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School sporting scholarships/recruitment

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Black & White

Vay Wilson (31)
Nice to see some of the Tongan boys receiving academic awards at the Valedictory assembly, including one who was one of only 10 statewide to receive recognition for the NSW government for his work. None of these boys have ever played in an A team in any sport. So different from the unfortunate stereotype often purveyed on this thread.

Well done, Quick Hands, much of the stereotypes that are associated with the our Tongan Boys are nothing but disguised racism.I refer, to one particular incident at Newington, where a parent from one particular North Shore school, yelled out to one of our Tongan Boys, Black C***.. He was escorted from the College, shortly afterwards.

One only these days, has only to look at the current Wallabies, to realise that Newington sides reflect more what our test sides are composed of in 21st Century Test Rugby.
 

I like to watch

David Codey (61)
Don’t be ridiculous.
It sounds like the scholarship system is being used in accordance with it’s original good intentions.
Which is terrific, but it was always not so.
to infer that anyone who ever doubted the integrity of the system is a disguised racist is dishonest in the extreme.
Nice try to conflate idiots on the sidelines,with people identifying that your scholarship program was corrupted at one stage.
 

Black & White

Vay Wilson (31)
Don’t be ridiculous.
It sounds like the scholarship system is being used in accordance with it’s original good intentions.
Which is terrific, but it was always not so.
to infer that anyone who ever doubted the integrity of the system is a disguised racist is dishonest in the extreme.
Nice try to conflate idiots on the sidelines, with people identifying that your scholarship program was corrupted at one stage.

Racism against Newington's Pacific Islander community is alive and well. I have heard it and seen it on display. There is no point in denying it. Scholarships to this wonderful community, is more than justified as it adds to our Multi Cultural diversity. Which enriches the school, along with other boys from non-Anglo Saxon backgrounds. This Multi Cultural dimension of the school adds to appeal of the school for many prospective parents who wish to enrol their sons.

As for the scholarships it is pointless defending against people such as yourself. You can believe what you want, its not going to change the school's policy, nor do we we really care what others think. The school will continue being what it is.
 

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David Codey (61)
You’ve deliberately avoided the point I made.
Clearly any form of racism is unacceptable and shouldn’t be tolerated.
From a few posts made this year,it would appear the bad old days of recruiting entire Rugby teams on scholarships are gone,which is great news.
But to suggest that any criticisms in the past were purely on racial lines is bullshit.
 

Joker

Greg Davis (50)
I doubt the heads of the AAGPS would ever have the moral gumption to do the same thing.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/ne...dTFOY0YF3B2gdfW2XuPIwYdN1VCJkPybMElBv4mUUkmQc

Once upon a time in a land far, far away this happened.....

https://www.smh.com.au/education/gps-heads-rift-over-basketball-arms-race-20131015-2vkrr.html

BWqWYZlCcAASdL6.jpg
 

Spieber

Bob Loudon (25)
They did with basketball. Whether they would risk the same thing with rugby is interesting.
They missed their opportunity in 2013 when a certain school had a bunch of professional league players in an amateur schoolboys competition. And that school will be filth forever more. Anyone attending that school on an “all-rounders bursary/scholarship” is tainted with the same brush.

Did any of the big 3 attend their five year reunion? Serious question.

One of them obviously didn’t get much from that wonderful school’s English department. “Spelling errors and all”. Hopefully he finds redemption at his new club - not his fault that he was a pawn in an evil regime’s desire for glory.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taane_Milne
 

Black & White

Vay Wilson (31)
They missed their opportunity in 2013 when a certain school had a bunch of professional league players in an amateur schoolboys competition. And that school will be filth forever more. Anyone attending that school on an “all-rounders bursary/scholarship” is tainted with the same brush.

Did any of the big 3 attend their five year reunion? Serious question.

One of them obviously didn’t get much from that wonderful school’s English department. “Spelling errors and all”. Hopefully he finds redemption at his new club - not his fault that he was a pawn in an evil regime’s desire for glory.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taane_Milne

Spieber, you obviously feel harshly against Newington for what it did in 2013. But what about Joeys throughout the 1980s and into the first half of the 1990s. They fielded excellent teams with many of their boys entering the school in years 10&11. Many of those boys came from League. Even worst, two brothers were stolen from Newington.

Kings between 1996-2002 fielded excellent sides also, when players arrived in the later years of their schooling including a Canterbury U/17 Rep.

Equally, Scots have embraced professional recruitment with a zeal.

So Spieber, your focus on Newington has the appearance of subjective choice, rather than an objective opinion. Furthermore, it is out of step with the reality that is now becoming schoolboy Rugby. In the UK it has gone even further with the various Rugby academies now professionalising the game at the schoolboy level even further. No wonder we cannot compete with England any more.

Now lets get stated on the Queensland GPS, with State High recruiting from the state primary schools across the state. Then we have Southport, Nudgee, Ipswich, BBC, Gregory Terrace and Churchie. As well, Brisbane Grammar and Toowoomba are now moving in that direction. Even minor Schools, such as Matthew Flinders recruits players for Rugby.

Back to NSW, Barker could prove to be the next St.Augustines or Scots, now recruiting from Central Coast Grammar,Asquith Boys High and St.Leos and as such now join the ever-increasing ranks of the professional player recruitment Brotherhood. With the exception of St.Edmunds, no school has given up on professional recruitment. Some like Cranbrook in 1982 will flirt with it but on the whole, professional recruitment is gaining momentum. Who knows, with a New Headmaster Shore may even embrace professional recruitment (Just kidding).

I know from previous posts, some you feel this is inappropriate for a schoolboys competition. But the reality is, it can no longer be regarded a amateur schoolboy game at an elite level. This extends, not just in player recruitment. But in training, player and coaching commitment and resources given.

At Newington they have two former Professional Players coaching the U/13s and the U/16s. Although, it should be mentioned they are both teachers at the school. Quick Hands on this point is more Knowlegable than myself.Nevertheless, it does indicate that quality professional coaching now occurs in Schoolboy Rugby.

My belief is that the refusal to embrace professionalism at the elite schoolboy level ,will confine Australian Rugby to Global mediocre. Some would say we are already there.

As parents, Old Boys and supporters of schoolboy Rugby, such views will be repugnant. But to me the choice is simple. Adapt or perish as a major player in International Rugby.
 
S

sidelineview

Guest
I agree with the above view on recruitment of schoolboy rugby players.
The whole recruitment thing can easily get out of hand but it has an important role to play within the big picture of Australian rugby.
How it is controlled and monitored so it isn't abused is the big question.
 

Balmain Subbies

Alfred Walker (16)
I agree with the last two posts. We could easily regulate it much like colleges in the US where only a certain amount of scholarships can be given. The GPS and CAS are two great organisations and could be a great pathway for a career in rugby if done right. I never understood why a violin scholarship was ok because it could lead to a career in music but a sports scholarship was frowned.
 

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David Codey (61)
No you can’t regulate it at all !

It’s been “regulated” for generations.

The regulation is zero.

Men of poor faith have abused these regulations for years.

Why will people willing to cheat,stop cheating if the bar is moved slightly?

One of these Schools hired 6 kids in yr 9, for a particular cohort and kept adding each year thereafter,until they literally had more mercaneries than positions in their first XV.

Of the original 6, one was so talented,he actually played in the first XV as a 15yo, yet despite intensive coaching for 4 years of 10 sessions a week,was still unable to pass both ways on graduation.
Another of the yr 9 intake,made it his business to let as many people as possible know that he spent every 2nd Wednesday at his local on the punt.

I know several other kids that were sold the dream,spend 12 hours a day,door to door due to the heavy training workload.
How can they possibly study? where’s the balance in their lives?

I have no doubt,these Schools give these mercenaries a leg up for a Schoolboy rep jumper, but claiming these schools are giving out of district kids any more than that is self serving spin.

To suggest we have no option but to adapt or die is bizarre.
Most of the GPS Schools already have programs that can’t be ramped up at all.
Hyperbaric chambers etc etc,are already in existence.their training load is already more than double that of the SS squads.
And who has anointed the private schools with their own particular agenda,to determine who and who isn’t on the pathway?

Far from being the saviour of the game, professional poaching,from other Schools & Associations will be the death of the game.

These GPS Schools show off their facilities to prospective parents/students with the rationale that it will improve their students.

If they really believe that,why are they need to get outside recruits?
 
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