Hey Newbie, discussed with fellow PE teachers and League and rugby coaches at my school we are all teachers, we all agree it's up to the league club, but we have known personally players who have not been allowed (in their contract) to even play for their school union team cause the league club did not want them injured. We can't imagine anyone playing Toyota cup, (that's under 20s) they are all paid $50,000-100,000, having a league club who would not care if they were injured playing union. These league clubs have sent some of my students for weeks for speed training etc, they invest a lot of money and effort into them.
My son plays 1st XV for ISA and he said St Augustines had a freak 5/8 from NZ but maybe its their halfback.
Hey Scot thanks for that info about St Augustines I congratulate them sincerely, and I congratulate your nephews, for their achievements and wish them all opportunities (including league), and hope they remain injury free, especially from playing rugby, I am not sure if their league club would like it, but that is entirely between them.
Halbacks and 5/8s are the least likely players to be injured in rugby, flankers are the most likely. I will check on that again.
What Murray Mexted said is true, he is one of the greatest rugby coaches, head of international rugby academy, and mentally tough.