Which clubs are the Class of 2012 going to?

[Lee Grant]

For many 2012 rep players next year which be a dose of cruel reality. They will be playing with and against lads a year or two older and more hardened in that time. The older players will have the benefit of an extra year or two of gym work also - applied to an older body.

The step from school to Colts sorts some school stars out and they will also discover that some of their contemporaries will be late developers in the Colts years and can catch up or even surpass them.

But I digress.

Do forum members have definite information on what clubs school rep players are going to? No maybes please.
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[Lee Grant]

There has been a post in the NSW GPS thread which does not really pertain to just GPS:

It doesn't really pertain to this thread either but it is not entirely irrelevant. By all means - discuss it on this thread:

Northern Suburbs Rugby has begun the search for a new generation of young men to lead the club into the future – both on and off the field.

Our vision is to become one of Australia’s strongest Rugby Clubs. For that to happen we need young men of quality and integrity to help make that vision a reality.

Northern Suburbs can offer Colts the opportunity to achieve their goals in rugby through our strong coaching and development program, and we are committed to providing a pathway to higher honours for our Colts and Grade players.

In the past 2 years, we have had the following Norths Men contracted to the next level: 8 to the Brumbies; 2 to the Rebels; 2 to the Waratahs; 4 to the Force; 6 to the National Academy; 3 to the Australian Sevens.

We recognise that playing rugby is also about life experience, and we can offer the opportunity to be part of a unique culture that celebrates mateship and enjoyment.


DATE: Saturday, 15th September 2012

LOCATION: Cabana Bar & Lounge, 80 Christie Street, St Leonards 2065

TIME: from 5.30 pm

PRESENTERS: Gordon Irons, Scott Fava, Chris Thomson (Melbourne Rebels Lock)

 

[gilbert15]

How many of these letters has North's sent out?
I got one

 

[Lee Grant]

What level did you play at school gilbert?

What school association?

Any rep honours?

No need for any more details.
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[Iluvmyfooty]

Norths have been doing this for the past 3 years at least. They contact directly some of the better players and invite them in for talks and then offer a general invitation to others to come along and have a look at what Norths offer

 

[Lee Grant]

Good for them - I was just interested in what the general profile was of the players they sent letters to.

 

[supporter]

There has been a post in the NSW GPS thread which does not really pertain to just GPS: It doesn't really pertain to this thread either but it is not entirely irrelevant. By all means - discuss it on this thread:

Thanks LG

 

[supporter]

Good for them - I was just interested in what the general profile was of the players they sent letters to.

Some of the GPS boys have been invited to their colts informations night.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Norths have been doing this for the past 3 years at least. They contact directly some of the better players and invite them in for talks and then offer a general invitation to others to come along and have a look at what Norths offer

Mate they've been doing it for 30 - but there might have been a touch more beer back then and Gordon Irons was drinking not talking!

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

R

Norths have been doing this for the past 3 years at least. They contact directly some of the better players and invite them in for talks and then offer a general invitation to others to come along and have a look at what Norths offer

Randwick have been doing this for years. They approached me at my club presentation day and invited my brother via the post.

 

[lily]

Uni. I'm assuming they have already bought the team.

 

[Lee Grant]

Joeys and Oz Schools LHP Tomas Robertson is going there lily.

Can't think of any other club that would bring out his potential more.

 

[Done that]

Joeys and Oz Schools LHP Tomas Robertson is going there lily.

Can't think of any other club that would bring out his potential more.

Lee considering that opinion , who do you recommend that the rest of the Oz school players go to , to bring out their potential ?

 

[Lee Grant]

If they were wanted I would recommend they all go there from a rugby development point of view, but it would be a nonsense because all the players would end up in the same club. Sydney Uni wouldn't take all of them anyway.

I know your point: that it's hard for other clubs to compete against the benefits that Uni players get; so they get the cream.

The other side of it, the player side, is that a majority of school players would want to get into the Sydney University rugby programme, especially a young bloke like Robbo who is a country lad with no ties to a Sydney club - and is also strong academically.

I was talking about the player side of things.
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[Tahboy]

Whilst Uni have good the down side is a lot of players do not enjoy the rugby culture and want to leave
I think other clubs have very good programmes and have a more enjoyable club enviroment and its all about balance
Plenty of Aust schoolboy players and other quality players have gone to Uni and gone backwards because they have to play lower level colts or get bits of games. There are a number of players leaving uni next year because of these situations.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Market forces prevailing?

Have the other Clubs colts programmes caught up, or will the clubs benefit from Uni programme graduates (albeit possibly unhappy ones) rocking up and lifting the standards at the receiving clubs because of their experience and expectations gained from the Uni programme.

Meanwhile, Uni get a new bunch of raw recruits to work on. Seems like a real win-win situation with some credit to go to Uni for raising the standards across the board.

Alternately, some players may actually not be as good as they think they are, and they don't like the reality that they may be forced to confront at Uni, where they aren't treated like Rugby Royalty and fawned over by sycophantic and vicarious Coaches, Masters, Parents, and Old Boys as they were when they were in the 1st XV in Year 12. Check out the number of posts in the Sydney Colts 2012 thread compared to the GPS 2012, ISA 2012, or CAS 2012 threads.

Credit where it is due as well please. I know of several boys at Uni that were not Aust (or NSW) Schoolboy rep players but they have worked diligently within the Uni programme and have consequently gained and retained Colts 1's and Grade positions over some players who have much better schoolboy rep pedigrees. Some players when released from the Schoolboy system struggle with the transition from 1st XV schoolboy star to Colts, and are unable to maintain their training disciplines, and form outside the School pressure cooker environment.

Maybe some impatient former Schoolboy Rep darlings need some HTFU cream.

Edit: Grammar :"...better much schoolboy rep pedigrees.." to "...much better schoolboy rep pedigrees..."

 

[Lee Grant]

Meanwhile, Uni get a new bunch of raw recruits to work on. Seems like a real win-win situation with some credit to go to Uni for raising the standards across the board.

I think there is a bit of that: players getting a grounding at Uni but wanting to get to grade quicker and moving onto other clubs before they get to the Ones. Ben Seymour comes to mind.

I have mixed feelings about Uni. As a fan of a lowly club, the Rats, I look at Uni at jealous eyes and think how much better the comp would be if all the good new players were spread out. This was particularly the case when Phil Waugh, a Narrabeen Tiger junior, went there after his Shore days (- and his dad was on the Rats committee).

But then I think what a top resource for Oz rugby Sydney Uni is as a rugby nursery for teenage players and just above. Others would vomit reading that and rather be without Uni so good players are spread more evenly.

I understand that view, but if I were a billionaire (and I'm only $999,999,900 short) and I financed a national domestic rugby competition, I would look at the Sydney University rugby asset and have it as a stand alone team - and find a way to make the rest of it work.
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[HarveyColon]

fairly certain jim stewart will be playing for the rats

 

[Lee Grant]

He's a local; so I hope you are right.

He has an old head on his shoulders and is a robust lad. I don't think it will take him long to get to Grade at the Rats if he plays there and that goes against what I normally recommend for school leavers.

10/15 McIntyre is another young hard head who may not spend too much time in Colts, depending on what club he plays for. He is not very big but he is of the same tough nut mould with a good head for the game.

He may play in Brisbane where he has attended the Gold Squad training sessions, as it's handier for him.
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[It is what it is]

fairly certain jim stewart will be playing for the rats

He knocked back RL and is going to Uni.