HJ,
this same situation occurred last year with quite a few lads. It will be worked out after NSWJRU and NSWSRU sit down after Regionals!
Inevitably spots open up in both teams as each association does not always get all the players they want, which means per-identified shadow players get slotted in.
This all however happens behind the scenes!
...and happened the year before that, and the year before that....
I appreciate that for most of the kids who have not been "guaranteed a slot in the U16's", the best bet is to play for both associations to keep their options open. Can not fault the logic of this.
At the end of the day, our aim should be to have the best players representing NSW at nationsls regardless of what school, club or district they come from.
If these guys have been indeed been guaranteed positions in for NSW Schools, then the situation is slightly different from the scenario that the rest of the rugby mortals are presented with.
If they are shoe in on one of the pathways, then let another couple of kids have a tilt on the other pathway.