Continued decline in Sydney Junior Rugby

[I like to watch]

That's an interesting observation IS.
Is your criticism specific to one particular centre or team,or the whole thing?

 

[Delphy]

If the ARU thinks the JGC is a patch on the u16s nationals they are more ignorant Han even I thought possible.

I don't think JGC is the equivalent of u16s Nationals. The competitions achieve completely different ends.

U15 JGC overcomes at least some of the issues associated with GPS domination and the development of players outside the heartland and leads beautifully into u16s Nationals.

Similarly 17 JGC leads nicely into Schoolboys.

Getting rid of u16s doesn't seem to make any sense!!

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Similarly 17 JGC leads nicely into Schoolboys.

In theory

 

[Inside Shoulder]

That's an interesting observation IS.
Is your criticism specific to one particular centre or team,or the whole thing?

Information from a couple of centres.
It has to be said that some of the best from last year's U16s seem to have skipped it. With the abolition of U16s they may not have that option in future - but just as you can't have a pathway that favours private schools you cannot have one that ignores them or makes it very difficult for private school boys to play.
I think this is probably about money and may be seen as justifiable because of the JGC 17s: if so it would have made more sense to wait for the end of JGC, see what the feedback is and then determine what to do.
Or they should have announced when they announced JGC that U16 Nationals were history - some kids (even from public schools) may have plotted a course to Oz Schools that ran through NSW Schools and stayed away from JGC, for instance. They may have wanted to do training in preparation for season 2014 to give themselves a shot at U16s glory and that has now been denied them.
And if this is to be the pathway it cannot involve training for 5 months in summer for 5 games all of which are over before the club rugby season starts.

 

[I like to watch]

Absolutely they should have announced the demise of the 16's,when they announced the JGC program.
I'm not that big a fan of the 16's concept.its more about prestige than development IMO.

 

[Quick Hands]

IS, I don't think that planning ahead and having long, medium and short term strategies are concepts understood by the ARU.

Feb 27 we were promised the teams for the NRC - 3 weeks later, still nothing.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Is there any chance this is intended to break the GPS stranglehold??
Edit: answered by post #466

 

[Quick Hands]

You'd like to think there was an overarching strategy, but I can't see any evidence of it.

 

[S'UP]

The ARU are trying to play a game here, if we take the traditional pathway away the schools will have to play JGC. Why not just take control communicate a clear and well thought out plan for all junior rugby and move on, but nobody has the balls for that or the understanding of all the issues. Unfortunately a degree in Sport Management doesn't help you understand the issues and there lies part of the problem lots of intelligent people but no real life experience, how many of the guys at the ARU who are responsible for the junior pathway actually have kids playing, not many I guess.
Interestingly they are still holding CHS trials for 16's why would you need them now, what are they being selected for?

 

[Man on the hill]

Why not just take control communicate a clear and well thought out plan for all junior rugby and move on, but nobody has the balls for that or the understanding of all the issues.

Why - because there is not a well thought out plan at square 1.

 

[Fat Cat]

I would be interested to see how many teams in the 16's fold now this has been announced. Go rugby league !

 

[Fat Cat]

its now official the new pathway to gold is via rugby league. This thread is now closed down and no longer required because junior rugby union is obsolete. See you on the sidelines fellow mungo's

 

[Brainstrust]

The ARU are trying to play a game here, if we take the traditional pathway away the schools will have to play JGC. Why not just take control communicate a clear and well thought out plan for all junior rugby and move on, but nobody has the balls for that or the understanding of all the issues. Unfortunately a degree in Sport Management doesn't help you understand the issues and there lies part of the problem lots of intelligent people but no real life experience, how many of the guys at the ARU who are responsible for the junior pathway actually have kids playing, not many I guess.
Interestingly they are still holding CHS trials for 16's why would you need them now, what are they being selected for?

Have no facts on this but I think they may probably still run the schools tournament regardless of no 16's national comp. I think that schools would still want to start looking at those boys coming through for an early indication for opens rep honours in CAS, GPS , CHS etc. Also not sure what SJRU and other rugby bodies are doing, but they should probably still be looking to have a 16's tournament if they can fund and organise it. The issue isnt the ARU working some secret agenda, but actually about having the cash to do it. They have invested heavily in the JGC and just don't have A the funds, and B the human resources to run the 16's tournament on top of everything else they are doing.

 

[Gary Owen III]

Have no facts on this but I think they may probably still run the schools tournament regardless of no 16's national comp. I think that schools would still want to start looking at those boys coming through for an early indication for opens rep honours in CAS, GPS , CHS etc. Also not sure what SJRU and other rugby bodies are doing, but they should probably still be looking to have a 16's tournament if they can fund and organise it. The issue isnt the ARU working some secret agenda, but actually about having the cash to do it. They have invested heavily in the JGC and just don't have A the funds, and B the human resources to run the 16's tournament on top of everything else they are doing.

Brainstrust - For having no facts you are fairly spot on

I have been told by sources within the schools network that their tournament will remain, but they wont select a NSW Schools U16 team at the end.

NSWJRU or SJRU are already planning a tournament for October long weekend. NSW Country, Vic , ACT & SJRU already give notice of their intention to be involved and others are sniffing.

And there is no doubt that this is a decision dominated by funding issues.

 

[Quick Hands]

So depressing reading all this.

There's nothing wrong with rationalising competitions to get a better pathway or to try to do things better. What gets me is there's no plan, no strategy and no explanation, just ad hoc decisions usually made at the 11th hour.

It's a bit like getting in your car and driving west, you hit Bathurst and you suddenly realise you wanted to go to Newcastle.

 

[Fat Cat]

wasn't the whole idea of the JGC to be a selection pathway through to the national 16's then to oz schools, hence 15's and 17's. So are they going to drop the 15's in JGC now ? it will be interesting to see if the schools still have their carnival if the ARU is still sniffing around.

 

[Quick Hands]

FC, I think the problem might be that there isn't a coherent idea.

Hence the ongoing mess.

 

[S'UP]

SJRU response to follow


RE: 2014 NATIONAL U16 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Dear CEOs and Game Development Managers,
As part of a number of proposals to reduce costs in 2014 and a round of conversations with each State Union, the ARU has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2014 National U16 Championships.
I appreciate that this decision will be disappointing for you and your stakeholders. We recognise that the National U16 Championships have been an important thread in the pathways of the participating State Unions and affiliates and they have worked valuably to provide opportunity for players at this level. However, we are confident that we have a development pathway that will continue to provide quality exposure and experiences for our talented young players – at state and regional representative levels, including quality offerings for players in the U16 age group.
In the past year in particular, we have done a lot of work to improve the development pathway for our players, coaches and match officials to ensure they can move from junior Rugby right through to the elite level. This work includes establishing the Junior Gold Cup (JGC) for Under 15 and Under 17 teams from across Australia; re-energising the national U20s program providing exposure to eight state/territories and regional areas to national competition; and expanding the Pacific Rugby Cup with the IRB, to include teams from our Super Rugby clubs. This is in addition to the existing junior and school programs to ensure the Rugby pathway continues to be one of the most accessible and varied in the Australian sporting landscape. It is important to communicate that none of the above listed new initiatives have been implemented at the expense of the National U16 Championships.
Through 2014 we will be engaging with all State Unions to further assess and review our development pathways. This process will include State Unions working with their respective stakeholders so that an aligned progressive pathway can continue to evolve and provide all participants with effective access and opportunities.
Through conversations held with many of you in the past few days, I recognise the desire to fill the U16 void in 2014 with alternative talent development and/or representative plans. In order for the ARU to most effectively support these plans, we would encourage you to share any ideas with us. As with all levels of the pathway, we will need to work together and align these activities to get the best results for participants.
I apologise for the relatively late notice of this decision – we were keen to explore all opportunities before having to take this significant step. Please do not hesitate to contact me on 0416 002 065 / ben.whitaker@rugby.com.au if you or your stakeholders have any questions.
Regards
Ben Whitaker
General Manager, Development Pathways

 

[S'UP]

SJRU response

12 March 2014
To all SJRU Districts, Clubs and Players
We have been advised by the ARU today that the 2014 Under 16 National Championships have been cancelled.
We realise that many players, parents, coaches, and indeed Districts and Clubs, view this tournament as a prestigious stepping stone in the Representative pathway and will be greatly disappointed that it has been cancelled.
Sydney Juniors has immediately commenced discussions with Victoria and ACT to organise a tournament on the October long weekend along similar lines to the Under 16 Nationals. We will also be approaching the other States and inviting them to also participate. Further details of the proposed tournament will be distributed in the next few weeks.
In the meantime the SJRU will be choosing an Under 16’s team from the NSW Regionals on 28 and 29 June which will play NSW Country Juniors in Tamworth on 27 July.
Should you have any queries regarding the above please do not hesitate to email Kerry Brady the SJRU Competitions Manager at kbrady@nswrugby.com.au.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Bring back the AJRU.

The perfect organisation to run all the alternate tournaments and championships.