Sydney Colts - 2015

[Hugh Jarse]

Sydney Colts Season 2014 is all over bar the shouting.

Time to start the Season 2015 wang.

Any movements in the Coaching ranks?

What Clubs are the 2014 Year 12 graduates going to?
A few have already signalled their intent by moonlighting with Colts during School Holidays.

Will the Mighty Two Blues maintain playing numbers into 2015, given the splendid group from Oakhill 2012 should be moving to grade in 2015?

Will Gordon manage to recruit the numbers to register 3 Colts teams?

More Clubs are now seriously challenging the recent dominance of University with well structured colts programmes, and well targeted recruiting and talent retention strategies.

Pre-Season training will start in mid to late October in many clubs after a short break.

 

[the baz]

Sydney Colts Season 2014 is all over bar the shouting.

Time to start the Season 2015 wang.

Any movements in the Coaching ranks?

What Clubs are the 2014 Year 12 graduates going to?
A few have already signalled their intent by moonlighting with Colts during School Holidays.

Will the Mighty Two Blues maintain playing numbers into 2015, given the splendid group from Oakhill 2012 should be moving to grade in 2015?

Will Gordon manage to recruit the numbers to register 3 Colts teams?

More Clubs are now seriously challenging the recent dominance of University with well structured colts programmes, and well targeted recruiting and talent retention strategies.

Pre-Season training will start in mid to late October in many clubs after a short break.

norths colts ones coaches move to grade - colts 2's coaches unsure - colts 3's coaches have moved on.

 

[the baz]

can anyone from gordon confirm or refute that tony dempsey is no longer involved with the colts program. Would be a shame if this is true

 

[AussieDominance]

Tony Dempsey is not the 1st colts coach next season but I believe is still actively helping in regards to recruitment, and potentially specialist coaching etc.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

A lot of the crop of 2014 Schoolboys come from within the Gordon footprint.

Gordon has also made big inroads in attracting players from the Central Coast.

Gordon can offer a start in First Grade Colts for talented kids that would otherwise be stuck in seconds behind Schoolboy and U20 Rockstars at other "name" clubs. Same applies for clubs such as Two Blues, Penrith Emus, Beasts, Woodies, Pirates, and Rats.

Hope Gordon and 'Riff manage to field a Colts 3 team next season.

Getting rid of two byes each round may prevent players who have only played 2nd Grade all season suddenly qualifying for the Finals in 3rd grade on the basis that they have "played" in four 3rd Grade bye rounds.

The rules may allow it, but it's still not fair, and it wasn't only The Corporation that indulged in this practice. Others were better.

 

[AussieDominance]

Gordon had a very young side this season. I would expect vast improvement from some of these talented youngsters not that many are heading to grade(5 or 6 I think). Gordon attracted at least 35 to 40 new kids this season. If they can get 20 - 25 this season that is three teams easily.

 

[Gibbo]

'Tis true that Demmo is moving on. During the year he landed a new job that he has to direct more time to. David Telfer, who has been the ARU North shore development officer, is taking up the 1s Colts role. David has been involved with the club as a player and coach for many years.

 

[Tah and feathered]

2015 season will have 1st, 2nd colts and U18
No 3rd colts.
Not a good decision, i think they should have kept 3rd colts and added U18s
Comp starts 21st March - 18 round and top 6 and a week off june long weekend

 

[Hugh Jarse]

I can see a lot of kids heading to Subbies colts.

It is going to get harder and harder for the late developing diamond to be "found" languishing in 3rds Colts.

Will the Under 18's be able to back up for 2nd's Colts?

If so, one game will be played under Under 19 Laws variations, with the game off the bench being played under "normal" International laws.

 

[thecow]

I can see a lot of kids heading to Subbies colts.

Will the Under 18's be able to back up for 2nd's Colts?

If so, one game will be played under Under 19 Laws variations, with the game off the bench being played under "normal" International laws.

3rd Colts have always been playing Under 19 Law variations, so that wouldn't be changed?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

At the moment it is the talented Year 12 boys (Under 18's) that can play with the required physicality for Colts 2 and Colts 1. These kids will already be in Colts 1 and 2 for season 2015. I wonder about how an entire team of Under 18's will be able to provide a bench for Colts 2.

All front rowers from Under 18's will be required to be cleared for Senior Rugby to provide the required "suitably trained and competent" front row players on the bench.

Can you imagine what coming up against someone like Oscar Pryor Lees would do for the confidence of a Under 18 prop coming off the bench for Colts 2?

<snip>
It is going to get harder and harder for the late developing diamond to be "found" languishing in 3rds Colts.
<snip>.

Once a kid is "in the system" via Junior Gold Cup, NGS (or its latest incarnation), NSW Schools etc they are "quids in" to stay "in the system" and be rewarded with the development opportunities that only two colts U20 grades will offer. I get the feeling that this decision will reward those clubs who want to polish talent, rather than do any player development heavy lifting.

With even more focus on excellence, I wonder how much longer 4th Grade will be run in the grown up grades. Will the cattle be coming through the Colts programmes in sufficient numbers to be able to maintain a 4th grade team? But that is for another thread.

 

[ghoti]

What does this mean for Junior Opens which was u17/u18?

Is Junior opens now only u17?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

For many years SJRU stopped at Under 17's, with an occasional U18 stand alone competition. In many years there was little interest and SJRU didn't offer a U18's. SJRU Opens (combined U17/U18) is a relatively new concept. The first one was about 5 years ago IIRC.

The more talented CCC or CHS U18 players have typically been found in the CAS/ISA/AAGPS system for their senior years, or jumped into Colts for their U18 year.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

First Cabs of the Rank.

Sydney University Colts Player Information day yesterday.
http://www.sydneyunirugby.com.au/article/sufc-open-training--information-day

Eastwood Player Coaching Clinic this weekend.
http://www.eastwoodrugby.com.au/content/colts-coaching-clinic-free-saturday
All new and returning Colts for the 2015 season are invited to attend the upcoming Training Clinics being held at TG Millner at 9am on Sunday 14 September 2014 and Sunday 21 September 2014.

Come and learn about the Eastwood Colts Program, enjoy a short 75 minute session (good break from your HSC studies) and share our rugby hospitality with a BBQ afterwards with coaches, trainers and supporters. Let us know youre coming by contacting Andy Fairfull (m) 0449 998 433 or (e) colts@eastwoodrugby.com.au

Silence on the other club websites ATM.

 

[Tah and feathered]

Southern districts have had info on there club website and colts facebook page and club facebook page for about 2 weeks

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^^^
Google tells me that http://www.southerndistricts.com.au/ is the Hobbits Website, but that gives me a "This website is unavailable" message.

@Tah and Feathered, What are the details for SD Colts for 2015? I don't do facebook.

 

[Tah and feathered]

Not good about the website
There are 2 info sessions, wednesday 24th September and sunday 12th october
Speaking to the coaches a massive amount of effort has been made promoting the info dates through the Shire and St george and Campbelltown areas
Posters have been sent to schools and put up in over 20 McDonald stores.

 

[GPSrow]

Was at the Gordon Information afternoon today. Very healthy group of young lads attended with many coming from Knox, View and Barker. Lets hope the Gordon Junior program has its worth with last years age group willing to come up to colts.

 

[Quick Hands]

Was at the Gordon Information afternoon today. Very healthy group of young lads attended with many coming from Knox, View and Barker. Lets hope the Gordon Junior program has its worth with last years age group willing to come up to colts.

Many local boys from state schools there?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Update from the Pirates web site: http://www.westharbourrugby.com.au/
West Harbour 2015 PLAYER INFORMATION EVENING - Thursday 30th October
Concourse Area at Concord Oval at 6.30pm
All current and prospective Grade and Colts players are invited to hear new Club Head Coach Joe Barakat outline his plans for the 2015 Season and meet members of the 2015 Coaching and Management Staff. This will include details of the 2015 Shute Shield Season, pre season training plans & schedules & the operation of the new West Harbour Gym facility. Please note that this session is specifically for players.