rugboy
Bob Loudon (25)
Apologies if this has been posted although disappointing for rugby all round especially on the back of losing the 16s.
2014 The Last Year for NSW Country Schools Rugby Union Championships
It is with great regret that we announce 2014 to be the last year of the annual Country Schools Championships to select sides to attend the NSW Selection Trials.
This decision, not taken lightly, is a result of the changing landscape of schoolboy rugby union in NSW. NSW Country Schools was set up in 1977 specifically to address the lack of opportunity for regionally based players to gain access to NSW Schools representative teams. These opportunities have improved through other pathways in the ensuing years with the Independent Schools Association (ISA), Combined High Schools (CHS), Combined Catholic Colleges (CCC) and more recently the Association of Independent Co-Educational Schools (AICES) all offering pathways for boys in regional schools.
Despite the ongoing success of the Country Schools Championships as both a pathway to higher representative honours and a representative experience in itself for regional players, it has become unviable to continue as a pathway to NSW Schools with the regional development of these other pathways.
Highlights from the 38 year history of Country Schools include:
• 37 Championships at venues from Bathurst to Narrabeen, Tamworth and Armidale
• 14 players who have gone on to represent Australian Schools
• 9 players who have gone on to represent the Wallabies
• Hosting of 14 international matches against touring national schoolboy sides from England, Fiji, Ireland, Tonga, Samoa and Japan in venues including Nowra, Parkes, Wagga Wagga, Singleton, Newcastle, Maitland, Campbelltown, Tamworth, Tweed Heads, Lismore and Armidale
• 11 international development tours to South Africa, New Zealand, Western Samoa, Canada, Fiji, USA and Singapore
The voluntary contribution of those who have made Country Schools an institution in regional NSW will be acknowledged at the final Championships to be held at The Armidale School on 7-8th June.
Matt de Dassel
President
On behalf of the Executive
NSW Country Schools Rugby Union
13/3/14
2014 The Last Year for NSW Country Schools Rugby Union Championships
It is with great regret that we announce 2014 to be the last year of the annual Country Schools Championships to select sides to attend the NSW Selection Trials.
This decision, not taken lightly, is a result of the changing landscape of schoolboy rugby union in NSW. NSW Country Schools was set up in 1977 specifically to address the lack of opportunity for regionally based players to gain access to NSW Schools representative teams. These opportunities have improved through other pathways in the ensuing years with the Independent Schools Association (ISA), Combined High Schools (CHS), Combined Catholic Colleges (CCC) and more recently the Association of Independent Co-Educational Schools (AICES) all offering pathways for boys in regional schools.
Despite the ongoing success of the Country Schools Championships as both a pathway to higher representative honours and a representative experience in itself for regional players, it has become unviable to continue as a pathway to NSW Schools with the regional development of these other pathways.
Highlights from the 38 year history of Country Schools include:
• 37 Championships at venues from Bathurst to Narrabeen, Tamworth and Armidale
• 14 players who have gone on to represent Australian Schools
• 9 players who have gone on to represent the Wallabies
• Hosting of 14 international matches against touring national schoolboy sides from England, Fiji, Ireland, Tonga, Samoa and Japan in venues including Nowra, Parkes, Wagga Wagga, Singleton, Newcastle, Maitland, Campbelltown, Tamworth, Tweed Heads, Lismore and Armidale
• 11 international development tours to South Africa, New Zealand, Western Samoa, Canada, Fiji, USA and Singapore
The voluntary contribution of those who have made Country Schools an institution in regional NSW will be acknowledged at the final Championships to be held at The Armidale School on 7-8th June.
Matt de Dassel
President
On behalf of the Executive
NSW Country Schools Rugby Union
13/3/14
