Really? Hasn't GPS rugby been "strong in the public eye" long before the imports started?
Are you seriously suggesting that playing at a GPS school is the only way to make it in professional rugby? This has never been the case. Talented players from all schools have consistently made it. Go back a couple of pages and look at the NSW schools sides from 2006. Equally divided between state and private schools and then have a look at 2013 - about 4 state school students. Sadly now these players are scooped up around Year 9, thus weakening schools and clubs of origin and giving the appearance that GPS schools produce all the best players.
Union may indeed be a professional game, but we are talking about school children who are meant to be doing more a school that playing rugby. i.e. academic, other sports, social development, music, drama etc, etc, etc. What might be called a balanced, all-round, liberal education, in which sport is but one element. Since when did the school system become the producers of cannon fodder for professional sport??