It seems that CCC supporters may have a gripe about the non-selection of their students for NSW Schools teams.
From what limited I have seem of CCC teams, there are some talented and athletic individuals playing for CCC, but they fall down as they seem to lack the cohesion as a rugby team with rugby smarts.
The only way they are going to get those smarts is through more school rugby, village club rugby, or the various talent development squads and programmes out there, or some combination of more than one of these.
The role of the various rep selectors is not a development role. They are selecting kids who are performing at the required level now, not those kids who have the potential to perform at some future date.
More school rugby. Parents and supporters need to lobby the various Sports masters, and Principals to raise the profile of Rugby within the CCC System. Lobby for more interschool or regional games, perhaps games against ACT or QLD CCC school selections. Arrange more trial games in the build up to NSW Schools carnivals. If CAS retain their two round model, there may be some opportunities to slot in some games in the ISA/GPS trials programme. IMHO until CCC as an organisation get more committed to Rugby as a sporting option with more regular tough games outside the NSW Schools Carnivals, they will continue to be selection bridesmaids.
Village Club rugby. Noting that many (but not all) of the talented CCC kids are dual coders, and junior mungoball is played on both Saturday and Sunday depending where you are, SJRU offers options of either Saturday games (predominantely in the West and South), and Sunday games.
Talented Athlete Programmes. I understand that JGS selectors visit many carnivals across both codes to talent spot. The process of nominating for the JGS has been opened up and appears to be relatively transparent. It is not a guarantee of selection for higher honours as many in the programme have found out.
The bottom line is that gaining selection for the higher representative honours is not something that you just turn up to with no previous effort.
Many of the GPS and CAS kids who are deemed to be treated favourably by the selectors have been playing rugby since they were 4 years old. Many have attended primary schools where they have played rugby as a weekend sport, as well as playing regular village club rugby. They have attended various rugby development camps as and when these have come up. They have played State champs every year for their district team since they were 10. Many of these kids also play for the age group above themselves as well as their own age group, either off the bench or as a run on player.
While at high school, these kids have played both school and village club each week throughout the year as well. They live and breathe rugby with the same passion and devotion that 14 year old girls reserve for Justin Beiber idolation.
Are these kids any better? Probably not, they just have more experience and do the necessary things intuitively. This makes a difference.
Many CCC kids are already playing village club rugby in either country or SJRU and were at Junior State Champs, giving them several pathways for higher representative selection. These kids are getting picked up. If they don't make Schools, they are in Juniors or Country selections at 16's level.
