Having read the past few pages I would like to voice my opinion and a possible solution. I do not believe in schools giving out sporting scholarships as it is detrimental to the morale of the year group and in general the school community.
Private schools have the resources to thoroughly develop players and guide them in the right direction to being a great rugby team.
For those people in this thread that believe sporting scholarships should be allowed to give gifted athletes a "leg up", the problem that we're missing out on is the lack of funding by the ARU.
The ARU needs to promote State Schools Rugby System, most notably the Waratah Shield, and also delegate more money to the club rugby system. With more funds being placed into other areas other than the GPS/CAS/ISA schools, it will allow the wide range of CHS schools to develop their rugby.
On a more ethical note, I have heard rumours that in the 13A's rugby at Newington this year, theres is a boy on a scholarship over 100kg. That means that some players will be tackling a player that is the weight of a Super 15 player. Its dangerous.
In 2009 Newington gave a scholarship to a boy that entered in year 11, Ben Volavola, he was over age and as a result in his final year at school, he had to play 1st Grade at West Harbour.
Schools giving out scholarships creates un-level playing field and is fair to say as "cheating". In the GPS, Riverview, Shore, Grammar dont give out scholarships and they are vary successful on all sporting fields (except for grammar). Shore and Riverview form the nucleus of there 1st XV in the 13A's and work with those group of boys for the following 6 years in developing and enhancing their skills.
I feel bad for the boys at other schools who play in the A's the whole way through to find out that in year 11 and 12 someone from Endeavour Sports High has taken your place in the 1st XV. It lowers the morale of the players and the year group.
GPS rugby is about playing with passion and pride and playing for your mates. Not about buying the best team so they you can "win" the competition in the 150th anniversary of your school.
For those that believe sporting scholarships should be allowed... thats not the solution to giving talented athletes a leg up, the CHS schools system needs developing and more emphasis on the Waratah shield needs to be taken.