Muglair
Alfred Walker (16)
Spot on.
The problem with the pathway ATM is that they have been picking winners at 16.
Very few 16yo state reps fail to be picked in the opens.
Then the 20's reps are drawn from the open schoolboys..
I think it's madness selecting elite squads at these lower age groups.
By all means conduct specialised coaching clinics for these age groups, but don't restrict it.
And if you do restrict it,then those attending Schools with well regarded Rugby programs are the first to be excluded,they don't need to attend sessions that basically duplicate what they are already doing.
Currently doing some tinkering around the dark side development programs and have come down to a separate view that less there would be so much more.
Therefore despite some of my previous posts around the consequent opportunities for kids to access a GPS education I think the development pathways would benefit from broader schemes as suggested above but zero scholarships and less emphasis on elitism in schoolboy rugby. Just like the GPS Code of Conduct.
Having said that I will now hop back on my hobby horse that zero is zero and all stand accused. If zero is the correct answer for rugby then all GPS Headmasters owe our sport an apology.