As a Barker parent it always concerned the lower rugby programs were not well supported, my boys ended up playing Volleyball with one now in the NSW U21 team, interestingly my daughter played Sevens and still plays for the Armidale Blues.
The difference today is schools are marketing machines an have to been seen to offer a wide range of sports. When I was at school (Alo's) we had Cricket, Basketball and Tennis in summer and Rugby and Football in winter. The list below is the current sports offerings at Barker and naturally it as well as a change in the demographic of the students dilutes the number of kids playing Rugby. Note Joeys has 6 winter sports
Girls' Sport Offered | Boys' Sport Offered |
AFL | AFL |
Athletics and Cross Country | Basketball |
Basketball | Cricket |
Cricket | Cross Country |
Dance | Dance |
Equestrian | Equestrian |
Fencing | Fencing |
Football | Football |
Golf | Golf |
Hockey | Mountain Biking |
Mountain Biking | Netball Umpiring |
Netball | Rowing |
Netball Umpiring | Rugby |
Rowing | Snowsports |
Rugby 7s | Squash |
Snowsports | Strength & Conditioning |
Softball | Surf Life Saving |
Squash | Swimming & Diving |
Surf Life Saving | Taekwondo |
Swimming & Diving | Tennis |
Taekwondo | Volleyball |
Tennis | Water Polo |
Touch Football | |
Volleyball | |
Water Polo | |