I would agree with several posts regarding the change of attitude by school hierarchy. There is no doubt whatsoever that this makes a huge difference to the standard played in rugby, and for all sports for that matter. Whilst many people in this forum will remember the weaker SPLC teams in the last decade, many will forget they were actually a very formidable schoolboy team in the 90's and early 2000's (that 2000 all-in brawl at Peters against Ash was was one of the best schoolboy moments ever) where they won the cup a few times. In fact, a son of a former wallaby who is a Marist tragic retells me stories of how they would be most pumped for the Peters & Lauries game when he was at school in the late 80's to early 90's
The difference then was that Peters had a very very sports oriented headmaster and enjoyed his rugby, later when they had a female principal, she was also fairly sports orientated and the result reflected this. Come early 2002 or so there headmaster was from Adelaide/ Melbourne and whilst their rugby teams were getting belted their AFL teams were winning across the park and they had 5 or so kids per a year level on Brisbane Lions scholarships. Coincidence?
It really depends on the hierarchy of the school and the power brokers behind the scenes who are making the decisions. I'm sure, and I hope, that Ash and SLC pick up their program's soon because what we need is a competition that can churn out at as many Super 14 players and wallabies as the GPS comp does. There is no other way to compete with that credibility. Sooner or later, these two schools will get it sorted, I have no doubt.
The difference then was that Peters had a very very sports oriented headmaster and enjoyed his rugby, later when they had a female principal, she was also fairly sports orientated and the result reflected this. Come early 2002 or so there headmaster was from Adelaide/ Melbourne and whilst their rugby teams were getting belted their AFL teams were winning across the park and they had 5 or so kids per a year level on Brisbane Lions scholarships. Coincidence?
It really depends on the hierarchy of the school and the power brokers behind the scenes who are making the decisions. I'm sure, and I hope, that Ash and SLC pick up their program's soon because what we need is a competition that can churn out at as many Super 14 players and wallabies as the GPS comp does. There is no other way to compete with that credibility. Sooner or later, these two schools will get it sorted, I have no doubt.