QLD GPS Rugby 2019

[Cancelled Account]

So it appears there are no new year 11 recruits at TSS that are at the level of 2017/18 team and may not make the 1st XV squad cut. Source 50/50. On that basis I call top 4 as Nudge, IGS, BBC and GT. Churchie a contender. Who has year 11 recruitment?

 

[Rugrat]

Has there been any confirmation re coaches for this season?

 

[Cancelled Account]

Has there been any confirmation re coaches for this season?

Garry Owens. Oracle.
No BBC squad announcement I hear. Is it a coaching crisis again this year?

 

[Cancelled Account]

Maybe a line out! But if there is nothing to report I just move on.

 

[Oracle83]

Maybe a line out! But if there is nothing to report I just move on.

Playing my views on the college typically low key RR.

It’s been great to see the Colleges results dramatically improve over the past few years consistently winning 5-6 games but they don’t know how to grind enough to win 7 never mind 8 of their games. I believe 2016 was theirs for the taking but poor kick options cost them dearly vs TSS & NC. This year is a great team but how can they beat a Pasitoa anchored Nudgee? Really keen to see their lineup.

 

[Jets]

Some clarity over the selection of the Queensland Schoolboy squads.

Re: 2019 QRFSU Programme
With the recent circulation of Rugby Australia High Performance programme there has been some uncertainty about
the future of the QRFSU state regional championship programme and the state team arrangements for 2019. The
purpose of this letter is to provide you with these arrangements well before the end of the school year so that you
can plan appropriately. The only change impacting the QRFSU programme relates to the nature of the 18 years state
regional championships. It is important that you and your likely school regional players are made aware of this
change explained below.

As with all QSS sports and championships the participation of players is dependent on school and parent approval. It
would be our hope that the value of this rugby representative programme provides all aspiring players with the
opportunity to represent their region, state and nation as they have in past years.

2019 State Regional Championships
18 Years State Regional Championships Thursday 2 May to Sunday 5 May at Sunnybank Rugby Club, Sunnybank
The only change to the Queensland programme for next year is the selection of the two state teams from the state
regional championships. This change brings rugby back into line with all QSS sports. Players who wish to be
considered for the state teams will need to come through the regional pathways. The regional trial dates will have
been locked in by regions and will have been communicated hopefully to all school within the region.
It is important to note that NSW and the other states that attend the National schoolboy trials are sending full
strength teams as they see the value in this representative pathway for students and the broader game. It would be
my hope that all students in the 16 – 18 years age group would trial for the regional teams and be available for state
selection.

I have had contact with the QRU and they support the regional pathway and will be present at these trials as an
important part of their Talent ID programme.

15 Years State Regional Championships Thursday 8 August to Sunday 11 August Downland College, Toowoomba

12 Years State Regional Championships Thursday 1 August to Sunday 5 August Rugby Park, Townsville

State Regional Coaching Programme
Several weeks ago discussions were held with representatives of the QRU about providing a coach education
programme at each of the state championships. With the appointment of Pat Richards as the QRU coaching director
the QRFSU will continue to work closely with Pat to provide this programme. Pat is a past Queensland and Australian
Barbarians Schoolboys coach so he knows the school scene very well. It would be our aim to have all regional
coaches complete or lead a field programme at each of the state championships, most likely as a morning
programme on the first two days of the championships.

Queensland Rugby Football Schools Union
2019 17&18 Years National Rugby Championships
Monday 8 July to Saturday 13 July at St Ignatius, Riverview Sydney

Discussions have already commenced with the QRU as to what level of resource they can provide for the state teams
in 2019. It is our hope that the on-field coaching support will continue along with some form of financial support.
There will also be discussions with Sunnybank about what level of support the club may be able to provide in 2019.
The national championships will continue as it has for the past 40 years. Teams will live-in at St Ignatius, Riverview
and the rugby programme will be supplemented by an education programme. To be able to continue with this
programme in this format is a great credit to Br Bob Wallace and his co-workers on the ASRU Executive and
Committee.

International Programme
There will be an Australian team selected from the national championships to play Samoa during the
September school holidays. To be eligible for this team players will need to play in the July national
championships.

Rugby Australia through their academy programme will also select an Australian under 18 team. This team
will play New Zealand in New Zealand. The academy staff will select this team. Rugby Australia High
Performance staff will be present at the national championships to see players perform at this level as
players at this championship are eligible for selection in the Australian Under 18 team to play New
Zealand.

 

[intheknow2012]

GPS Heads made the decision that they won't be participating in the Schoolboy pathway. U18 Regional trials are on in a few weeks so boys won't be prepared/ ready to trial yet. The Academy system is the pathway moving forward. Gives AIC & State schools an opportunity to play some rep footy for Met East, Met West, etc. and then play for QLD schoolboys at the "Nationals". It will be interesting to see what the Nationals look like though, as ACT, VIC & WA will most likely not be there, and No GPS boys in the QLD teams... a lot of uncertainty still this year...

 

[Jets]

This is the info from QSS

QSS 16-18yrs Rugby Union Pathway
In 2019 there will be two available pathways for Queensland school students in rugby union for the 18 years division.

Rugby Australia (RA) U/18 Academy Pathway
Selection of 1 X QLD Team
QRU select a squad of 40- 45 players.
(this squad is currently selected for 2019 and consists of both students and non-students)

Selection of Australian u/18 Academy team
Selected by RA from one off games between NSW, ACT, VIC and QLD academies in June and September.
Note :
 The QRU from their academy squad will choose a team of only 23 players for their games.
 The squad may be fluent, hence players maybe moved in and out of the squad at any time throughout the year.
 The selected RA Australian u/18 Academy team will play New Zealand.

Schools Representative Pathway
Selection of 2 X QLD team (QSS)
QSS select 2 x 23 students
All students in affiliated schools to QSS will be able to access this pathway via a Regional team participating in the QSS 16-18yrs State championships conducted at Sunny bank RUFC 2 – 5 May 2019.
 The 2 X QSS 16-18yrs teams will be selected from these championships.

 Note : Students at the QSS State Championships maybe considered for inclusion by the QRU into the QRU U/18 Academy Squad.

Selection of Australian Schools Team (ASRU)
Selected from the ASRU National Schools Championships to be conducted in Sydney 8-13 July 2019.
 Participating teams : 2 x NSW, ACT, WA , VIC, 2 x QLD, Combined States*
 The selected ASRU Australian team will play Samoa ( September vacation).
 Note : Students at these championships may still be considered for selection by RA for the Australian u/18 Academy team to play New Zealand.

A student may move from the School Representative pathway to the Academy (QRU or RA) pathway at any stage of the year if selected and chooses to. However, a student will not be able to move from the Academy pathway to the Schools Representative pathway once school regional team selection pathways have been commenced ( as per QSS policy).
For example : A student cut from the QRU Academy squad in late term 1 may have missed their regional trial hence will no longer be able to attend the QSS state championships and will not be considered for selection in the QSS 16-18yrs teams or ASRU Australian team.

 

[Prince Henry]

The QRFSU state championships clash with Round 1 of the AIC season, so safe to say that the best of that competition won't be available either.

 

[Oracle83]

Really enjoyed tonight’s Rebel’s vs brumbies with BRISBANE GPS schools well represented, noted at least 3 old BBC boys out there amongst a raft of others. Stoked to see Quade back in Super Rugby - it’s a shame Thorn let his personal agenda drive him away but I think I know who will have the last laugh and go on to wear the green and gold again.

Shame some also elect to defect to league but well done on his loyalty to Broncos Pat Carrigan from ZgT.
https://www.nrl.com/news/2017/01/26/how-broncos-prospect-resisted-rugbys-lure/

 

[Oracle83]

The QRFSU state championships clash with Round 1 of the AIC season, so safe to say that the best of that competition won't be available either.

QRU are a joke

 

[The Nomad]

No the QSS hold this championship every year at the same time to normally select the CSS team that then goes on to compete with AIC and GPS teams for spots in the Qld Schoolboys team. It normally wouldn’t involve any AIC or GPS lads, but as we have seen with the post from Jets , if you want to play Qld Schoolboys this year you have to go through this pathway.

The GPS schools have already said they are not supporting it and as mentioned, clashes with AIC rugby. Looks like if you aren’t at Sunnybank for the trials you can’t play for Qld Schoolboys in July and as a result can’t play Aussie Schoolboys this year. There is a separate U18 Aussie team chosen later in the year that school based players are eligible for but is independent of the QSS. This team could include any U18 player regardless of wether they are still at school or were present at Riverview in July.

Basically means that a heap of boys who were 17 finishing school last year plus any GPS or AIC boy is eligible , as are all the boys who had a crack at making Schoolboys through the QSS pathway.

The U18 teams is RA , Schoolboys QSS

The QRU have very little to do with QSS business.

Looks like the Reds and the GPS association ( and maybe the AIC? ) are running their own race .

 

[The Heard]

One of the greats to never win a GPS Premiership.

He played in the 2006 Grand Final vs Jono Lance, Slipper, Simmons, Tapuai, Morahan et al but went down 11-20.

Lance was in his first season of First XV Rugby but was aged 17 due to the NSW connection. He was 18 in 2007 when he went back-to-back.

Likewise, Quade Cooper won the Premiership in Grade 11 at Churchie, but was a year older than his peers.

In his final year Quade beat To'omua 31-19 but lost to Lance's TSS side 23-20 the week after. A round one loss to Nudgee (and James O'Connor) and a round eight loss to GT (who only won three games all year) relegated Quade to the mid-table in 2006.

 

[The Heard]

That TSS team in 2006 was stacked. Looking back now would be the best GPS team to play. 6 super rugby players (Simmons, Slipper, Tapuai, Lance, Morahan, Eyres-Brown) they also had players who played in NRL Nathan Stapleton was on the wing and Daniel Vinula 13. Eyres-Brown was fly half not Lance, Lance was the everywhere man off the bench. I watched that season myself. Lance Found it hard to get starting spot as Eyres-Brown and Tapuai both QLD players at the time and they had a huge imported player from NZ at 13 called Daniel Vinulu who ended up playing for North QLD Cowboys. They also had Seb Davies who played Toyota cup for Titans and there half back that played for Wales in under 20’s World Cup. Luke something and Josh Cooper was Australian School boy hooker. Can’t argue 6 super Rugby players in one first XV has to be the best GPS teams ever assembled. They were so good there coach got a Super Rugby contract.

 

[RugbyReg]

surely that Churchie 2014 side would go close? Ponga, Perese, Fox, Nucifora, Mason, Liam Wright, Scott-Young, Croft and Sua?

 

[Patriot]

So you’re suggesting that a 1stXV coach at a GPS school would select a player who is clearly not the best fit for the team in his position because he’s worried he might get yelled at by the player’s Parents or cop some backlash ? You really think that would be a factor in a coaches decision making, even at this level where there’s a fair bit of pressure to succeed..? Again, give me an example where this has happened ??
When you’re in the car park listening to other parents whinge about selection and how there’s politics involved, I challenge you to look at both sides of the argument. Maybe as Parents, we watch our sons through a different set of lenses. You may disagree with a selection, but don’t play the ‘politics’ rubbish, Understand that the coaches have to make decisions, and someone has to miss out - and it could be your little Johnny, who may just be behind another player who can fulfill what the coaches require. A different coach, a different game plan, a different combination of players - and the selection decisions are different.
We lose a lot of good coaches because they get sick of putting up with whinging Parents. Better coaches= a better experience for our sons. Communication is key, and by Opens, we need to teach our kids how to communicate with the coaches to get feedback; and we stay out of it, and enjoy from the sidelines. There will be disappointment with selection - particularly at schools with lots of depth; but that’s life.

I agree coaches have to make decisions just like the other educators at the school,but unlike the other teachers they are protected from parental scrutiny.I have a young bloke at a GPS school this will be his 4 th year there. I can make an appointment any time to see any of his teachers to discuss his progress, except his Rugby coaches.I pay big money for him to go there and I feel that coaches should be expected to meet with parents also. My son plays at A/B level and the coaching is very good but as you go down to say c’s and below it is very very poor usually the coaches are young old boys with no idea. I think these kids should have the same level of coaching regardless of their ability as their parents pay the same fees. I also know that feedback is almost non existent I have personally seen kids brushed by inexperienced arrogant coaches who either couldn’t give a damn or don’t know how to defend their decision.

 

[Warrenball]

Finding a A/B standard coach to turn up and coach a 'C' team...I'm sure that wouldn't be hard to find at all... As for being entitled to a meeting with rugby coaches re feedback because you pay big fees, surely that's a laugh. Isn't the mantra of many boys schools turning them into young men and encouraging them to take initiative to talk to coaches themselves? Every kid craves feedback these days, but often the problem is, it's never acted on it, because a kid thinks 'well I asked for feedback' box ticked...do they actually go away and work on their tackle tech outside of training, or their ability to pass a football. Instead they turn to the soft shoulder of mum and dad who go into battle for them instead. I've been around GPS rugby a few years with my boys now and it's quite funny walking past and hearing some of the conversations parents are having with either 1st XV coaches or Directors of Rugby on a Saturday and struggling not to laugh. The directors of rugby are becoming more and more blunt with parents now, which I think is good, given some of the sprays they cop, but some parents just don't get it unfortunately. Often the parents who make the biggest deal are the ones with the least experience...playing, coaching, officiating, I feel embarrassed for their poor sons, I'd be mortified if I gave my sons coach/teacher a serve whether I agreed with their selection or not, Id be worried he'd never get picked again purely because the coach didn't want to deal with me.

 

[Jets]

I coach an A team at my sons school a few years ago and if the Director of Rugby received a question from a parent it would be passed on to me to answer. They actually had a formal structure around dealing with the situation that made the entire process easy to follow and it was quite open.

Also when coaching schoolboys I`m happy to talk to parents about their sons progress and provide plenty of feedback. When I`ve coached Colts I ask the players to come and see me as it`s time to grow up a bit, part of this though is making yourself approachable to them all.

As these schools aren`t high performance sporting excellence centres I don`t think they need to go over the top with coach/parent feedback.

Also I watched my son in the D`s volleyball on the weekend and his coach was one of the best I have seen, in any sport, in regards to dealing with the students and giving quality feedback to players. Most of the lower team coaches are just there to make the experience enjoyable for the kids and to manage the team, that's the reality of life. If you aren`t at the top level you wont get top level coaching.

 

[Jets]

No the QSS hold this championship every year at the same time to normally select the CSS team that then goes on to compete with AIC and GPS teams for spots in the Qld Schoolboys team. It normally wouldn’t involve any AIC or GPS lads, but as we have seen with the post from Jets , if you want to play Qld Schoolboys this year you have to go through this pathway.

The GPS schools have already said they are not supporting it and as mentioned, clashes with AIC rugby. Looks like if you aren’t at Sunnybank for the trials you can’t play for Qld Schoolboys in July and as a result can’t play Aussie Schoolboys this year. There is a separate U18 Aussie team chosen later in the year that school based players are eligible for but is independent of the QSS. This team could include any U18 player regardless of wether they are still at school or were present at Riverview in July.

Basically means that a heap of boys who were 17 finishing school last year plus any GPS or AIC boy is eligible , as are all the boys who had a crack at making Schoolboys through the QSS pathway.

The U18 teams is RA , Schoolboys QSS

The QRU have very little to do with QSS business.

Looks like the Reds and the GPS association ( and maybe the AIC? ) are running their own race .

The Queensland U18`s team will be selected from the 40-45 players in the Reds Academy, if a player is not part of that he wont get a look in for the Australian U18`s team. Pretty much if you haven`t been invited to the Academy the only way to play rep footy is to go down the Schoolboys path.

I would be interested in the selection requirements for the combined states team, do the Qld players have to play at Sunnybank for the State Champs?

 

[The Nomad]

^ My understanding that Qld schoolboys teams get selected from the State Champs at Sunnybank in May, no CSS team to then trial against GPS & AIC for schoolboys selection as in years past . If you want to play Qld Schoolboys this year , you need to make yourself available for the regional trials as the boys did back in U12 & U15, make a regional team to play at the School State Champs and then hope you get picked.

The State Champs clash with the AIC comp and the GPS schools are not in a hurry to send boys to the trials. Basically Qld Schoolboys this year could be without the best GPS and AIC lads if their schools don't give them clearance to attend regional trials and as a result would also not be eligible for Australian Schoolboys.

The Academy teams are a different thing altogether. The Reds U18s will play other academy teams throughout the year and is separate from the Schoolboys team. At some point an Australian U18 team gets named and they tour NZ.

Not concrete on this , but again just my understanding, any lad playing rugby who is U18 is a possibility for the Australian U18 team, no set trial.