whatever
Darby Loudon (17)
I don't think there'll ever be enough space here to solve it all and where do you start. Pruning some of the ARU hangers on. But this forum is about junior rugby so to break down the power that so few currently hold over so many then ditch the elitism squads. I'm absolutely opposed to these little clubs because I think they shrink the talent pool rather than expanding it and development needs to be made available to as many kids as possible for growth and not seen to be the possession of a privileged few. Invest in colts rugby development where most kids start to even out mentally and physically and is in the clubs best interest, they did a good job in the past.
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As an unabashed supporter of rugby I make no apolagies for seeing open schools rugby as being the cut off point where kids need to make a decision on where they want to pursue a future. If they choose league then good luck to them and we put the time and funding into the next best rugby player. Keeps happening but few seem to care. Unlike NZ and SA we have major competition for our athletes allegiance and can't afford to be wasting time and resources developing the oppositions next generations.
While there has always been an element of politics throughout the game, much of the plot was lost when the game went professional and the administration couldn't keep pace with the players and the rugby beauracracy invented programs and policies to justify an existence. Reducing the influence that some hold over those at such an early stage of development may help redress some of the issues that have evolved in this time.
I don't know whether going back to the days of pre-professional rugby (concentration on colts etc) is the way to go unless rugby officials put their hands up and accept that Australia will be a 2nd tier rugby nation with the odd team, every decade or so, that will push the powerhouse nations.
You are correct in saying that union is quickly becoming the 4th winter code in junior sports, at least in Sydney (which is all I can speak on). AFL is here for at least a decade with GWS (they will spend mutiple millions of $ in their attempt to win the hearts and minds of families and their children). West Sydney now has its own A league soccer side - therefore, more pressure.
Australia is the only tier 1 (or any tier) rugby country where their rugby code is not the dominant code (at least on the East Coast).
SA - rugby only, NZ - rugby, with league a long way behind, the same with the British Isle countries.
Is there a simple answer, to how to save Oz rugby at an international level - I doubt it.
Giving up, and allowing rugby to be a sport played in the eastern and northern suburbs, with a small enclave in western sydney - is no answer.
To win the dual coders is the obvious answer, but how.
You state that JG & NG squads are not the answer, although many of the current Super 15 & wallabies seem to have graduated from these groups. So it is a start.
Allowing GPS and another schools to recruit by way of (undisclosed) scholarships, seemingly for their own benefit - not for the sport, as a whole? Doubt it, as you have pointed out Milne, Moeroa and throw in Lussick (to name a few) will first try their luck in league via NYC before union.
The selective state sport high schools seem to have dropped their bundle in their rugby programs, at best they develop dual coders by year 12 - who definitely have a preference for league.
The CCC association of schools (a major number of possible recruits) will never move away from league as their major winter sport.
Ok, so there is not a simple solution.
So how about this (left field and outside the square) - the school associations that have rugby union as there major winter sport are GPS, CAS & ISA. Within these associations there seems to be schools that can not compete with others on the rugby field (Sydney Boys & Grammar are examples in the GPS and there will be anothers in CAS & ISA); therefore, why doesn't the ARU instigate sport (rugby) scholarships for identified 15 and 16 year old dual coders to enter these schools in year 10 on the proviso that they will not only play rugby at school (GPS, CAS, ISA) but must commit to a village club for weekend games - strengthens the association comps, as well as, village rugby.
After schooling, who knows but at least the identified talent will play rugby exclusively for 3 years.
Next step, a serious semi-professional comp below Super 15, as said, the Shute shield is shite.