Schoolboy TV coverage

[rugby eye]

just throwing this idea out there, see what people think. I regularly travel to Japan for work and noticed that they show many schoolboy games on tv with commentating, team list the lot. Their culture and passion for rugby is now huge. Surely some people could pull some strings and perhaps get one game a week on air. eg shute shield format. without a doubt schoolboy rugby is some of the most entertaining going around and this would only boost it in the state.

 

[Joe Mac]

The ABC sometimes shows Sydney GPS games which they claim have significantly more viewers than the standard Shute Shield matches. I think they would show more but governing body of GPS doesn't want it become any more professional than it already is for the kids sakes.

Im interested to head more about Rugby in Japan. You say its huge. Can you tell us more about your experience?

 

[light]

Brilliant idea although will take away from the crowds at games, which to me is more important. These kids are too young to be under the spotlight of TV and criticism of commentators at this point and while it would be awesome to watch I don't think schools would be willing to participate, something that could easily be solved by money

 

[rugby eye]

The ABC sometimes shows Sydney GPS games which they claim have significantly more viewers than the standard Shute Shield matches. I think they would show more but governing body of GPS doesn't want it become any more professional than it already is for the kids sakes.

Im interested to head more about Rugby in Japan. You say its huge. Can you tell us more about your experience?

Yes, their passion is amazing. The boys play like robots, literally living and breathing rugby. They respect the game like a religion.
I dont know whether the televised matches were for a national competetion or just a regular schoolboy comp but either way very impressive. Its unfortunate that the governing bodies feel this way as it could act as promotion for their schools. It gives those who dont get that taste of schoolboy rugby an experiance and promotes the game in one of its finest forms.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

regular competition - at least in Sydney
at that level the game is intended for the participants not the viewers

 

[PaarlBok]

SA Schoolboy rugby always have the rival thing going. We call it the yearly interschools and is really big and probably the rugby culture foundation. Australia probably have the same thing going for ages and FNB Bank took Francois Pienaar on board to drive this as a sponsor.

We call Interschools FNB Classic Clashes and it goes from strength to strength yearly, nowadays they include netball aswell
http://www.classicclashes.co.za/Community/

Humble beginnings

Nine years ago, research identified a gap in the schoolboy/student market and the concept of the Classic Clashes was born. FNB entered into this sponsorship/partnership, and initiated the FNB Classic Clashes concept with some 20 schools countrywide with ten games played during the season. Since then, that number has grown to an astounding 46 FNB Classic Clashes in 2010!
The FNB Classic Clashes concept was developed around traditional schoolboy rugby 'brawls', and FNB looked to steer their sponsorship focus to enhance these games. This sponsorship also allowed FNB the opportunity to develop relationships with each school, its teaching staff, the parents and the communities around the school.
It was soon recognised that schoolboy rugby had a great following and regularly drew crowds of between 1 000 and 20 000 strong!. The concept took off and nine years down the track FNB enjoys a rugby partnership with 90 schools countrywide.
Scope for development

FNB, being a Proudly South African bank, was keen to extend this concept to schools from various communities who played a good game of rugby and were highly competitive.
To this end, FNB has included the following schools on the FNB Classic Clashes fixture list:

• Ndzondelelo High in Port Elizabeth
• Itembelihle High, Zweliyandila High and Ntsonkotha High from East London
• New Orleans and Klein Nederburg in Paarl
• Weltevrede and Bergrivier from Wellington
• Schoonspruit and Wesbank both from Malmesbury
• Carlton van Heerden and AJ Ferreira in Upington
• Kasselsvlei and Bellville South from Cape Town

Making it their own

The FNB Classic Clashes not only targets the rugby game, but allow the different areas of each school to promote themselves and raise funds for particular projects, while providing a platform to attract spectators to a feast of rugby.
To add to the excitement, 5 live FNB Classic Clashes are broadcast on on DSTV’s SuperSport. The schools involved enjoy the coverage not only of the game, but have the opportunity to profile their school and their traditions. In addition to the live coverage on SuperSport, the FNB Classic Clashes magazine programme is broadcast every Monday night at 19h00 on SuperSport 1 from April to October and profiles 2 clashes per episode. The opportunities for these schools are immense!
Festivals of rugby

FNB also partners three Gauteng schools to host the Easter Rugby Festivals (King Edward VII, St John’s College and St Stithians College) which attract participation from some 36 schools countrywide. FNB sponsors the inclusion of a development team at each of these Easter Rugby Festivals, giving them the opportunity to be part of a festival that adds a new dimension to their rugby game. To make things even more exciting, each festival is covered on SuperSport.
Roving all over the land

In addition to the three Gauteng festivals, a roving festival has also been introduced, further entrenching the concept and showcasing it in other regions.
These include:

• The FNB Grey Bloemfontein Rugby Festival – part of their 150th Anniversary celebrations,
• The FNB Cape Schools Week – part of Selborne’s 100 year celebrations.
• The FNB Grey High School Rugby Festival – part of their 150th Anniversary celebrations
• The FNB Queen’s College 150th Rugby Festival – part of their 150th Anniversary celebrations

From boys to men

FNB decided early on to focus on taking schoolboy rugby that much further by developing young talent for the platform of student rugby. The bank initially partnered two traditional rugby playing universities – the University of Stellenbosch (Maties) and the University of Pretoria (Tukkies). This sponsorship encompassed the university rugby club, the koshuis league, the development programme run by the university and the branding of their particular stadium. FNB initially sponsored five major inter-varsity clashes, but moved on to the FNB Super Bowl which evolved into the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International and is now involved with 8 rugby playing universities
These eight include:

• University of Stellenbosch (Maties)
• University of Pretoria (Tukkies)
• University of North West – Potchefstroom (Pukke)
• University of Johannesburg (UJ)
• Free State University (Shimlas)
• Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
• University of Cape Town (Ikeys)
• Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU)

This is probably worth a look for ARU to explode rugby

2012 FNB Classic Clashes Fixture list
10 March: Hoërskool Diamantveld vs Hoërskool Noord-Kaap in Kimberley
17 March: King Edward VII School vs Pretoria Boys High in Johannesburg
21 April: Hoërskool Upington vs Hoërskool Duineveld in Upington
5 May: Affies vs Pretoria Boys High in Pretoria
5 May: Daniël Pienaar vs Hoërskool Die Brandwag in Uitenhage
5 May: St Andrew's vs Graeme College in Grahamstown
5 May: HTS Drostdy vs Worcester Gim in Worcester
5 May: HTS Potchefstroom vs Potchefstroom Boys' High in Potchefstroom
*7 May: St John's College vs St Stithians College in Johannesburg
12 May: Affies vs Grey College in Pretoria
12 May: Sentraal vs Jim Fouché in Bloemfontein
12 May: Hoërskool Piketberg vs Schoonspruit in Piketberg
19 May: Zwartkop vs Eldoraigne in Pretoria
19 May: Hoërskool Transvalia vs HTS Vereeniging in Vereeniging
19 May: St Alban's vs Hoërskool Menlopark in Pretoria
*21 May: Zweliyandila High vs Ntsonkotha High in Chalumna, East London
*21 May: Framesby vs Nico Malan in Port Elizabeth
25 May: Itembelihle vs Ndzondelelo in Zwide, Port Elizabeth
26 May: Hoërskool Florida vs Hoërskool Marais Viljoen in Florida
26 May: HTS Middelburg vs Hoërskool Middelburg in Middelburg
26 May: Glenwood vs DHS in Durban
26 May: Hoërskool Sasolburg vs HTS Sasolburg in Sasolburg
26 May: Potchefstroom Gimmies vs Potchefstroom Volkies in Potchefstroom
26 May: Hoërskool Brits vs Hoërskool Rustenburg in Brits
26 May: Bellville South vs Kasselsvlei in Bellville
*28 May: Hoërskool Schoonspruit vs Hoërskool Wolmaransstad in Klerksdorp
*28 May: Bethlehem Voortrekker vs Hoërskool Witteberg in Bethlehem
*28 May: Hoërskool Klerksdorp vs Potchefstroom Gimmies in Klerksdorp
2 June: Hoërskool Merensky vs Hoërskool Ben Vorster in Tzaneen
2 June: Hoërskool Vereeniging vs Hoërskool Dr Malan in Vereeniging
2 June: Maritzburg College vs Kearsney College in Pietermaritzburg
9 June: Kearsney vs Westville in Durban
16 June: Wynberg vs SACS in Cape Town
21 July: Hoërskool Aliwal-Noord vs Hoërskool Hangklip in Aliwal-Noord
28 July: Oakdale Landbou vs Marlow Landbou in Riversdale
28 July: Jeppe vs King Edward VII in Johannesburg
28 July: Rooies vs Bloues in Kroonstad
*30 July: Hoërskool Bergrivier vs Weltevrede Sekondêr in Wellington
*30 July: Hoërskool Goudveld vs Welkom Gimnasium in Welkom
*30 July: Spandau vs Asherville in Graaff-Reinet
4 August: Hoërskool Oudtshoorn vs Hoërskool Outeniqua in Oudtshoorn
4 August: Pacaltsdorp Sekondêr vs George High in George
4 August: Hawston vs Hermanus in Hermanus
4 August: Paarl Boys' High vs Paarl Gimnasium in Paarl
9 August: Selborne College vs Grey High in East London
11 August: Grey College vs Paul Roos in Bloemfontein
11 August: New Orleans Sekondêr vs Klein Nederburg Sekondêr in Paarl
11 August: Hoër Volkskool vs Union High in Graaff-Reinet
11 or 18 August: Hoërskool Cradock vs Gill College in Cradock
18 August: Queen's vs Dale in Queenstown
18 August: Cambridge vs Hudson Park in East London
18 August: Hoërskool Punt vs Langenhoven Gimnasium in Mossel Bay
25 August: Brackenfell vs Tygerberg in Cape Town

Live TV coverage will come on its own.

 

[CTPE]

The ABC sometimes shows Sydney GPS games which they claim have significantly more viewers than the standard Shute Shield matches. I think they would show more but governing body of GPS doesn't want it become any more professional than it already is for the kids sakes.

Im interested to head more about Rugby in Japan. You say its huge. Can you tell us more about your experience?

The ABC coverage of GPS games has been very infrequent. In fact I'd say that it's at least 5-7 years since they last covered a live game, from recollection Joeys V View for the premiership (I recall Blocker Roach's son was in View's front row) and before that a Joeys v Kings game at Joeys also for the premiership. Let's also not forget that the ABC is paid to telecast the Shute Shield games and they gave up broadcasting the Head of the River decades ago..used to be such a pleasant afternoon watching the telecast when it was out there on the Nepean with High competing so well.

I personally would like to see them telecast one game per season..the last round with the most significant game in terms of the premiership being shown live.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

with High competing so well.

how old are you?

 

[lincoln]

The ABC coverage of GPS games has been very infrequent. In fact I'd say that it's at least 5-7 years since they last covered a live game, from recollection Joeys V View for the premiership (I recall Blocker Roach's son was in View's front row) and before that a Joeys v Kings game at Joeys also for the premiership. Let's also not forget that the ABC is paid to telecast the Shute Shield games and they gave up broadcasting the Head of the River decades ago..used to be such a pleasant afternoon watching the telecast when it was out there on the Nepean with High competing so well.

I personally would like to see them telecast one game per season..the last round with the most significant game in terms of the premiership being shown live.

I was of the understanding that the AAGPS (a bunch of sports masters) did not think TV somehow coagulated with the inherit spirit of the AAGPS - but apparently sports scholarships from schools other than High, Grammar, and Shore where ok? I enjoyed watching the Joeys Kings game - but then I am old fashioned - but maybe not given the makeup off the two teams. Time for a change?

 

[Runner]

Excellent idea to promote the game. The muggoes have been doing this for years with Commonwealth bank cup Arrive alive etc. Perhaps the best vehicle here would be the Waratah Shield. At present held on a week day with very limited coverage or promotion. Some higher up assistance to the valiant band who organize this competition might help.

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

How about the two national championships - opens and u16's. Last day highlights on free to air of all final games with the final in full

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I've always wanted to see something like that. Each state and territory compete internally to determine a champion and then those 6 or so fight it out to determine the national champion.

 

[Stu Wilsons Gloves]

NZ have had schoolboy rugby on the telly periodically over the years. But in 2009 Martin Crowe(yes, he of the cricket) re-started it up on the rugby channel and it has been going gangbusters, They have games from all over the country, traditional rivalries, plus local finals and the march towards the top four to find the national champion. Schoolboy rugby in Australia could do with this, you have your in-built rivalries, plus don't tell me their wouldn't be interest in Nudgee squaring off with Joeys or Kings in a top four final at North Sydney Oval, I reckon it is something Australian rugby should have a look at.

 

[Schadenfreude]

The only problem I can see with this idea is I won't get any work done.

 

[rugby eye]

Great points. Very true about the league i've often seen those matches on tv of an early morning.
Just think it could really promote the game.
Doubt that it would take away the crowds if anything it would it would make people who are not involved with the school want to watch them live.
hopefull if enough people are talking about, word might get to someone who can make it happen.
p.s love the point by Stu Wilsons Gloves.

 

[barbarian]

NZ have had schoolboy rugby on the telly periodically over the years. But in 2009 Martin Crowe(yes, he of the cricket) re-started it up on the rugby channel and it has been going gangbusters, They have games from all over the country, traditional rivalries, plus local finals and the march towards the top four to find the national champion. Schoolboy rugby in Australia could do with this, you have your in-built rivalries, plus don't tell me their wouldn't be interest in Nudgee squaring off with Joeys or Kings in a top four final at North Sydney Oval, I reckon it is something Australian rugby should have a look at.

The reason why that has never got off the ground is the HSC. You just can't get a time where this would work and not impact on the boys exams, as after the season the rep season runs for a couple more months. So as much as it would be interesting and a great exercise, it would be very hard to make it happen.

As for TV coverage, it is a bit of wishful thinking. The ratings would not justify the cost of production. As much as we are interested in schoolboy rugby the wider community ain't, and they have enough trouble getting Shute Shield on the air let alone schoolboys.

The only times I can see it happening are one-off big games for the premiership, as was the case back in 2002.

 

[PaarlBok]

NZ have had schoolboy rugby on the telly periodically over the years. But in 2009 Martin Crowe(yes, he of the cricket) re-started it up on the rugby channel and it has been going gangbusters, They have games from all over the country, traditional rivalries, plus local finals and the march towards the top four to find the national champion. Schoolboy rugby in Australia could do with this, you have your in-built rivalries, plus don't tell me their wouldn't be interest in Nudgee squaring off with Joeys or Kings in a top four final at North Sydney Oval, I reckon it is something Australian rugby should have a look at.

Thats more or less the SA route. ARU can at least try and get a sponsor for all these rival clashes. In SA those rivalries include all winter sports like rugby, hockey and netball usual rugby the main sport and the sport in different time slots to get maximum support from all the supporters. Thats where you grow the game and set the culture. Invest here iso paying league players lots of money.

 

[PaarlBok]

by the way my Kiwi bro Red Beard told me NZ even show the Paarl interschools in the past.

 

[Bowside]

I wouldn't mind a selection of the high interest schoolboy matches being shown on tv. In qld we have 2 particular spite filled clashes: Downlands v TGS and Terrace v Nudgee. But you would add to that any of the premiership deciding games as well as most of the clashes between the big 3 schools.

But I dont think regular programming will ever happen.

 

[Schadenfreude]

When you think about how many people went through those schools, and how many played rugby, and where those people are now ... there HAS to be a market for it.

I might set up an iPhone to record a game, and put it on Bris 31... that could only cost $5.