Number 7
Darby Loudon (17)
I've actually never posed on a GPS forum before, I also was not intending to stir trouble, nor did I insult anyone.
I'm sorry if you were offended by my comments, but nothing I said was with any malice intent.
I dont think your post or comments were insulting at all but I do think you are possibly misunderstanding the purpose of GPS Rugby, as seen by this comment in your original post:
I would imagine there would also be a relegation system in place. This would definitely make for a much more exciting rugby schoolboy competition, would be safer for some of those less rugby driven schools and would probably best stimulate the development of our juniors meaning hopefully a stronger Wallabies team etc.
The AAPGS Code guiding sport ("games") signed by all headmasters includes the following excerpt:
"Games in our schools are an important part of a fully balanced education for our students. The Heads are concerned to preserve sound educational and social practices in the many inter-school games that are played and ask for the cooperation of school communities to ensure that these aims are realised.
The trend towards professionalism in school sport is to be viewed with caution. etc"
As QH said earlier, Rugby at these schools isnt about developing Wallabies for the ARU. It is about being a part of a well rounded education that teaches young men values, discipline, resilience amongst other things. It isn't about creating an elite sporting competition. Hence some of the responses you have received.
I'd also disagree with your focus on 1st XV results over balanced rugby programs as the definition of what a strong school is. From my perspective I have no interest in watching schools with one strong team full of players who have no other reason for attending school than to turn up to rugby games.