Schoolboy Rugby needs a review?

[Snort]

Apologies for digression - but I have wondered about this for a LONG Time. Why is it that so very, very few Cricketers come out of the Private Schools systems in Queensland and NSW (in particular) generally these competitions take cricket very seriously - and generally, they have above-average to excellent facilities. What is it about the system that causes this miserable post-school promotion rate?

There are two factors. First, weight of numbers. Statistically, the proportion of the population attending private schools is quite small - hence you would expect a small proportion of representative sportmen to come through these schools. The second answer is that the overall standard of private school cricket is modest. Young players with talent have become as good as they can get at that level by Year 9 or Year 10. They then stand still for two or three years, instead of being toughened up in Grade cricket, like their counterparts in State schools. This of course doesn't occur in Rugby, since very few players are ready for senior club Rugby before leaving school.

 

[gpsoldboy]

There are two factors. First, weight of numbers. Statistically, the proportion of the population attending private schools is quite small - hence you would expect a small proportion of representative sportmen to come through these schools. The second answer is that the overall standard of private school cricket is modest. Young players with talent have become as good as they can get at that level by Year 9 or Year 10. They then stand still for two or three years, instead of being toughened up in Grade cricket, like their counterparts in State schools. This of course doesn't occur in Rugby, since very few players are ready for senior club Rugby before leaving school.

I think it's also got a lot to do with the fact that cricket is really a local club game rather than a school game with a very good and known career path for talented young cricketers as they progress from club to age level rep teams - there aren't too many schoolboy comps and the really talented young cricketers playing in them will also be playing club and rep cricket outside of school.

 

[sarcophilus]

moved from another thread on request in case there are any meetings coming up to discuss
posted a month ago

building some foundations where they are needed (at club level) rather than a top down may add more relevance (to the JGS that seem to fade in interested numbers toward the end of the program.)

maybe a summer club comp so players can meet club commitments and qualify for selection for state cup teams in the school off season, This would also mean players at this level may not have to affiliate with and give credit to large village clubs once their own disappears.

or maintaining the JGS as zone teams for competitions with the interest added of some country trips (any excuse for a road trip) The squads might be broken into age groups with two year gaps to avoid safety issues, First past the post super rugby or French top 14 bonus point tabling would do

This way the JGS has more of a point and may be able to demand some commitment to compete against Harold Matts and SG Ball rather than losing numbers through lack of interest

 

[CTPE]

building some foundations where they are needed (at club level) rather than a top down may add more relevance (to the JGS that seem to fade in interested numbers toward the end of the program.)

maybe a summer club comp so players can meet club commitments and qualify for selection for state cup teams in the school off season, This would also mean players at this level may not have to affiliate with and give credit to large village clubs once their own disappears.

or maintaining the JGS as zone teams for competitions with the interest added of some country trips (any excuse for a road trip) The squads might be broken into age groups with two year gaps to avoid safety issues, First past the post super rugby or French top 14 bonus point tabling would do

This way the JGS has more of a point and may be able to demand some commitment to compete against Harold Matts and SG Ball rather than losing numbers through lack of interest

Your suggestion for the JGS has a lot of merit and I particularly like Rugby having something that competes with the RL's Harrold Matthews & SG Ball competitions.

In 2010/11 the JGS in Sydney was only Western Sydney centric with 5 venues in various parts of the West and it was also really only for U15s & u16s players with a smattering of U17s. The pre-Christmas component was all about skills and fitness but at the end of January 2011 they held a weekend camp at St Gregs Campbelltown which culminated in games between 5 teams representing each of the Western Sydney venues. It was probably the highlight of the program as the boys got the opportunity to display their talent and skills on the field rather than just in drills. Following this the boys went back to doing skills and fitness until the end of the program.

The 2011/12 and 2012/13 Sydney JGS programs were expanded to include the North and the East/South operating from only three venues and other than the three squads meeting at the one place on the first day of the program and then once more later in the program for a specific position skills day there was no interaction between the venues and certainly no games were played. The program for the last two years has only been about skills and fitness and you're right about interest seeming to fade towards the end of the program because the boys were doing the same thing each week and in addition players commitments with club rugby was commencing.

I think that the JGS program would be enhanced if they limited the skills & fitness component to the pre-Christmas period and then had an organised competition between the various venues as you have suggested including all of regional venues. This could be either a 15 a side or a sevens comp and have teams for the U15,16 & U17age groups? Maybe the program could conclude in mid March with a gala day of finals at either a Sydney or Country venue with it alternating between City and Country each year?

 

[gpsoldboy]

Your suggestion for the JGS has a lot of merit and I particularly like Rugby having something that competes with the RL's Harrold Matthews & SG Ball competitions.

In 2010/11 the JGS in Sydney was only Western Sydney centric with 5 venues in various parts of the West and it was also really only for U15s & u16s players with a smattering of U17s. The pre-Christmas component was all about skills and fitness but at the end of January 2011 they held a weekend camp at St Gregs Campbelltown which culminated in games between 5 teams representing each of the Western Sydney venues. It was probably the highlight of the program as the boys got the opportunity to display their talent and skills on the field rather than just in drills. Following this the boys went back to doing skills and fitness until the end of the program.

The 2011/12 and 2012/13 Sydney JGS programs were expanded to include the North and the East/South operating from only three venues and other than the three squads meeting at the one place on the first day of the program and then once more later in the program for a specific position skills day there was no interaction between the venues and certainly no games were played. The program for the last two years has only been about skills and fitness and you're right about interest seeming to fade towards the end of the program because the boys were doing the same thing each week and in addition players commitments with club rugby was commencing.

I think that the JGS program would be enhanced if they limited the skills & fitness component to the pre-Christmas period and then had an organised competition between the various venues as you have suggested including all of regional venues. This could be either a 15 a side or a sevens comp and have teams for the U15,16 & U17age groups? Maybe the program could conclude in mid March with a gala day of finals at either a Sydney or Country venue with it alternating between City and Country each year?

These are all good suggestions and would most likely make the JGS program a lot more relevant. Doubt it will happen though

 

[Inside Shoulder]

The 2011/12 and 2012/13 Sydney JGS programs were expanded to include the North and the East/South operating from only three venues and other than the three squads meeting at the one place on the first day of the program and then once more later in the program for a specific position skills day there was no interaction between the venues and certainly no games were played. The program for the last two years has only been about skills and fitness and you're right about interest seeming to fade towards the end of the program because the boys were doing the same thing each week and in addition players commitments with club rugby was commencing.

BUt the program did call for games at the end, IIRC, in 2012/13.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

How much was the JGS/NGS a tool of Nucifora era?

With Whitaker in charge as GM Development (or whatever it is called) reporting direct to Servo at Rugby Central, are we likely to see changes in the pathway/s and the gold squads?