydney High is and always has been academically selective. It's also got a relatively small enrolment cap.

• Years 7 and 8 (180 per Year)
• Years 9 and 10 (210 per Year)
• Years 11 and 12 (216 per Year)

The maximum possible enrolment is 1212 students

Joeys is smaller.

 

[Joker]

SBHS was actually very competitive before it went selective.

Incorrect. SBHS has been selective for over 50 years.
The reason their program did well was due to outstanding work of Tony Hannon and a number of Principals who wanted "muscular academics"
They would offer spots to boys who were academically proficient BUT also were playing club sport,
Then SBHS started to slide in academic rankings so the NSW Dept of Ed said students are to be picked purely on academics.
Many thanks to SBHS Principal Dr Kim Jager who explained this to me in 2014.

 

[moa999]

SBHS was actually very competitive before it went selective.

I thought SBHS had always been selective, it's just that the demographics of those selected has changed
(As I suspect has the competition for and coaching for the selection trials)

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I thought SBHS had always been selective, it's just that the demographics of those selected has changed
(As I suspect has the competition for and coaching for the selection trials)

Bingo.

2006 was the last full Rugby season they played and it was 100 against in almost every game. Weren't in anything Rugby wise with a date starting with a 2.

 

[FNC Rugby]

St Aloysius 17, Grammar 8

An even game as the scoreline suggests, but one side has the superior pack and the other the slicker backline. Aloys forwards, although not big, were very good. Defending well and mobile, the standouts were both second rowers, the 8, and the openside in particular. The lineouts were a total mess for both sides and the scrums weren’t contested, so that suited the mobile and quick Aloys forwards to get around the park.

Backs were a different story. Grammar looked very well drilled and sharp when they went wide. Aloys were stilted and off all day. Two of the better Aloys backs, including a CAS rep from 2024, started in the 2nds (so unsurprisingly the inside back combo in the 2s looked absolutely outstanding) and the Aloys young outside centre cracked his head open early, so the lack of continuity and combination killed them.

Grammar probably slightly unlucky all things considered. For next week, the Aloys forwards will be competitive against the Kings 2nd XV, but the backline will probably need a personnel reshuffle to threaten anyone.

uncontested scrums for a 1stXV game, absolutely pathetic form.

 

[Fantastic Sir Toad]

The school is predominantly Indian and Asian students who are there via academic selection tests. They can hardly get any sport up, let alone a GPS 1st XV standard rugby program. They have hardly won a cricket game for three years. Brisbane State High has 3,500 students, so I'm guessing 1,750 boys, and is non-selective. SBHS is 1200 academic kids, who traditionally do not fit the stereotype of a "rugby player". I'm not picking on SBHS as James Ruse is also not a rugby powerhouse, nor is the new #1 academy school in NSW, North Sydney Boys High. SBHS was actually very competitive before it went selective.

I believe the High First XI beat Newington and Joeys last year. Still, 2 wins out of 14 is hardly impressive.

 

[FowardsWorkHard1984]

Old Cranbrook boy here, can anyone shed some light on the Newington opens this year and how they are shaping up?