Australian Rugby / RA

[Major Tom]

Aubrey and Annan are interesting ones - I feel like they were given plenty of chances to stake their claim, but failed to do so. Whether that in of itself is a failing of the Academy is up for debate, but I feel as though the Academy did its job in at least giving them exposure and opportunities.

Annan was genuinely affected by injury. Massive Shame. He was a big frame with a solid passing game due to his time at fly half. Exactly what we need at center for the wallabies.

 

[Strewthcobber]

This was the National academy list for 2012, Setup by Nucifora, and based only in NSW and Queensland. Some interesting names there

The national acedemy was abandoned a couple of years later when the Super Rugby Teams basically stopped using the process to bring things back in house.

Adam Coleman
Blake Enever
Alex Northam
Chris Kuridrani
Allan Ala'alatoa
Curtis Browning
Apolosi Latunipulu
Jack Kimmince
Ben Matwijow
Jarrad Butler
Ben Volavola
Jay Havelu
Boyd Killingworth
Joel Faulkner
Dion Taumata
JP Smith
Elijah Niko
Kirwan Sanday
Guy Millar
Lindsay Crook
Hugh Roach
Maile Ngauamo
Jason Havea
Matt Blain
Jed Hollaway
Matt Lucas
Jock Merriman
Michael Bermingham
Jordy Reid
Michael Stolberg
Keliti Vaingalo
Mitch Felsman
Liam Walker
Mitch Wade
Maile Latukefu
Nigel AhWong
Malie Hingano
Pama Fou
Mark Baldwin
Pettowa Paraka
Michael Wells
Phil Kite
Peter Schuster
Ruan Smith
Sam Lane
Sam Reiser
Sam Latinipulu
Scott Malolua
Sione Kolo
Sean McMahon
Steve Cummins
Simon Morahan
Tim Bennetts
Ted Postal
Tom Boidin
Tim Buchanan
Tom Cusack
Tom English
Tomasi Kolo
Trent Dyer
Trent Lake
Waldo Wessels
William Skelton
Zeb Holmes

 

[PhilClinton]

Just did a very quick scan and it looks like maybe only 10 or so of those blokes didn't end up playing Super Rugby? A few had very short careers but they still made it.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Some could argue Harry Vella is actually a product of the Reds Academy program... Was in the Reds academy for 4 years through U18-U20s/Junior Wallabies, and Brumbies academy less then12 months before promoted to senior squad.

but yes a good working model for the Brumbies nonetheless

Yep, that's right about Harry but either way he is a success story from the academy system.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Just did a very quick scan and it looks like maybe only 10 or so of those blokes didn't end up playing Super Rugby? A few had very short careers but they still made it.

Certainly a whole lot molre than 10 I don't recognise. As you say, a lot might have had very short Super Rugby careers. Quite a few of those who did make it are now spread all over the world. I think Allan Ala'alatoa might be the only one still playing here for a Super team?

 

[Adam84]

This was the National academy list for 2012, Setup by Nucifora, and based only in NSW and Queensland. Some interesting names there

The national acedemy was abandoned a couple of years later when the Super Rugby Teams basically stopped using the process to bring things back in house.

Adam Coleman
Blake Enever
Alex Northam
Chris Kuridrani
Allan Ala'alatoa
Curtis Browning
Apolosi Latunipulu
Jack Kimmince
Ben Matwijow
Jarrad Butler
Ben Volavola
Jay Havelu
Boyd Killingworth
Joel Faulkner
Dion Taumata
JP Smith
Elijah Niko
Kirwan Sanday
Guy Millar
Lindsay Crook
Hugh Roach
Maile Ngauamo
Jason Havea
Matt Blain
Jed Hollaway
Matt Lucas
Jock Merriman
Michael Bermingham
Jordy Reid
Michael Stolberg
Keliti Vaingalo
Mitch Felsman
Liam Walker
Mitch Wade
Maile Latukefu
Nigel AhWong
Malie Hingano
Pama Fou
Mark Baldwin
Pettowa Paraka
Michael Wells
Phil Kite
Peter Schuster
Ruan Smith
Sam Lane
Sam Reiser
Sam Latinipulu
Scott Malolua
Sione Kolo
Sean McMahon
Steve Cummins
Simon Morahan
Tim Bennetts
Ted Postal
Tom Boidin
Tim Buchanan
Tom Cusack
Tom English
Tomasi Kolo
Trent Dyer
Trent Lake
Waldo Wessels
William Skelton
Zeb Holmes

Not that i agree or disagree it was the right model, but I will say that 2-3 years is not sufficient time to assess and allow for proper returns on something like an academy structure, which is a long-term investment...

A 5-year investment in an academy structure wont begin actually delivering consistent returns until year 5 or 6

 

[Strewthcobber]

Not that i agree or disagree it was the right model, but I will say that 2-3 years is not sufficient time to assess and allow for proper returns on something like an academy structure, which is a long-term investment...

A 5-year investment in an academy structure wont begin actually delivering consistent returns until year 5 or 6

Given our challenges around player retention, I do wonder if, even if we had the best academy system in the world, we'd just be ending up seeing even better players signing for OS teams

 

[Adam84]

Given our challenges around player retention, I do wonder if, even if we had the best academy system in the world, we'd just be ending up seeing even better players signing for OS teams

it's a numbers game; Australia won't retain them all, but if you produce 10 Ikitaus/Wilsons/Mcreights, you're statistically more likely to at least retain some of them compared to if you only had one or two of them.