NTS/Gold Squads

dont worry their integrity has been questioned - the guy who dreamt up the training time had been coaching these kids through the ages in union while holding, i think, an admin position at the relevant junior league. To be fair to him his son got (justifiably) benched for the state champ final..so union was on the nose in that household!

Before we criticize the league guys too much, I think Rugby at a schoolboy level does the exact same thing. Consistently players from ISA, GPS and CAS are encouraged to put all their energy into winning schoolboy premierships as opposed to village one's. These precious little wanna be's then get humiliated when they eventually play against an opponent with any mongrel or skin in the game. Tosser's.
This is the underlying problem with rugby in Australia. Too many nancy boy's with nothing to lose playing.

This was a village club. Other than that i think you're absolutely right - and its why its not good for Aus rugby for the ISA GPS CAS schools to take any of the good kids from the high schools.

I'm back after an enforce break.

Bloody Hell - a 4 week suspension for speaking my mind - bit tougher there Lee :angryfire:; would have got less to a forearm to the jaw. :lmao:

Anyway, congratulation to Leicester Tiger's young bloke for his nomination for the Blacktown Advocate's junior sports star of the year. Well done, Lachlann.

Can you take a hint or not, m4e? Contribute to the rugby discussion on this site in a positive manner or bugger off.

DD who are the 6 notable ommissions?

yes your correct they are brothers and milad does attend marist eastwood. both good players

The players who I think are notable ommisions exclude a number of Joey’s boys and players like Jamo Clarke, Malaki Afele and Nick Andrews who probably have League commitments. My list is also limited to 16 year olds. Sam Hefron, Peter Maa, Lucas Bateman, Luke Papworth, Mathew Crafts and Ben Stacey definitely IMO would be ideal candidates for the NGS. After watching the JGS boys have a run around at Kings last Sunday, the rate of development of so many players was really noticeable. I’m not sure how it all works but I hope the NGS has provision to bring in more players.

I'm Back!

Here I was at home thinking that everyone was all "rugby'd out" until 2012 only to find that the discussion is still alive!

Even Magpie is back in from the cold after an imposed exile for bringing this fine chat room into disrepute . lmao!

Anyway back to business; Lily I could not agree with you more with respect to your abovementioned comment!

Regards,
Newbie

You may not know there has been another thread regarding the above. Scroll down on the forums section - last post 22 November 2011 - NTS/Gold Squad. If you go to ARU website - Try Rugby section has some information.

The "Pathway" document is last years - however will give you some idea - I believe may be some slight changes to the actual program. The NSW Gold Squad has been training for at least six weeks and have gone pass the trial period. Yet to see the names of the Gold Squad this season - some clues in the Junior Squad in which there is a news release and understand has the NGS names.

Cheers

Very well said, I couldn't agree more BH. As a parent of a boy who is new to the program,, I can confirm much of what iluvmyfooty has already said, that is every kid involved has had it emphasised to them "there are no guarantees of higher rep honors " from being in the NGS. The rugby schools who allow their students to be in the NGS appear to have a very good working relationship with the NGS staff who do not impose any restrictions on the boys school rugby. I have seen just about every kid in the current NGS playing rugby either at schools games, state championships, at country championships or in club land and can say, IMO the ARU are pretty close to getting it right. there will always be the kid that you reckon or I reckon should be in the squad. That's always going to happen but what is for sure, every kid bought in to the NGS now, has been at the pointy end of the talent stick and performed consistantely at the highest level for a long time. Look, I agree the systems not perfect but I think it's heading the right way. The progression from the regional acadamies, to under 15's National camp, JGS and National 16's to NGS makes sense to me.

Dingdong,

A mate of mine has a young cousin in the squad. He is a Riverview boy called Jack Hayson (I think it's Jack). Do you know him? Interested to see if he is going to be a talent for the future.

This is probably why the English Schoolboys have become so dominant of late - the RFU rather than having a program similer to NTS and Gold Squads has partnered with specific schools that have become rugby academys:

http://www.rfu.com/TakingPart/CareersInRugby/Programmes/AASE

It's very worrying how further ahead their junior development is compared to here

Dont worry too much - juts make sure that the ARU puts an Altitude Bar in their base camp at each RWC.

Does anyone have a list of the queensland junior gold squad boys?

Group gathers in Sydney for ARU’s annual talent scout workshop

http://www.rugby.com.au/DesktopModu...ID=5834&Template=Standard_Print.ascx&siteID=1

Interesting..
This quote reveals where the ARU are really up to in terms of professionalism:

Hard to imagine that "system" being used in AFL, league or whatever soccer wants to be called this year..