Ok help me out here please.
In order of importance for teams does it go like this?
1. Waratahs U18*
2. NSW Schools I
3. NSW Schools II
4. NSW Juniors XV
5. NSWJRU Barbarians
*= Does not play in the Australian School Championships?
Joker
This is my understanding of the order of importance....
The Waratahs (2 NSW State Academy squads) is the pinnacle level of representation (chosen from School or Sydney/Country club pathways) and will play 2 games in the Term 2 holidays and a further 2 games in the Term 3 holidays (playing against other State Academy squads)
The term 'Gen Blue' is the Rep Academy Program which covers various year groups, NSW Academy squads chosen at this age are referred to as the Waratahs U18's (1 and 2).
The Waratahs will head to QLD for 2 games on the 1st July
Reds U18 v Waratahs U18 (1)
Reds U18 White v Waratahs U18 (2)
The Waratahs squad will then play another State(s) during these holidays to provide plenty of game time for Rugby Aust selectors.
After the Term 2 holidays, the Waratahs U18's (1 and 2) will be re-selected and play another 2 games each in the Term 3 holidays.
During this holiday period, the RugbyWA U18 State squad will jet across to Canberra to play the ACT Brumbies U18's on the 5th July. Last year they went on to play an additional 2 State teams in these holidays due to the time/effort in getting to the East Coast.
Also in 2022, RugbyWA did not re-send their 18's squad to the East Coast for games in the Term 3 holidays however 3 boys had already been singled out by selectors and were in Canberra in September and named in the Australian squad.
This will be the 2nd game for the ACT Brumbies after playing against RugbyVIC Rebels U18's in Victoria on 1st July.
I am unsure at this stage who else the Rebels OR Reds (1 and 2) are playing these holidays.
At the conclusion of State games in the Term 3 holidays, Rugby Aust officials will announce the Australian U18's squad. This occurred last year at the AIS in Canberra.
Rugby Australia have announced a 25-man Australian Schools and U18s squad.
www.rugby.com.au
Sorry, getting back to the Schools 1, Schools II, Juniors XV and the Barbarians (boys from Sydney/Country clubs only) , this is the next tier down from the Waratahs (1 and 2).
All 4 of these teams will compete at the Australian Schools Rugby Championships from Mon 3rd July to Thurs 6th July.
They will compete against
Australian Capital Territory
Queensland 1
Queensland 2
Victoria
An Australian Schoolboys team and an Australian Schoolboys Barbarians team will be selected from these Championships to play in a three-way competition with Tongan Schoolboys later in the year. Last year the squad travelled to Japan.