AICES Rugby

[tragickingdom]

Tough day today! AICES go down 47 - 20 in a tough encounter against ISA 2. They were missing two of their best players in Michael Yarham(concussion) and Henry Fuimaono(didn't turn up) which made life harder. Their enthusiasm was evident though and the first 10 minutes was fast and hard. The boys were going great with McCracken(Parkes), Anstee(WCC) and Barry(HVGS) hitting hard . AICES had their chances but little defensive lapses came regularly and despite a charge down try from Bradford(HVGS) they went into the break well beaten. The second half was better and Shelley and Rabuatoka combined for a great try before Isaac added another great intercept try .

Best on the day were Rabuatoka, McCracken and Anstee IMO. lots of the squad were Year 11 and with the strong U16's coming through it looks good for 2016. No one made the NSW teams but they were certainly noticed this year afte beating CHS 2 and putting up a fight against ISA 2.

 

[Boof]

Henry Fuimaono apparently has league commitments with South Sydney today and wasn't released to play yesterday, pretty poor form to leave your team mates in the lurch like that.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^ It sounds as it the young fellow didn't have much choice in the matter.

The Powerbrokers at Souths (and Souths Juniors) are known for their hatred of Heavensgame, and will deliberately go well out of their way to make it difficult for young dual coders to play any rugby at all.

Something to do with Souths Juniors annually ploughing $2m+ into junior Mungoball in their footprint, and The Pulveriser responding by increasing the registration and insurance fees and charging families > $600 to participate in the "elite" junior development programme that is the JGC.

 

[Boof]

^^^ It sounds as it the young fellow didn't have much choice in the matter.

The Powerbrokers at Souths (and Souths Juniors) are known for their hatred of Heavensgame, and will deliberately go well out of their way to make it difficult for young dual coders to play any rugby at all.

Something to do with Souths Juniors annually ploughing $2m+ into junior Mungoball in their footprint, and The Pulveriser responding by increasing the registration and insurance fees and charging families > $600 to participate in the "elite" junior development programme that is the JGC.

Yes certainly agree but life is about choices, make one. I understand they want to do it all but you can't unfortunately, at least not all the time.

 

[tragickingdom]

The revival rolls on for AICES. The U16 boys took on the might of CHS 1 and 2 today at the championships. The first game was a mess for both squads involved. Some interesting refereeing decisions and a terrible lopsided penalty count to CHS made it hard enough but simple errors such as missing touch on penalties 4! times made life even worse. They defended against the state schools as best they could but some huge props crashed over from close range and they lost 24 - 0. first time i have ever seen all tries scored by props


In the 2nd game the boys were prepared and ready. They were playing huge with our backrow killing CHS at the breakdown and in attack. Jahnerric Afele, Lakopo Esera and Ruben Vermaark were sensational and after sustained Liam Kelly capitalised with a try in the corner which was sensationally converted by Connor Willmott. In the second half CHS ran out of steam with Lakopo scoring under the posts to take the wind out of CHS. AICES won 14 - 0 and lots of boys could be talked about at selection meetings tonight

 

[tragickingdom]

AICES U16 gave GPS 2 a huge scare today after going out to a 15 - 7 lead. Tries were scored by Kyle, Harrison and Liam in a length of the field blinder! Unfortunately they couldn't hold on especially with Lakopo off with a bad concussion. GPS 2 grounded out a victory but the selectors and the whole crowd realised that AICES are now a force and they are not to be taken lightly. 2016 will be good.

 

[Boof]

If AICES is to become truly competitive it is now up to the schools within this association to develop their own rugby programs to support what AICES has put in place and expose their boys to more consistent and competitive rugby, without that they will never get off the floor. These lads will always find it difficult to complete with other players in solid school rugby programs or associations drawing from a much larger pool if they are not doing so themselves.

 

[fortheloveofrugby]

Boof , I find this comment and approach somewhat frustrating, as most of the schools in AICES are small in number of students and staff with rugby experience. They do not have funds, knowledge or more importantly support from NSW or local rugby associations to run programs that will allow the development of rugby. Unfortunately this is not limited to AICES schools but also in CHS schools. More support in developing coaches, giving them help and knowledge combined with confidence is desperately needed for school rugby to develop . There are extremely limited teams to play against in competition and when these schools manage to put a team together they tend to be 'fodder' for rugby schools. NSW rugby need to help a lot more, otherwise the loss to AFL, soccer, league will continue, ( these other codes already support and promote big time compared to our heavenly game).

 

[tragickingdom]

AICES schools as said above are small. Generally, you have a passionate rugby staff member who toils, often with little to no help to keep the code alive. It is particulary hard in certain areas of the state where the clubs have virtually gone extinct. There are some amazing staff members at these schools and if they weren't there AICES would simply not exist or at best be totally annihilated as it has in the past. 2015 was an amazing year for AICES in which they showed themselves to be competitive in both age groups. The opens beat CHS 2 and the 16's pushed GPS 2's to the limit as well. However, vigilance is essential for this struggling small division and NSW Rugby need to get in the trenches with these small schools as they fly the flag in a competitive environment. Several schools that fly the flag for AICES and rugby are Hunter Valley Grammar with NSW manager John Guy and Rick at the helm, TIGS with Australian Barbarian coach Jay Tregonning, Northholm Grammar with AICES rugby director Rod Tuynman and Nick Childs present, William Clarke College with ex AICES coach Ben Carr, Reddam House with CIS junior and Opens AICES coach James Barkell, Shellharbour Anglican with Peter Gibson, Nowra Anglican and many others who escape the memory and fly under the radar with no thanks. There is also the many Christian schools who feed into the AICES team who have a staff member hitting their head against walls trying to keep a struggling code going

 

[fortheloveofrugby]

Totally agree and support all of your comments, tragickingdom. Let's hope and pray the above mentioned people working in AICES can keep the dream alive.

 

[Boof]

So the AICES schools should just sit on their hands and wait until NSW Rugby or clubland come to the rescue, I think not. Its a fact of life to go forward you have to help yourself.
The passionate rugby people in these schools who do a fantastic job need (and I'm sure they are ) to campaign for the support of the principal like HVGS has done and I'm sure many of the other schools you mentioned have also.
Remember AICES have a relative short history compared to the GPS and CAS schools, so it may take a while to build into a solid pathway for players.
I find it frustrating also, this was my 4th schools campaign with 2 sons and one still to come, I have seen a few boys over the years that have been genuine contenders for higher honors and you look up in the stand at the selectors and see them joking and shaking hands with players from more notable associations instead of watching the AICES boys on field, its rather unprofessional but that's what your up against. NSW is not going to step in and set things up for anyone but they may provide support if asked and if they can see positive movement from the entire association, but I agree that's a big maybe. Its up to AICES and its schools, there is no knight in shining armor.

 

[Chris McCracken]

I think there's a bit of cross-purposes discussion going on here. Of course, it's incumbent on the organisations which make up AICES to build the depth as best they can. However, it's simply not the case that the schools themselves are resourced to do that.

Let me give you an example - in fact, the only example I know. Parkes Christian School provided two of the players through the CSSA system. They don't have a Rugby program at school. The school is very small. None of the staff is likely to have ever even watched a game of Rugby.

However, they are passionate people who want to promote the kids as best they can, so they put them forward for gigs like this.

There is NO WAY KNOWN this school could develop its own Rugby program. They wouldn't have enough kids with even a slight interest to field a sevens team.

I don't think they're on their own in that boat. In PCS' case, there is a local club with quality coaching, which will help them move those two through, along with one or two younger ones.

But, should there be pressure on a school of 180 kids (K-12) to build a Rugby program? What about League? Soccer? Athletics? Swimming?

I think you're right to suggest that the constituent organisations can do more to assist AICES. However, I would suggest that the bottom-up approach won't work too well with an organisation of 90 some odd relatively small schools without a centralised structure.

As Tragickingdom points out, the schools capable of developing players in-house already are. There needs to be an impetus to drive further success, but driving it from the schools up is probably not viable.

EDIT: Please excuse the rant.

 

[tragickingdom]

AICES faces a huge battle and will always do so. It is also a lifeline for the many independent country schools who previously played with NSW Country schoolboys. The 2016 AICES championships with have 5 teams competing in each age group which is an increase. However, these squads can sometimes consist of one/two schools. Notable examples of this are NASSA who almost entirely made up of Penrith Anglican, ISD which is purely Reddam House and SASSA which is an even tougher beast - a division made of Shellharbour Anglican and Nowra Anglican - two small schools whose students have access to a hugely struggling club program but staff members who are hugely passionate. The exception to this rule is the CSSA team and the HRIS team. The CSSA team is often made up of 9 -12 small Christian schools around the state and the HRIS has a brilliant club program and some incredibly gifted coaches and managers involved with the program.

The schools in AICES - the ones that actually have passionate rugby staff members are punching well above their weight in terms of involvement and results. However - around 90% of them don't have that staff member. As for regular and competitive rugby - the logistics of a competition between the capable schools of AICES is mind boggling. You think ISA has it tough - imagine a comp involving schools from the far south coast of NSW to Tamworth! Most AICES schools are low to mid fee schools and such a competition (for one code mind you) would send the school into financial disarray. Most AICES schools simply play in their NSWRU competitions and do very well.

Selectors not paying attention - AICES has a NSW selector this year. I'm sure he would stop that happening. With the improved performance of AICES in 2015 and hopefully the future I am sure the selectors will notice us very soon. Privilege to be involved in this division - the schools fly a flag for rugby in areas of the state where quite truthfully the code wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the effort of the AICES school staff members.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Slightly off topic, but read all about one of G&GR's own being recognised, and in the running for the Asteron Life Community Coach of the Year Award.

CENTRAL WEST SERVED WELL BY CHRIS MCCRACKEN

Read all about it here:
http://www.rugby.com.au/News/NewsAr...tral-West-served-well-by-Chris-McCracken.aspx

Congratulations Chris McCracken. Hope you go on to win it.

 

[Chris McCracken]

There are lists up on the other school threads of players in each group who will be staying on another year. I thought it might be constructive to do the same here. This is the team list from the game against CHS2. What's below is what the boy can remember - which isn't much.

Year 11

5. William BUSTER, Calrossy Anglican School
6. Henry FUIMAONO, Richard Johnson Anglican School
7. Aron PETERS, Parkes Christian School
8. Ryan McCRACKEN, Parkes Christian School


Year 12

2. Jock BARRY, Hunter Valley Grammar School
3. Dane BOWEN, Nowra Anglican College
10. Michael YARHAM, William Clarke College
18. Tim ANSTEE, William Clarke College


Don't Know

1. Riley CROCOMBE, St. Philip's Christian College, Gosford
4. Bai RABUKU, Regents Park Christian School
9. Ben SHELLEY, Green Pt Christian School

11. Dan THOMAS, Hunter Valley Grammar School
12. Robert AFELE, Mt View Anglican College
13. Jayden STOKES, William Clarke College
14. Isaac RABUATOKA, Macarthur Anglican College
15. Jacob BARNES, Nowra Anglican College

16. Nic POPOVSKI, Arndell Anglican College
17. Rhys ASTBURY, Penrith Anglican College
19. Connor WINCHESTER, Emanuel College
20. Hayden YATES, Bishop Tyrell Anglican College
21. Dan JONES, Arndell Anglican College
Will BOWCOCK, Scone GS
Jesse HESLEHURST, Nowra AC
Kane MURRAY, Hunter Valley GS
Tom UNDERWOOD, Hunter Valley GS

 

[Boof]

Yr12
Dan Thomas
Jayden Stokes

Yr11
Tom Underwood
Kane Murray

 

[tragickingdom]

Unfortunately - Henry Fuimaono is year 12 -

Year 11 - Bai Rabuku , Ben Shelley, Robert Afele,

Year 12 - Jacob barnes, Isaac Rabuatoka


There is also some fantastic players coming through from the under 16's. Some with enough ability to challenge the year 11's from this year. Especially in the forwards.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

AICES 2016 "incumbents"

Year 12 2016
4. Bai RABUKU, Regents Park Christian School
5. William BUSTER, Calrossy Anglican School
7. Aron PETERS, Parkes Christian School
8. Ryan McCRACKEN, Parkes Christian School
9. Ben SHELLEY, Green Pt Christian School
12. Robert AFELE, Mt View Anglican College
Kane MURRAY, Hunter Valley GS
Tom UNDERWOOD, Hunter Valley GS
Jesse HESLEHURST, Nowra AC

Left School 2016
2. Jock BARRY, Hunter Valley Grammar School
3. Dane BOWEN, Nowra Anglican College
6. Henry FUIMAONO, Richard Johnson Anglican School
10. Michael YARHAM, William Clarke College
11. Dan THOMAS, Hunter Valley Grammar School
13. JaydenSTOKES, William Clarke College
14. Isaac RABUATOKA, Macarthur Anglican College
15. JacobBARNES, Nowra Anglican College
18. Tim ANSTEE, William Clarke College


2016 Status unknown
1. Riley CROCOMBE, St. Philip's Christian College, Gosford
16. Nic POPOVSKI, Arndell Anglican College
17. Rhys ASTBURY, Penrith Anglican College
19. Connor WINCHESTER, Emanuel College
20. Hayden YATES, Bishop Tyrell Anglican College
21. Dan JONES, Arndell Anglican College
Will BOWCOCK, Scone GS

Edited: as per below

 

[tragickingdom]

Jesse Heslehurst is also year 11

 

[tragickingdom]

Harrison Stein and Nathan Vougdis from the AICES U16 team have been selected into the SJRU team. Well done lads.