DaSchmooze
Ron Walden (29)
I think that's a great thing. It's one of the best moves they ever made to include SJRU and the Country Clubs into the school pathway.I know in the u16's a number of kids have decided to go down the country pathway in hopes of making the Tahs u16 team. As was pointed out in the correspondence from Country management there are only 46 players selected to play in the regional tournament against the two Sydney teams and the NSWJRU Barbarians in Camden. So, the country kids have a 50% chance by position of making the final 23. Whereas there are 8 teams competing in schools carnival next weekend to make the 2 x NSW schools' sides that will play Sydney & Country, so there are roughly 184 kids competing for 46 positions. It should be noted that over the last 10 years 70% of the NSW schools' players have come from the GPS/CAS schools. From my experience with my own child + his mates a lot of the country kids are choosing to remain at their local school and not go to a Sydney or Brisbane boarding school because the country pathway now leads to the same destination as what the GPS/CAS kids get. The boys get to stay home and play for their clubs.