Sydney Subbies 2025

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

I was however pretty surprised that there wasn't any engagement from the local Subbies clubs with the 'non Shute Shield' kids as the season drew to an end. I reckon there would probably be 10-20 graduating year 12 kids (1st XV and 2nd XV players) who would be interested in playing rugby post school in a more social environment (I know they don't want to play Shute Shield level). I know that the Subbies clubs can't woo them during year 12 with beers and a BBQ (as most are still under 18), but would have thought sending someone down to training / watching a match and then chatting to the boys after a match telling them what Subbies is like might have gotten some traction with them.

Like you said, the top level GPS, CAS and ISA players are always going towards the Shute Shield clubs, but I think there are plenty of players to be picked up at the level below that. These kids have played rugby for the past 6 year at school (and often club and rep up to U14-15), so there is no reason to think that they don't want to play rugby 1st year out of school. To me, all it would take is a bit of engagement, some information on what Subbies is about (and what it isn't about) and I think clubs could get them 1st year out of school. To me, keeping them after the first year is the hard thing.

This is 100% the approach of Knox with Colts are concerned as far as I'm aware. In the clubs prime they used to get the top tier guys in a year group over, nowadays that is unrealistic, and the shift has been to getting those glue guys who might have potential to grow their rugby abilities too, the 3rd/4th XV guys.. those guys seem to relish in leadership / heavily involved colts footy, and they end up being the guys who hang around after their colts days are over to filter into the grades.

I think they also see a bunch of those Shute colts guys come play their last year of eligible colts with the club, when their two options are another year of colts with their old school mates or going up into grade with a Shute club.

The challenge is keeping those higher tier guys around after that year. Further, the school used to have 8+ opens rugby teams 10+ years ago, I dare say that number is closer to 3-4 now, with soccer, AFL, concussion knowledge and student ethnic diversity changing the sports parents want their kids playing. So that 3rd to 4th XV player isnt as good as he used to be.. but still the glue of a subbies footy club.

 

[Odyssey_Park the 2nd]

This is 100% the approach of Knox with Colts are concerned as far as I'm aware. In the clubs prime they used to get the top tier guys in a year group over, nowadays that is unrealistic, and the shift has been to getting those glue guys who might have potential to grow their rugby abilities too, the 3rd/4th XV guys.. those guys seem to relish in leadership / heavily involved colts footy, and they end up being the guys who hang around after their colts days are over to filter into the grades.

I think they also see a bunch of those Shute colts guys come play their last year of eligible colts with the club, when their two options are another year of colts with their old school mates or going up into grade with a Shute club.

The challenge is keeping those higher tier guys around after that year. Further, the school used to have 8+ opens rugby teams 10+ years ago, I dare say that number is closer to 3-4 now, with soccer, AFL, concussion knowledge and student ethnic diversity changing the sports parents want their kids playing. So that 3rd to 4th XV player isnt as good as he used to be.. but still the glue of a subbies footy club.

I think your last point there is a big concern for Australian rugby that is being over looked. In my area a number of schools used to have 3-4 sides and now only have 1 or run a 7s comp etc. Not to mention the drop off in junior clubs sides having teams all The way to 17s/opens.

As a result we are starting to see clubs struggling to get colts sides. We put this down to bad management by those clubs and sometimes it is but it may also be due to the drop in kids playing the game across the board. Which in turn we will see the impact on these clubs in 5-10 years as there older guys stop playing.
The numbers of kids playing have definitely dropped and it’s becoming to keep a player group across the board engaged for a full season

 

[Pfitzy]

Not to mention the drop off in junior clubs sides having teams all The way to 17s/opens.

As I've said in a few places now, we create hurdles at significant points in the journey:

U16 when school duties take some players away from clubs (or U15)
U18 when they leave schools
U20 when they leave Prem Colts

You've also got some situations like a local college who have a significant proportion of their players go into trades or others vocational education at 16 and can't risk getting injured.

 

[The ultimate ressie]

New year, same question. Where is that Phil Lawrence character

 

[Just a supporter]

That's a very good question. I assume he is still at St Pat's.

 

[Prodigy]

New year, same question. Where is that Phil Lawrence character

According to socials, he’s part of the coaching team at Norths Colts. He now belongs in the Premiership Colts chat…

 

[Pfitzy]

A random anecdote: was down at the Field Of Dreams today practising my drone flying (good boys get nice Christmas presents) and some local Oztag lads were training. I know their coach through a local junior RL club, and was chatting to him when this tall, amazingly fit-looking and familiar chap introduces himself.

Hugh Perrett still looks good enough to rip it up at Subbies level, but I was polite enough not to enquire what he was doing Saturdays

Good chat tho.

 

[Prodigy]

A random anecdote: was down at the Field Of Dreams today practising my drone flying (good boys get nice Christmas presents) and some local Oztag lads were training. I know their coach through a local junior RL club, and was chatting to him when this tall, amazingly fit-looking and familiar chap introduces himself.

Hugh Perrett still looks good enough to rip it up at Subbies level, but I was polite enough not to enquire what he was doing Saturdays

Good chat tho.

Subbies rugby vs coaching Kings 1st XV.....

 

[Pfitzy]

Subbies rugby vs coaching Kings 1st XV.....

I was thinking more along the lines of playing