Recent content by Jack Hardy

Due diligence is one thing. Finding players prepared to join your program is another. It is not unheard of for a player to knock back a scholarship to a particular school because other schools are stronger and therefore more attractive. There can be a tendency to take anyone you can to improve...

Not sure why BBC 15A would have their most damaging ball runner playing at 9. He might be better utilised in the forwards or 12. In the forwards he provides much need 'go forward' and will be a player other forwards can rally around. At 12 he would attract a lot of defensive heat, creating...

Any idea why BBC 1st XV would be playing against a colts side, given all other teams are playing TSS. I am sure TSS 1st XV are thrilled to have to arrange an alternative game. How are BBC getting around the two year window?

I suspect some of those coaches may have been part of the crew that has made way for Drahm and co.

BBC 16A's may surprise a few. They showed glimpses last year. They put in a very strong performance against NC 15A in 2015 and had were exerting a lot of pressure until a brain snap saw a player yellow carded. There are a lot of good athletes in that side, and no doubt, some new ones, but a...

Be assured I can read. Internal growth to me would suggest internal recruitment, i.e. a boy who played another sport now chooses to play rugby therefor the grown is from 'within'. If there were some players who played B's or C's in under 13 but developed physically or improved skills and gained...

What is this internal growth you speak of? There were at least 4 boys new to the school in the BBC 14A's last year. All great kids and contributors but I don't think I would consider it to be internal growth.

We are talking about semantics.

This is turning into a subject for another thread but there are many reasons why a school might have 'bargaining power' over a boy and his family to 'encourage them' to enter in year 10 even though they have already done Year 10.

When they are all 18 it will be a level playing field.

If it were the individual aspirations of the boys dictating the decision to repeat it would be less of a concern. I'm still not sure I would ever advise a boy to repeat simply to have another shot at Aussie Schools. If the boy would benefit from another year at school to boost grades or see him...

Not that I am comparing him to Matt Giteaux but Git's wasn't exactly big. He has played halfback but not his natural position and I am not sure how much specialist coaching he has had in that position, particularly given he sat all of last season with injury. Just reminding people that he has...

Tony Raoren is actually a 10 or 12. I have seen him used very effectively there and carved up at 10 in the Junior Gold trials last year. Unfortunately he pulled out to concentrate on school rugby then suffered the ankle injury that kept him out for the season. He has played 9 because his pass...

Losing players to injury is not uncommon and having depth to cover them is necessary for success. All teams are affected by this at some point. Surely BBC were missing boys at different stages of the season as well. This is why winning the comp is so special. There are so many variables that...

Planning for success by implementing a sequenced program to develop talent beginning with the younger years? What a novel concept. Others could learn from this approach. Good luck TGS. Hope you go well this year.