From all this league Talk ...CIS 2024 U18 side. I am almost certain Large, Lemoto and Makasini have committed to League. They can play the school 1st XV games but cannot be considered at representative level . Does it make sense to invest in training these boys to play Rugby Union positions (let alone occupy positions) knowing that they will not play the code? They are talented boys but they want to play League not union. Anyway my own opinion.
Rugby union and rugby league are not that different of games, after all they have the same name. I do not know for other cases, but for people like Large and Lemoto, their management groups are paying for an opportunity to continue to train and play rugby at a high level (AAGPS), while also get a better education, get more connections, etc. This management group has also done the same with Taane Milne (NC,'13), Tepai Moeroa (NC,'13), Tyrone Taukamo (NC,'16), Tom Wright (SJC,'15), and more. Also, with cases like Joseph Sua'ali'i (TKS), their fees are paid for not by the school, but by the league club, to help develop the junior and do the same as said above. There are more cases but I don't want to guess and get it wrong.
Please keep in mind that I wrote this post this morning before the discussion about GPS NRL players.