CAS Rugby 2025

[DaSchmooze]

You need to move on mate!

My 3 oldest brother are Pat's boys, I went to Waverley. Have a deep respect for both schools. My brother played Pat's for the 80-81 teams. Drew 7-7 all in 80 against Waves, and then get smashed 34-7 in 81 on the SCG before the test match - Waves had Kava and the Bourke brothers in that team (no disgrace in that result). Similar result in 83 to Waverley.

I was told by St. Pats people the reason they weren't invited into the CAS was because Barker didn't want to play 2 extra games as that would impact the HSC. I have no idea if that's true but that's what St. Pat's people were saying at the time.

But the good thing about St Pats not being accepted is that they created the ISA. The success of the ISA today isn't because of what Auggies and Oakhill are doing now but the ground work Pat's done in the 90s and 2000s to make that competition what it. If St. Pats were accepted into the CAS back then, I doubt there would be on ISA today. So it's turned out great for school rugby.

Finally, I don't get the angst against CAS schools. Waves have been playing Auggies since 2008, and before that they've always played St Pats up until the 2012 (should still be playing them). Same with Trinity, Knox and Barker against other ISA schools. The GPS schools have barely given you the time of day. I don't get the grudge.

Yes you're spot on with the outcome being the formation of ISA and I'd take it a step further and say that without it, you probably wouldn't have seen the development of Greg's, Oakhill and Auggies and it may have spelt the end of Pius. Speculation of course but its unquestionably a good outcome.

And by no means am I suggesting that our Rugby experience was a poor one. Being without a competition to play in, meant that we were free to arrange games against anyone and that had it's upside. Trips to Bowral, Goulburn and Bathurst to play Chev, Pats Goulburn (RIP) and Stannies/Scots were fun in their own right - no doubt. But listening to the litany of reasons as to why the vote didn't go our way was tough going - particularly with the spectre of sectarianism still bubbling just beneath the surface. With the exception of Cricket, we did all of our sport against CAS schools - so why cant we be in the comp?

Anyway - as I said... it is well in the past and sooking about it won't change a thing. But my point of all of this is that I hope this new system remains in place. It seems to have broad support which is great and I hope it continues. But I fear for what might happen when schools that don't offer scholarships and have lower fees start beating teams that do.

 

[WLF3]

Yyyyyyyyyep. And every school has pointed to every other school as the culprit for that one vote.

Anyway. It's in the past but living in the aftermath of that vote wasn't fun.

I just hope that should it come to pass that if isa has a year or number of years where they dominate that we don't get a similar "we've put it to a vote" bullshit and the whole thing comes crashing down. It would be a backward step.

DaS, I actually know which school wasn't in favour, if you wish to know, message me separately I will tell you. But it's not worth dwelling on now.

 

[Cranbrook's Locked Doors]

Any predicted 1st XV teams?

 

[Crashy]

I went to a CAS school and from what I've seen in the recent years, the ISA program ( depth) will be miles ahead in a few years. no doubt.
The CAS first teams perhaps will be ahead for obvious reasons, but the depth of the main ISA school beats pretty much every CAS school - except Waverley perhaps. Very sad to watch.

 

[Maul of Duty]

Don't be surprised if ISA schools start to go a lot more academic and not as much sport orientated (Oakhill for example). It is a slow process but there is definitely a shift to admissions be based on academic ability and many kids are being knocked back from attending the school even if they have siblings there.

 

[Schoolboyrugby23]

Does anyone have a Cranbrook predicted lineup?

 

[DaSchmooze]

I went to a CAS school and from what I've seen in the recent years, the ISA program ( depth) will be miles ahead in a few years. no doubt.
The CAS first teams perhaps will be ahead for obvious reasons, but the depth of the main ISA school beats pretty much every CAS school - except Waverley perhaps. Very sad to watch.

It's going to make the weightings of each school's 1st teams very interesting when calculating who gets put into what division.

 

[Bob_Jones]

It's going to make the weightings of each school's 1st teams very interesting when calculating who gets put into what division.

I honestly don't think it will make any difference (at the moment).

Under any weighting system, Waves are in the top 3.

If is it heavily weighted towards Opens, then Barker & Knox are also in the top 3.

It is more evenly weighted across the age groups, then I think Barker & Knox are still in the top 3. Sure they don't have the dominance at u13-14 level that they do in U16 & Opens, but they are on par with Trinity, Cranbook & Aloys in those age groups.

On the ISA side of things, Aug and Oakhill make the top 3 on any weighting system. The 3rd spot might be a bit interesting if heavily weighted towards Opens but suspect that Stannies would currently probably take the 3rd spot under any weighting system.

 

[MaulMasterMind]

The Shore vs Barker game has been confirmed as a curtain-raiser for the Waratahs vs Reds at Allianz Stadium. Friday the 9th of May. Last time this was done was 2021? (Knox vs Joeys?)

 

[wisemaan]

The Shore vs Barker game has been confirmed as a curtain-raiser for the Waratahs vs Reds at Allianz Stadium. Friday the 9th of May. Last time this was done was 2021? (Knox vs Joeys?)

Correct. Will you be attending it fs? Certainly a great way to start the trial games...

 

[CasualObserver]

I honestly don't think it will make any difference (at the moment).

Under any weighting system, Waves are in the top 3.

If is it heavily weighted towards Opens, then Barker & Knox are also in the top 3.

It is more evenly weighted across the age groups, then I think Barker & Knox are still in the top 3. Sure they don't have the dominance at u13-14 level that they do in U16 & Opens, but they are on par with Trinity, Cranbook & Aloys in those age groups.

On the ISA side of things, Aug and Oakhill make the top 3 on any weighting system. The 3rd spot might be a bit interesting if heavily weighted towards Opens but suspect that Stannies would currently probably take the 3rd spot under any weighting system.

That is a lot of teams in the top 3