NSW JRU State Championships & Representative Teams 2014

[Quick Hands]

I noticed this in the 2014 Junior State Champs Programme:

Under 18's Representative Pathway
As there is no State Championship for this age group, the regionals will be an open trial to all age eligible players from SJRU and Colts (that have previously played Juniors). The squad will then be split into two separate teams "Possibles" and "Probables" which will contest trial matches at Regionals.

What a ridiculous selection criteria. How on earth can SJRU select players who "previously played juniors"? These young men are now playing in a NSWRU senior competition. This is truly bizarre. Talk about having a rep team for the sake of it.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

I missed this gem from the U17 bit of the JSC programme

Under 17's Representative Pathway
At the State championships a possibles/probables squad is selected which will contest a trial at the Regionals.
**Due to the landscape of the U17s - The Selectors may choose to invite some additional U17's players to trial if they so choose (including age eligible players from Colts - they MUST have played Juniors).

Basil Fawlty returns. Last years fiasco with the U17's appears deemed to be repeated. Why bother turning up to State Champs when you can get a free pass if the Selectors "so choose". They MUST have played Juniors - How many games in the Under 10's are required to qualify?

 

[Quick Hands]

I missed this gem from the U17 bit of the JSC programme

Under 17's Representative Pathway
At the State championships a possibles/probables squad is selected which will contest a trial at the Regionals.
**Due to the landscape of the U17s - The Selectors may choose to invite some additional U17's players to trial if they so choose (including age eligible players from Colts - they MUST have played Juniors).

Basil Fawlty returns. Last years fiasco with the U17's appears deemed to be repeated. Why bother turning up to State Champs when you can get a free pass if the Selectors "so choose". They MUST have played Juniors - How many games in the Under 10's are required to qualify?

Shambolic. Put it out of its misery.

 

[AussieDominance]

What happened in the Under 11's?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^ Manly beat Gordon in the Under 11's GF.

No score, no SF or other details.

 

[In the lineout]

Anyone seen or heard anything on Zone and BaaBaa selections as yet?

 

[In the lineout]

Seen them. Just released on sjru website

 

[Inside Shoulder]

here for anyone interested:
http://juniors.rugby.com.au/Home.aspx

 

[S'UP]

what a joke, if they wanted to play State champs they still could of Southern Districts were looking for players as late a Tuesday last week. As I remember they still have the schools pathway don't they? Isn't that why we have a schools pathway?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Been a bit of discussion about eligibility criteria for the SJRU rep teams, principally targeting one particular Club team that is widely rumoured to fold after JSC.

From the Horses mouth:

• SJRU Regional Tournament (U14’s to U18’s)
o Players must have played / signed on for a minimum of ONE competition round between the State Championships weekend and the Regionals. (ie rounds 8 or 9).

• Sydney vs Country (U14’s to U18’s)
o Players must have played / signed on for a minimum of TWO competition round between the State Championships weekend and the Sydney vs Country game. (ie rounds 8 to 11).
o Players must have been selected and available for the schedule dates (particularly as this is in Tamworth).

• NSW Invitational (U16’s)
o Players must have played / signed on for a minimum of THREE competition round between the State Championships weekend and the NSW Invitational. (ie rounds 8 to 14).
o Players must have been selected and available for the schedule dates.


And from a donkeys mouth:
Under 17's (boldface by me)
**Due to the landscape of the U17’s - The selectors may choose to also invite some additional U17’s players to trial if they so choose. All SJRU clubs were not represented at the State Championships and these players must be given an opportunity to trial. Note – this may also include age eligible players from colts- that MUST have played Juniors).

Sydney vs Country
The Sydney team will contest the annual Sydney vs Country game in Tamworth on 27th July.
Plus possible other fixtures.
Players selected for Sydney must be available for this fixture in Tamworth – we expect a bus to leave Sydney on the Saturday afternoon and stay overnight in Tamworth. At this game the selectors will choose a NSW team.

NSWJRU Representative Team
The NSW team will attend an elite training weekend with the NSW Waratahs and coaching staff. There are no official games for this team planned at this time.

Why bother with eligibility criteria if The selectors may choose to also invite some additional U17’s players to trial if they so choose. and this may also include age eligible players from colts.
So it will be a SJRU U17 invitational team not a representative team.

There are no official games for this team [NSW under 17 Representative Team] planned at this time.
So it is a NSW JRU Development Squad, or NSW JRU Merit Team.

Under 18's
Sydney vs Country
The Sydney team will contest the annual Sydney vs Country game in Tamworth on 27th July. Plus possible other fixtures.

All players interested in trialing are to email bengregory1@bigpond.com to register their interest.

The ANNUAL Sydney vs Country game? For U18s? Really?

Apply by email.
Don't they know how to do it? Facebook is the answer. It apparently worked for the Successful 2013 U17 Winners - Manly. If they want those lads back for a tilt at Under 18 reps, then they need to move with the times and open up a facebook page for applications.

 

[S'UP]

Been a bit of discussion about eligibility criteria for the SJRU rep teams, principally targeting one particular Club team that is widely rumoured to fold after JSC.

The ANNUAL Sydney vs Country game? For U18s? Really?

Apply by email.
Don't they know how to do it? Facebook is the answer. It apparently worked for the Successful 2013 U17 Winners - Manly. If they want those lads back for a tilt at Under 18 reps, then they need to move with the times and open up a facebook page for applications.

Maybe the boys who don't make the final 17's squad can play of the 18's given the majority of them already play opens or colts?

 

[In the lineout]

Been a bit of discussion about eligibility criteria for the SJRU rep teams, principally targeting one particular Club team that is widely rumoured to fold after JSC.

From the Horses mouth:

• SJRU Regional Tournament (U14’s to U18’s)
o Players must have played / signed on for a minimum of ONE competition round between the State Championships weekend and the Regionals. (ie rounds 8 or 9).

• Sydney vs Country (U14’s to U18’s)
o Players must have played / signed on for a minimum of TWO competition round between the State Championships weekend and the Sydney vs Country game. (ie rounds 8 to 11).
o Players must have been selected and available for the schedule dates (particularly as this is in Tamworth).

• NSW Invitational (U16’s)
o Players must have played / signed on for a minimum of THREE competition round between the State Championships weekend and the NSW Invitational. (ie rounds 8 to 14).
o Players must have been selected and available for the schedule dates.

Re the 16's HJ, which I am sure you are referring to above. 11 players picked in the MNZ and 5 in the BaaBaa's.

Firstly - they only played four games to qualify for the JSC. The forfeited every other game leading up to.
Secondly - Guaranteed we will see this team have these players "sign on" for one game between now and the SJRU Regional Tournament. Forfeit the rest.
Thirdly - Guaranteed we will see further selected players "sign on" for one more additional game.....forfeit the rest......and on it will go.

I note that the Horses mouth states the additional games to qualify for further rep honours is only games from the State Championships, not from one tournament to the next.

Further to this I note 14 Nothern Suburbs players make 16's Zone teams (9 in MNZ). Warringah, who finished effectively one place behind them (and I believe a very close pool match) secure only three rep spots.....come on folks, isn't it obvious who's running the show on the north side?

Penrith, who dominated the Western Zone only secured 6 in the MWZ, with it spattered with Parramatta and Eastwood. Maybe a fairer and more even spread across the Zone the way i read it.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Provided the players meet the eligibility criteria (cynically or otherwise), the issue is not with the players but the rule makers who establish the eligibility criteria.

All that can be asked for once the rules have been established is that they are diligently, transparently and consistently applied.

 

[In the lineout]

True...in no way am I having a go at the players here.

Transparency is the key.....

 

[S'UP]

Provided the players meet the eligibility criteria (cynically or otherwise), the issue is not with the players but the rule makers who establish the eligibility criteria.

All that can be asked for once the rules have been established is that they are diligently, transparently and consistently applied.

I believe it was play four games before and 4 games after to JSC but that was considered to tough. Really? if you are actually playing to the competition it should be easy I would think. If you are that injured how could you possibly turn out in a reps fixture with no match fitness or any fitness at all.

 

[Slugga]

Provided the players meet the eligibility criteria (cynically or otherwise), the issue is not with the players but the rule makers who establish the eligibility criteria.

All that can be asked for once the rules have been established is that they are diligently, transparently and consistently applied.

The problem I have with this HJ (aside from the cynical manipulation of the rules) is that it’s at the expense of kids at the village level who miss games according to whether the likes of Chatswood need a bogus game or two to qualify. It hardly encourages kids to stay in the game.

 

[10to12]

Re the 16's HJ, which I am sure you are referring to above. 11 players picked in the MNZ and 5 in the BaaBaa's.

Firstly - they only played four games to qualify for the JSC. The forfeited every other game leading up to.
Secondly - Guaranteed we will see this team have these players "sign on" for one game between now and the SJRU Regional Tournament. Forfeit the rest.
Thirdly - Guaranteed we will see further selected players "sign on" for one more additional game...forfeit the rest..and on it will go.

I note that the Horses mouth states the additional games to qualify for further rep honours is only games from the State Championships, not from one tournament to the next.

Further to this I note 14 Nothern Suburbs players make 16's Zone teams (9 in MNZ). Warringah, who finished effectively one place behind them (and I believe a very close pool match) secure only three rep spots...come on folks, isn't it obvious who's running the show on the north side?

Penrith, who dominated the Western Zone only secured 6 in the MWZ, with it spattered with Parramatta and Eastwood. Maybe a fairer and more even spread across the Zone the way i read it.

"Spattered", 10 Eastwood boys in the MWZ team and only 5 from Parramatta and 6 Penrith, . You would think that Eastwood was the best performed western zone team,. No sorry "obvious who's running the show on the north side"west side.
As for your other issue join SJRU and change it so next year it can't happen

 

[Hugh Jarse]

The problem I have with this HJ (aside from the cynical manipulation of the rules) is that it’s at the expense of kids at the village level who miss games according to whether the likes of Chatswood need a bogus game or two to qualify. It hardly encourages kids to stay in the game.

I have the same issue, but rules is rules.

The best you can do is to lobby your club officials to propose an amendment to the eligibility rules, or volunteer for SJRU duty yourself (as has been suggested).

Until there is sustained growth in player numbers, you should be aware that the harder you make it for the rockstars to qualify for Juniors championships, the lower the standard of the representative representative team will be.

As the perception becomes more prevalent that SJRU rep team is a poor cousin to Schools association reps, the less motivation there will be for the better kids to remain on the juniors "rep pathway", and the standard drops lower.

Not that it is such a bad thing for more kids to be exposed to high level skills development opportunities, but hypothetically would you be prouder of the achievement of representing NSW or Tasmania in Rugby?

We need to be careful that the Sydney Juniors Rep teams don't become the equivalent of the Tasmanian State Rugby Team.

 

[John Brown]

U17's squad with West Harbour who made it to the grand final only having half the amount of players selected vs Eastwood who only made it as far as the semi's gets 14 players in the squad?? Does not seem quite right, but this is rugby union.... same same

 

[10to12]

The problem I have with this HJ (aside from the cynical manipulation of the rules) is that it’s at the expense of kids at the village level who miss games according to whether the likes of Chatswood need a bogus game or two to qualify. It hardly encourages kids to stay in the game.

Slugga , thats why from next year they should start a district based comp so that there is a central pooling of players and teams picked from there. If you have the numbers by all means stay together. Otherwise the district organizes the process if the in house politics of clubs can't get it together.
Most districts seem to have done this this year, one has not and the boys and rugby will end up suffering. As said before in this age group you need 25boys min and you still struggle to field teams at some stage