There will be a new dawn in GPS rugby in the 1sts, 2nds and 3rds competitions this year.
The changes for 2013 are:
There will be ten rounds in the 1st XV competition for the first time. The normal six-round competition with a bye week for each school, preceded by a round of trial games against various GPS and non-GPS schools, has been discontinued.
At the request of the school, the AAGPS has decided to relegate the Sydney Grammar 1st XV to the 3rd XV competition. This leaves the remaining six teams who have been in the 1sts competition in recent years, to have five home games against the others, and five away.
The relegation of Grammar will upset numerous old boys, and current students wanting to represent their school at the highest level that GPS schoolboy rugby has to offer. Nonetheless, I couldn’t fathom the thought of being a parent or supporter sitting in the Weigall stands and watching a good bunch of lads getting dominated on the park by 50 points or more every game, all season.
This has been a controversial decision, but it will give incentive to Sydney Grammar to fight their way back into the top group. I expect them to have a good, if not highly successful, season in the 3rd XV competition. Watch out.
The 2nd XV competition
The same six schools that contest the 1st XV competition will field teams in the 2nd XV competition.
The 3rd XV Competition
As mentioned: the Sydney Grammar 1st XV will compete at this level. They will play against all the other GPS schools including the Sydney Boys High School 1st XV, who played in the division last year, plus The Armidale School 1st XV, who played in the 2nd XV competition previously.
Hopefully, some of those three schools can thrive and work their way back up.
The Super Six
Newington College
This year the school celebrates its 150th year, and, belonging to a rugby school on the rise, all the boys will feel part of something special and will want to show off their prowess and talent. But will they win it?
New has come off a strong 2012 premiership and will benefit from the experience of six boys returning. Some of them have representative honours and this will help newcomers coming into Newington’s 1st XV.
Players to watch out for:
Lachlan Cannell — an elusive back rower, and a workhorse, who is now of an age to show what he is worth in the Schoolboy competition.
David Morris — works very well with his ginger counterpart. Was overlooked last year and could be one of the finest GPS back rowers in 2013.
Ellis Abrahams — British, stocky, and has been playing in the Ones and Twos since Year 10. He will perform well at number 10 this year and may put other well-known players in the position to shame.
Josh Mitchell — is infamously known as “The Bear” to his mates, and that’s how he plays on the field. He can determine outcomes in close games with his big hits, and has a bright future.
Simon Kennewell — may surprise people that he is only 15 yet he will be playing with the big boys. He was meant to be playing in the 16s this year but was promoted to be the 1st XV fullback after showing his worth despite his size.
There are more well-known representative players in the team such as Taane Milne and Tepai Moeroa, but the lads I have mentioned were underrated in the 2012 season and yet were some of the best players in the GPS. Their team experience at this level will rub off on new players.
St. Josephs College (Joeys)
Being born as a school of the Marist faith, brotherhood and rugby, Joeys are perennial favourites and will probably remain so until the day Armageddon strikes Hunters Hill head on.
As usual they will have physically and mentally strong players who will take a hit and get back up. If there was a team that could seal the deal this year, it could well be these blokes.
Players to watch out for:
Andrew Deegan — will be playing his third season in the 1sts and will make his maturing skills and workmanship count, and have him feature in a GPS team this year. He played at inside centre in a trial game against Kings last week but I think they should keep him at flyhalf.
Matt Sandell — The 2012 Australian Schools tight head prop is aggressive, dominant and technically efficient in scrums and rucks. He will captain the team and probably some representative sides as well.
Ned Hanigan — this rangy lad has has shown his big engine rowing in the 1st VIII for the school and has been seen to make huge hits for his rugby team. Watch out for him in the GPS 1sts or 2nds.
St. Ignatius College (Riverview)
Riverview stepped up this year in trial form which showed the development of young players such as Hosea Fotokava, Henry Hutchinson and Bill Freeman, who were all in the 2012 NSW Schools Under 16 team.
Some of the boys have been playing together for years and with Sam Mete and Jack Bodwitch playing with the lads mentioned above, they should not repeat their unlucky season of 2012.
I’m sticking my neck out and am picking that Riverview will do better this year than most people think; much better, even though they may not mature as a team until 2014. If they get over their first two rounds against Newington and Joeys they could win the tournament.
Players to watch out for:
Henry Hutchinson – has been playing grade-A rugby all his life. He was a standout in the Australian Under 16 Championships last year and there could be a lot of hype about him now that he is in the 1st XV. His easy ball skills and fast play give him an X-factor and this could see him getting rep honours even though he is still in Year 11.
Hosea Vakauta – This big Tongan lad will play a lot of heavy rugby in 2013 and I’m picking that he will prove to be one of the best hookers in the GPS.
The Scots College
Scots, like Shore, were underestimated last year and may be this year too.
They have some serious talent and experience with the likes of Andrew Kellaway, Olly Kamp, Angus Crichton and Ben Starkey all returning for the Scots 1st XV. They will play a quick attacking game, Sevens’ style, and have speedy and effective backs who will run through many backlines and score under the posts.
Players to watch out for:
Andrew Kellaway — This red headed rocket has been dominating his opposite man in the GPS since the days of starting in the Scots 13As. He progressed through the ranks quickly and was chosen in the 1st XV as a Year 10 boy.
I could ramble on forever about this bloke, but something tells me he could turn into the next Lachie Turner. He could be the most influential back in the GPS competition this year.
Angus Crichton — I would pick him to take on any opposing number 8 in the competition. He is a strong defender and plays with great heart in every game he goes into. He may not look intimidating but on the field he is ruthless with ball-in-hand and in tight defensive situations.
The Church of England Grammar School (Shore)
Some of the younger lads returning to the team, such as Clancy and Woodhill, will mature this year and should be at least as commanding as they were in 2012. But they still have doubters and I also have them as underdogs this season.
We will know more after their tough first round encounter against Joeys, at Joeys.
Players to watch out for:
Jum Woodhill – Had a great season in 2012 year taking on some of the toughest back rowers the GPS could throw at him. Although a Year 10 lad he was an expert defender and excellent in rucks where his pilfering skills shone through. Now in Year 11, he should be selected for GPS 2s or 3s.
Doug Streeter – This big lad is one of the most underrated forwards coming into the 2013 season. He has been through both the glory and darker days of Shore rugby since playing in the Opens in 2011 and now has the opportunity, through pathways, to show his true class and prowess in scrums. This lad should make the GPS 1s or 2s. Look out!
The Kings School
The Kings School has always been a powerhouse of the GPS with its big and hearty country boys leading the school into battle on the rugby field.
This year they have Corey Tulloch, Will Davies and James Kane returning in the backline, and will be joined by fiery scrum half Rory Davis. In the forwards Jack McCalman, Ben Stacey and Jono Burke return, and are joined by George Lehmann from 2012 Sydney Juniors.
But unless they can improve the ball work showed in the trial against Joeys last week, and knock off some front runners, they will be underdogs in 2013.
Players to watch out for:
Jack McCalman – The Kings’ captain shares genes with distant cousin Ben McCalman and could be following in his footsteps one day. Quick and agile, he is in the NGS squad, and was in the Australian Youth 7s team.
Corey Tulloch — Is a solidly built flyhalf with a solid all-round game both on attack and defence. He played for GPS Twos in 2012 and is a strong candidate to make the Ones in 2013.
James Kane — Played on the wing in the 1st XV last year as an U/16 player and returns as a fullback who is good with ball in hand and is a safe custodian.
Fearless predictions for the 2013 Super Six
1. Riverview
2. Joeys
3. Newington
4. Scots
5. Shore
6. Kings
Photos by Lee Grant
