Digby, I'm not sure of the stats for this year's tour but the sad thing about the tour on offer is that the ARFU hosts maybe half the squad to a European trip and promptly has them walk off into NRL/Toyota Cup programs on their return. Return on investment to the ARFU? Nada, nix, zero, nothing. Why not have a system like a return of service obligation in certain industries? We pay for something for you - you pay us back with something too - like some loyalty and respect for what was done for you. It's not a new concept. Even the Romans had a term for it - Quid Pro Quo - Latin translation- "this for that". I'd like to see the boys who experience the largesse of the ARFU and all the efforts of teacher coaches and administrators to make these tours come off, signing contracts which hold them to Rugby Union until they are 21 or so. By that stage Rugby Union can work out whether they have a part to play in the senior franchises/National programs and they are age protected up to the U20 RWC. Maybe they might wake up and see the opportunities offered for travel, personal development etc through Union. If they don't want to sign such a contract, fine, don't pick them for rep stuff and give a kid who wants to be part of the game a rep experience and gain from it. This way you strengthen Colts and Grades and you build the depth in the game. Handing out free tickets to blokes who chuck it back in your face the minute they clear customs is galling and it is doing absolutely nothing for the game in this country. UK tours have changed a lot in the times since Lewis and Co went away. The undefeated tours of the past are unlikely to happen again as the Schoolboys now play Academy squads aged up to U19/U20 or so and rarely schools teams anymore. The extra age and sheer depth of UK rugby playing numbers means we line up against a lot of physical freaks.
