Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I don't usually dip my toe into these turbulent waters, as I have never been part of the rugby schools system, though I know people who are and they strive to do great things. Sometimes they get frustrated, and in listening to their frustrations, I share them.
To help with my understanding, I'm here to ask for a bit of education (in the schools rugby forum - ha!), so I can get a better appreciation of where things lie, and how I can solve a problem I'm having.
I'll also say up front: thanks for your time in reading this. My goal is to try and make the game strong in all areas, and have conversations about the health of the game; there appears to be a belief across the code that "as long as my backyard is neat, the game is fine" and it simply isn't true.
Preface: I'm a former President and current Club Secretary, Life Member, Registrar, Referee, and Player at Renegades Rugby.
I'm also a Board Member for NSW Suburban Rugby, and regularly deal with clubs of all sizes and the hardworking people that run them. We share issues to greater or lesser degrees in the rugby landscape, and I'll focus on our perspective for now.
Renegades Rugby are small club in Kellyville and, in addition to having a couple of cracks at starting a Junior club, we've tried a number of times to recruit Colts for our club (U21 in Subbies). This is critical to the survival of our club; I'm in my 40s and can't keep packing down in the front row, as much as my chiropractor loves it. I see an U21 team as an essential pathway toward feeding our senior grades, and most importantly keeping players in the game.
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I've got a few contacts in the Junior Rugby scene, and a pattern I noticed in some clubs is they peter out at the U15/U16 level, despite having good numbers below that. When I inquired as to why, the story was generally the same: attrition exists, but kids who go to rugby schools are generally (not always) restricted from playing for their village club after a certain time.
The knock-on effect is that the kids who do NOT go to a rugby school don't have enough left for an Opens (U18) team, and so either go into a joint venture team or simply stop playing. The danger here is we're missing a pool of candidates for senior amateur rugby, purely down to circumstance.
Question 1: is it common for kids in school XVs to be restricted from playing for their club?
-------------------
I know some teachers in schools that have rugby programs. They would like to promote local clubs to kids living in the area who are leaving school, but this is discouraged as it is seen as some form of favouritism or some form of grooming behaviour.
Question 2: is this the experience of anyone here who may be connected to schools?
-------------------
I have had a look at the competitions that have schools based in Sydney. There appears to be multiple competitions with varying size and investment, with a belief that putting them together in some form would just result in thrashings and humiliations etc. At the same time, looking back at the history of a competition like GPS, it appears to be shrinking and the quality varies considerably year to year. Separate schools competitions may soon be a luxury we can't afford.
Question 3: is there any movement toward a combined, graded schools competition in Sydney?
-------------------
This is a quick one but importantly leads onto converting age players to Colts and Senior rugby.
Subbies includes data on registered play numbers, teams, and clubs in its annual report every year.
Question 4: is there any data available on how many teams schools are fielding?
-------------------
School leavers have a lot to think about - the HSC, their ongoing education or vocational pathway. They might not even be living in the same area once they leave school. However, there are going to be those who just want to play rugby and aren't on the professional or premier pathway. Some will go to schools that have contacts at a senior club and get to a Colts program there. What happens to the rest?
I've tried emailing a few schools in the area in order to get a little of their time, and it falls into a hole. The Development Officers at NSW Rugby HQ have offered adviced (including contacts) and it seems every answer to my question is "put in more time" that I don't have for no guarantee of a result.
Question 5: how do I get in contact with people who finish school, love rugby and just want to play rugby outside the bounds of a professional pathway?
If you're someone who is a contact that would be bloody helpful. Hit me up.
To help with my understanding, I'm here to ask for a bit of education (in the schools rugby forum - ha!), so I can get a better appreciation of where things lie, and how I can solve a problem I'm having.
I'll also say up front: thanks for your time in reading this. My goal is to try and make the game strong in all areas, and have conversations about the health of the game; there appears to be a belief across the code that "as long as my backyard is neat, the game is fine" and it simply isn't true.
Preface: I'm a former President and current Club Secretary, Life Member, Registrar, Referee, and Player at Renegades Rugby.
I'm also a Board Member for NSW Suburban Rugby, and regularly deal with clubs of all sizes and the hardworking people that run them. We share issues to greater or lesser degrees in the rugby landscape, and I'll focus on our perspective for now.
Renegades Rugby are small club in Kellyville and, in addition to having a couple of cracks at starting a Junior club, we've tried a number of times to recruit Colts for our club (U21 in Subbies). This is critical to the survival of our club; I'm in my 40s and can't keep packing down in the front row, as much as my chiropractor loves it. I see an U21 team as an essential pathway toward feeding our senior grades, and most importantly keeping players in the game.
-------------------
I've got a few contacts in the Junior Rugby scene, and a pattern I noticed in some clubs is they peter out at the U15/U16 level, despite having good numbers below that. When I inquired as to why, the story was generally the same: attrition exists, but kids who go to rugby schools are generally (not always) restricted from playing for their village club after a certain time.
The knock-on effect is that the kids who do NOT go to a rugby school don't have enough left for an Opens (U18) team, and so either go into a joint venture team or simply stop playing. The danger here is we're missing a pool of candidates for senior amateur rugby, purely down to circumstance.
Question 1: is it common for kids in school XVs to be restricted from playing for their club?
-------------------
I know some teachers in schools that have rugby programs. They would like to promote local clubs to kids living in the area who are leaving school, but this is discouraged as it is seen as some form of favouritism or some form of grooming behaviour.
Question 2: is this the experience of anyone here who may be connected to schools?
-------------------
I have had a look at the competitions that have schools based in Sydney. There appears to be multiple competitions with varying size and investment, with a belief that putting them together in some form would just result in thrashings and humiliations etc. At the same time, looking back at the history of a competition like GPS, it appears to be shrinking and the quality varies considerably year to year. Separate schools competitions may soon be a luxury we can't afford.
Question 3: is there any movement toward a combined, graded schools competition in Sydney?
-------------------
This is a quick one but importantly leads onto converting age players to Colts and Senior rugby.
Subbies includes data on registered play numbers, teams, and clubs in its annual report every year.
Question 4: is there any data available on how many teams schools are fielding?
-------------------
School leavers have a lot to think about - the HSC, their ongoing education or vocational pathway. They might not even be living in the same area once they leave school. However, there are going to be those who just want to play rugby and aren't on the professional or premier pathway. Some will go to schools that have contacts at a senior club and get to a Colts program there. What happens to the rest?
I've tried emailing a few schools in the area in order to get a little of their time, and it falls into a hole. The Development Officers at NSW Rugby HQ have offered adviced (including contacts) and it seems every answer to my question is "put in more time" that I don't have for no guarantee of a result.
Question 5: how do I get in contact with people who finish school, love rugby and just want to play rugby outside the bounds of a professional pathway?
If you're someone who is a contact that would be bloody helpful. Hit me up.
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