The following article linked below is written by the Rector at St. Ignatius. I thought it was an interesting outlook on the concept of sporting scholarships within the GPS Sporting Community. Obviously, this may be more appropriate in the School Sporting Scholarships thread. But, this does have a lot of relevance to be in this thread because it applies and is directed towards the GPS Sporting Community.
Article:
http://www.riverview.nsw.edu.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=14&Itemid=705
In order to read the article, click on the 'Issue 24 - 2012' link and read the 'A Sporting Chance - From the Rector' at the top of the page.
An interesting article that all should read - Just have a couple of queries:
1.
"At one time, the Association of Heads of Independent Schools (of which Riverview is a member) had an agreement that sporting scholarships would not be offered. But in recent years (sadly, to the delight of many) the arrangement was struck down as contravening the Restrictive Trade Practices Act."
I haven't come across this explanation before about the reason why GPS schools offer sporting scholarships - it doesn't state however whether the restriction referred to is in relation to the schools conducting their education business or the players themselves - I can't see that it applies to the players as they are not offering their services for hire?
2.
"At Riverview, people are valued. They are not commodities to be traded. Here, loyalties grow year by year. We call it home-grown talent. Flashing a fistful of dollars to change your colours and your commitment is not our way. Allegiances are not for sale. We make that point very clearly now in our printed Rugby and Football programmes each week both here and at St Aloysius’ College. At Aloys’ they put the year of a boy’s enrolment at the College next to his name to show they do not deal in recent imports. We do the same here, indicating the teams a boy has worked his way through over the years in reaching the Firsts."
Looking at last week's Riverview Firsts team from their programme I note the following: (with boys names omitted)
No 3 - played in the 2nd XV last year but no rugby prior at View
No 4 - did not play rugby at View prior to this year
No 9- - played in the 16As last year but no rugby prior at View
No 10 - played in the 1st XV last year but no rugby prior at View
No 13 - played in the 2nd XV last year and the U15A the year before but no rugby prior at View.
That's 5 out of 15 or 1/3 of the First XV . I don't suggest that these players are on scholarships of any type - but they are all either recent arrivals at Riverview or perhaps they were there but playing soccer prior to their rugby conversion?