The Newington Rugby model seems to be based around big physically intimidating centres, and I refer to their use of Roods, Vaingolo, Latinopoulu, Milne, and Moeroa in recent years.
Have we lost the art of, or are we in the process of losing the art of, developing silky smooth runners and ball distributing centres?
What has become of the big physically intimidating Newington centre graduates?
Not too many of these have gone on in rugby. Many of them lose their previous physical advantage several years after school.
Roods - lots of injuries.
Apo - going OK at Hobbits 1st Grade.
Vaingolo - #8 at Beasts after a stint in West-Tigerland, and off to France soon. (still physically imposing)
M&M - mungoball.
With the ARU appearing to pin all their junior development hopes on the AAGPS and Brissie GPS system, it is not a good sign that the schools appear to be focused on playing winning rugby at whatever cost, not necessarily developing players for long term careers as professional rugby athletes.