Garry Owens
Alan Cameron (40)
Anyway .......initial thoughts are I think this is a fantastic outcome for all AIC Schools . It shows some courage in the decision that has been made and a big dose of progressive pragmatism. No confusion at all.
The increased level of choice for the boys is a huge boon
I doubt that the decision will lead to a big spike in numbers from families that otherwise would not have sent their son to an AIC School - just because AFL and League is now on offer .
The action for AFL and League , formatively , is still ( and will continue to be ) in the Clubs and flow on into Franchise Academy programs ( Lions ) and then the raft of Cups / Competitions and Pathway Management that already exists in what league offers - AIC , in terms of quality of competition against those structures that currently exist will have to prove itself , and frankly , that is a long road
Yes , I think it undoubtedly makes AIC Rugby weaker , however , from what I have been able to observe over the last 5 years or so - it has felt like a larger base of fee paying AIC constituent families and their sons have had a greater interest in league and maybe to a smaller degree , AFL . That traditional bind of Rugby as it was 20 to 30 years ago has been loosening year on year
It is up to Rugby , as a Sport , to respond and engage better more broadly and there is plenty of recent evidence that Rugby is trying to do this . The recent overhaul of Opens Schoolboys trials to level the playing fields for AIC and CSS Schools is a good example
Maybe too little too late
The increased level of choice for the boys is a huge boon
I doubt that the decision will lead to a big spike in numbers from families that otherwise would not have sent their son to an AIC School - just because AFL and League is now on offer .
The action for AFL and League , formatively , is still ( and will continue to be ) in the Clubs and flow on into Franchise Academy programs ( Lions ) and then the raft of Cups / Competitions and Pathway Management that already exists in what league offers - AIC , in terms of quality of competition against those structures that currently exist will have to prove itself , and frankly , that is a long road
Yes , I think it undoubtedly makes AIC Rugby weaker , however , from what I have been able to observe over the last 5 years or so - it has felt like a larger base of fee paying AIC constituent families and their sons have had a greater interest in league and maybe to a smaller degree , AFL . That traditional bind of Rugby as it was 20 to 30 years ago has been loosening year on year
It is up to Rugby , as a Sport , to respond and engage better more broadly and there is plenty of recent evidence that Rugby is trying to do this . The recent overhaul of Opens Schoolboys trials to level the playing fields for AIC and CSS Schools is a good example
Maybe too little too late