NSW AAGPS Rugby 2013

[CTPE]

I heard something similar from one of their JGS boys just prior to Christmas - from what he said it's the boys likely to be in their 1's or 2's so it's probably a squad of 40+.

In any event it's an early start - but then again they've won two of the last three GPS titles so they've obviously adopted a fairly professional approach to the GPS rugby.

 

[Quick Hands]

.

This year will be a big year for new, training will be hard, the pressure will be on as they are defending champions and premiers of the GPS and now have to worry about 150 years of the 'big 4's' dominance hopefully coming to an end and setting up a different era of GPS rugby and hopefully turning into the 'big 6' and turning into one of the hardest and greatest schoolboy competitions in Australia, if not the world.

I too look forward to another season where any of the 6 teams can start the season with a reasonable expectation of winning.

As discussed on page 27, the emergence of a 'big 4' is relatively recent. But I know what you mean and I have used the term too.

Over the 123 years of GPS rugby, there is really only a big 2 (Joeys and Kings) who have won about 66% of all titles awarded.

I'm sure that IS would also like me to point out that Grammar still sit a clear 3rd historically.

Interestingly Newington have won as often as Riverview, with New's titles spread evenly from 19th C to present, and have won more times than Shore.

I think that many would be surprised to know that Newington would not be the only school which has given boys an off season programme and will be starting skills work late Jan/early Feb. This includes CAS and ISA schools.

 

[I like to watch]

An off season programme is one thing, pre season training as a squad during January holidays for a comp that starts in June is another thing altogether.
My understanding is that ISA & CAS comps start a month earlier than GPS comp, making their early start even more pronounced.

 

[Quick Hands]

You're right, it's ridiculously early, but they're certainly not the only ones doing it was the only point I was making.

 

[gpsoldboy]

The 2012 HSC ranking tables are worthy of some comment:

High - 8th
Grammar - 10th
Shore - 19th
Kings - 38th
Riverview - 49th
Newington - 64th
Scots - 80th
Joeys - 107th

I cannot fathom how Joeys have dropped so far down the academic ladder?

 

[whatever]

I dont know whether this is of interest to anyone, but, Tepai Morea from Newington has been named in the Parramatta Toyota (NYC) cup squad, as well as being eligible for the Parramatta SG Ball squad.

The ball comp runs from Feb to May, but the Toyota Cup runs all season. I can't see him playing both GPS and Parra NYC.

I believe he will need to make a big decision where he is heading.

 

[Quick Hands]

The 2012 HSC ranking tables are worthy of some comment:

High - 8th
Grammar - 10th
Shore - 19th
Kings - 38th
Riverview - 49th
Newington - 64th
Scots - 80th
Joeys - 107th

I cannot fathom how Joeys have dropped so far down the academic ladder?

And Scots have dropped a long way as well, many staff have left in the last 4 years. Rugby has improved but...at the same time academic results have gone down. I think upwards of 30 full time teaching staff left in 2009-10, which is huge in any school and unheard of in a GPS school.

Newington a bit harder to compare as many of their brighter students do the IB, so I imagine they'd be a lot higher if they only did HSC.

Excellent results at Shore, maybe there's a lesson here about where sport and academic fit into the structure.

Interestingly, if you go to the websites of Shore, Newington and Scots, you find Shore rightly boasting of their best HSC results in years, Newington boasting of their results with the rider of IB results to follow, and no mention at all of the HSC even taking place on the Scots website.

It wasn't that long ago that New, Shore and Scots were quite close with their academic results.

 

[northman91]

I believe that this is also one of Kings' best results in years as well. I was just looking on Shore's website and found that 121 boys received an ATAR over 90, thats 59.6% of the year group. Phenomenal considering they are a non-selective school (and also don't have many asians [not to be racist]).

As mentioned above, congratulations to Shore, Kings and Newington on some great results.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I believe that this is also one of Kings' best results in years as well. I was just looking on Shore's website and found that 121 boys received an ATAR over 90, thats 59.6% of the year group. Phenomenal considering they are a non-selective school (and also don't have many asians [not to be racist]).

As mentioned above, congratulations to Shore, Kings and Newington on some great results.

Would that be asians who are prepared to work harder or just inherently smarter asians?

 

[HarveyColon]

Would that be asians who are prepared to work harder or just inherently smarter asians?

neither: these are the asians whos parents enrol them in tutoring. the work ethic is family related. aka grammar and high

 

[Inside Shoulder]

neither: these are the asians whos parents enrol them in tutoring. the work ethic is family related. aka grammar and high

And only atributable to the fact that they are asians?
Assuming your point re tutoring - whats the difference between pre-season training in January and tutoring?
The GPS community would do better to look at their own motivations than to attribute success to race. Winning a rugby premiership is unlikely to secure your future.

 

[I like to watch]

It would be interesting to see how many students in some of the higher profile teams will not be getting an ATAR.
As IS infers,schoolboy rep jumpers do not put food on the table 10 years down the track.

 

[Quick Hands]

Assuming your point re tutoring - whats the difference between pre-season training in January and tutoring?
The GPS community would do better to look at their own motivations than to attribute success to race. Winning a rugby premiership is unlikely to secure your future.

There's no difference. And if schools are letting boys play rugby or any other sport and are not ensuring that academic endeavours take precedence then they should hang their heads in shame and reflect on what school is meant to be about.

Life and school need to be balanced and one of the things which GPS schools have traditionally provided is the opportunity to play sport and take part in many other activities such as drama, music, art, cadets while at the same time providing a top class academic education.

If things get out of balance, this is when School Councils/Trustees need to step in and ensure that balance is returned.

 

[GPS Observer]

There's no difference. And if schools are letting boys play rugby or any other sport and are not ensuring that academic endeavours take precedence then they should hang their heads in shame and reflect on what school is meant to be about.

Life and school need to be balanced and one of the things which GPS schools have traditionally provided is the opportunity to play sport and take part in many other activities such as drama, music, art, cadets while at the same time providing a top class academic education.

If things get out of balance, this is when School Councils/Trustees need to step in and ensure that balance is returned.

With the prospect of a career in professional sport these days, those lads showing aptitude in sport should be encouraged along those lines and those lads showing academic or artistic aptitude likewise. We all know the benefits of a GPS schooling experience and Im all for developing each individuals strengths and priorities within that experience.

 

[Quick Hands]

With the prospect of a career in professional sport these days, those lads showing aptitude in sport should be encouraged along those lines and those lads showing academic or artistic aptitude likewise. We all know the benefits of a GPS schooling experience and Im all for developing each individuals strengths and priorities within that experience.

Not saying they shouldn't be encouraged in areas of strength, just that there needs to be a balance. They still have to earn a living when they finish playing sport.

 

[CTPE]

I believe that this is also one of Kings' best results in years as well. I was just looking on Shore's website and found that 121 boys received an ATAR over 90, thats 59.6% of the year group. Phenomenal considering they are a non-selective school (and also don't have many asians [not to be racist]).

As mentioned above, congratulations to Shore, Kings and Newington on some great results.

King's (38th) have been thereabouts for a few years now ... from recollection they were 37th in 2008 and 47th in 2009. They too are non-selective but I'd suggest that their cohort demographic would be much broader than Shore's.

 

[CTPE]

There's no difference. And if schools are letting boys play rugby or any other sport and are not ensuring that academic endeavours take precedence then they should hang their heads in shame and reflect on what school is meant to be about.

Life and school need to be balanced and one of the things which GPS schools have traditionally provided is the opportunity to play sport and take part in many other activities such as drama, music, art, cadets while at the same time providing a top class academic education.

If things get out of balance, this is when School Councils/Trustees need to step in and ensure that balance is returned.

Things have been out of balance for a fair while at High and Grammar and seem to be heading towards the same state albeit in an academically opposite direction at Joeys. Riverview and King's look like they have the right equilibrium with Shore and New in reasonably close proximity.

 

[Quick Hands]

Things have been out of balance for a fair while at High and Grammar and seem to be heading towards the same state albeit in an academically opposite direction at Joeys. Riverview and King's look like they have the right equilibrium with Shore and New in reasonably close proximity.

The results above would indicate that Riverview, Kings, Shore and Newington are all about the same. If you look at Shore's website, you'll find that this year is a high point and their best in many years and with Newington you have to factor in the IB which drains many of their best students out of the HSC.

With High, they are subject to State Education Dept bureaucracy in terms of enrolments and while they are trying to broaden the demographic, they are bound by the Selective Schools Test. If you look at their website you'll see that they are good at some sports, such at their basketball programme which has secured several state and national titles in the past 5 years.

With Grammar, IS has supplied some news earlier that the Headmaster is moving to restore some balance at enrolment and in the coaching programmes.

But, by and large, boys aiming for 90 plus ATARs don't have time to spend 2 or more weights sessions on top of rugby training and other school committments. Some can do it, but they're rare.

 

[Gabriella Stopford]

Where do I get that mag?
I may have some stuff you can use/refer to

That is being sold at the GPS games... Mags are lovely, right?

 

[Mrs Rugby]

Son attended first day of training at New today. It is not just for 1sts 2nds, U16s are also allowed to go.It is in no way compulsory and is just 1 hr weights and 1 hr skills twice a week. I think there were only about 15 there today.