ISA Rugby 2013

[Runner]

Would it not mean that they would not have to travel to play trial games away from Bathurst and Orange? The cost could be the same or less with a home and away.

 

[Quick Hands]

It would depend where they play their trials I suppose. At the moment, I believe that Stannies and Kinross play each other in an annual fixture as a trial match before the ISA season. There might also be other options in their local areas.

They may or may not travel to Sydney for other trial matches. Someone from Kinross and Stannies would have to help us with that information. With the way that ISA, GPS and CAS seasons have been out of alignment for the past 3 or 4 years, trial matches have been in pretty short supply even for the Sydney ISA teams. I think that Augustines had to go down to Canberra this year to find a trial.

In the current financial circumstances with State and Federal governments looking at cutting funding to independent schools, I don't know if I'd be spending money on trial matches. But then again I'm not a School Finance Director.

 

[RugbyTears]

I heard ISA Div schools voted against double round in 2013 and St Andrews will be competing in Div 2. Irony is since GPS & CAS are doing double rounds, there is no one to play pre-season matches except other ISA schools. defacto double round

 

[Quick Hands]

I heard ISA Div schools voted against double round in 2013 and St Andrews will be competing in Div 2. Irony is since GPS & CAS are doing double rounds, there is no one to play pre-season matches except other ISA schools. defacto double round

I can confirm ISA will be a 1 round competition commencing 25th May. This was decided some time ago I believe. There will also be an ISA 7s competition on the 11 May.

There is a opportunity to play a trial against GPS schools on 18 May and CAS schools on the 6 April. I think that Augustines went down to Canberra and played Eddies in a trial last year, so Canberra is another option for ISA schools. I assume Eddies would reciprocate with Augustines this year. A few schools in Bathurst/Orange area and a little beyond to trial against each other, country boys are used to travelling.

Makes sense (unfortunately) for Andrews to move to Div 2 as they were fielding only 1 team in each of the age groups in C competitions. They'll be able to have competitive fixtures every week in Div 2.

It seems that the bye, having been rejected by the GPS, has found a home in ISA Div 1.

 

[RugbyTears]

I can confirm ISA will be a 1 round competition commencing 25th May. This was decided some time ago I believe. There will also be an ISA 7s competition on the 11 May. ........".

Thanks, Q-Hs. Was not aware of the 7s tournament. Is that going to involved all age groups ? If it does, the kids will love it.

 

[Quick Hands]

Thanks, Q-Hs. Was not aware of the 7s tournament. Is that going to involved all age groups ? If it does, the kids will love it.

I'd like think that it would apply to all age groups, my information came from a parent and it is on their school calendar for 2013 as ISA 7s.

To me 7s has always been a good pre season preparation, Kiama 7s is a perfect example.

If it works we might see schools in the ISA run their own invitational 7s tournaments at the start of each season, much like GPS/CAS?ISa invitational athletics events. The beauty of 7s is that you can get the whole thing done in 1 day at one location.

 

[Tom Ando]

Hope the 7's is for both div's. I have been wanting to play in a 7's comp for a while now

 

[Quick Hands]

Hope the 7's is for both div's. I have been wanting to play in a 7's comp for a while now

It certainly should be as there's no reason why Div 2 schools could not be competitive at 7s.

In fact, instead of the growing tendancy to have competitions over 2 rounds, I'd prefer to see a 7s circuit involving GPS/CAS/ISA schools run before each association goes back and plays their traditional 1 round 15 a-side competition.

 

[Tom Ando]

It certainly should be as there's no reason why Div 2 schools could not be competitive at 7s.

In fact, instead of the growing tendancy to have competitions over 2 rounds, I'd prefer to see a 7s circuit involving GPS/CAS/ISA schools run before each association goes back and plays their traditional 1 round 15 a-side competition.​

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Yeah that wouldn't be a bad idea but schools have enough trouble squeezing in pre season training with Summer sport let alone a 7's circuit. But I still think that would be a great idea​

 

[Quick Hands]

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Yeah that wouldn't be a bad idea but schools have enough trouble squeezing in pre season training with Summer sport let alone a 7's circuit. But I still think that would be a great idea​

And the beauty of it would be that each day stands alone, so schools could play none, one or all depending on their individual circumstances. The thing would evolve naturally according to supply and demand.

GPS following CAS to 2 rounds has unecessarily cluttered the sports programme, so that would be the main issue. Probably could only work to optimum level if GPS reverted to 1 round.

 

[Runner]

In so many threads there are problems of organization etc. Watch the AFL and soccer they are coming and league would be happy as well.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

.../snip/...

It seems that the bye, having been rejected by the GPS, has found a home in ISA Div 1.

Good to see that The Bye has not been overlooked for Season 2013. They have been consistent performers (if a little unspectacular) over recent times in the AAGPS comp.

I wonder if St Andrews playing in Div 2 ISA will help to raise the profile and standard of ISA Div 2 Rugby across the board.

 

[Boycey2576]

Also because I play in ISA Div 2 and think we should get as much of the ISA limelight as possible, Who are your tips to win the ISA First XV Div 2 comp next year? Redfield? All Saints? Chev? Central Coast? Scots Bathurst? Redlands? Blue Mountains? or Oxley?

Oxley has moved to div 3, think we play the div 1 C teams, still looking forward to the Oxley v Chev trials this year

 

[exISA]

ISA has a div 3?!??!

 

[Tom Ando]

Oxley has moved to div 3, think we play the div 1 C teams, still looking forward to the Oxley v Chev trials this year

Shit really Boycey? Damn I was looking forward to the round games against you boys as well though But seriously though there are worse teams then Oxley. Blue mountains didn't even field teams in some age groups. Redlands
got belted?

And yeah since when have they done that?!

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Based on recent revelations about St Andrews playing in Div 2 in 2013, it will be interesting to see if anyone nominates them for the title in the Quiz above.

Perhaps the Mods canedit the Quiz responses to give The Bye their rightful place in the ISA Div 1 Title hunt, now that they have been unceremoniously dumped from AAGPS.

 

[RugbyTears]

Good to see that The Bye ....I wonder if St Andrews playing in Div 2 ISA will help to raise the profile and standard of ISA Div 2 Rugby across the board.

Hi Hugh, am pretty sure rugby at Andrews will re-surface in a couple of years. Only have to look at Chev since they moved to Div 2. Supporters & kids want to participate in an even contest week in week out. I guess that is the good thing about ISA having a Div 2 so a school like Andrews don't end up like Sydney High. Having said that, what is being done to ensure Div 1 schools all stay competitive across all age groups ? Answer to this question probably rest with what progress St Gregs will make in the next few years. What an opportunity ISA and rugby in the Campbelltwon area has with that school ! I wish them well in the 2013 season.

 

[Quick Hands]

The perennial under-achievers in ISA Div 1 appears to me to be Pius. They're in the middle of a rugby heartland, they have good facilities at Oxford Falls but they seem to win very few games. I noticed that in 2012 their 13 & 14 As both played in the B competition. In recent years they've produced Michael Hooper and Luke Jones, but their results don't reflect strong teams.

As it stands Oakhill and Augustines are consistently strong from 13s up, Pats and Stannies don't seem to be as consistent, but still seem quite strong and Kinross seem to have improved to the extent that they won the 16As last season. Gregs seem to me to be the big sleeper, if rugby can really get going there I suspect that they would also be strong. The big advice that I would give to them is not to try for the quick fix, but really concentrate on skills and development in 13s & 14s.

Which brings us back to Pius; what's going on there? Does anyone know?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Quick Hands, is it possible that the under achievement of Pius is related to the recent improvement in performance from Auggies?

Michael Hooper, one of Pius's finest, hails from Manly doesn't he, deep in the heart of Auggies "Territory". Are Pius competing for students in the same geographic market as Auggies?

 

[Quick Hands]

Quick Hands, is it possible that the under achievement of Pius is related to the recent improvement in performance from Auggies?

Michael Hooper, one of Pius's finest, hails from Manly doesn't he, deep in the heart of Auggies "Territory". Are Pius competing for students in the same geographic market as Auggies?

I don't think that's it HJ. I don't now how or why Hooper went to Pius, but it's location isn't convenient to the northern beaches, except perhaps for the Forestville part. Most northern beaches kids either go to schools here or if they travel, it's to GPS or CAS schools. I wouldn't think that Augustines and Pius would be in competition for many students, so I think the answer lies elsewhere.

I'm just confused as to why they are consistently so weak, given good facilities and a location at Chatswood which is at the heart of one of the strongest rugby areas in Australia. Maybe they just don't have a particular focus on rugby, it's just another part of life at the school. I think we may need an old boy to fill us in. If Hooper is any indication, they have no problem turning out fine, well-adjusted young men.