School sporting scholarships/recruitment

[oldboy]

I think its great that newington have finally broken their drought and won a premiership outright. congratulations to them.
But what makes the GPS (NSW) comp so exciting is the way we play the game. With the 15 blokes on each team being best mates since year 7 and reaching their dream of playing 1st XV footy in year 12. The thing that can ruin the camaraderie between a year group is the use of sporting scholarships.
I'm not sure of the situation at newington and I know some of their islander players have had relatives there but players like apo this year and ben volavola last year have are obvious scholarships holders. I feel bad for the players in the 2nds that have lost their places in the 1sts due to these players.

Its also the same at other schools with Kings (some of their backrow this years), Scots with Dane Aktinson, and many other players. Grammar and shore and then both joeys and riverview (to lesser extents) are the only schools that dont import.
Its what makes their victories so much sweeter. i.e. Grammar beating shore 34-33 in 2008. Shore beating Joeys 31-29 in 2009.
Its these that make it all worthwhile as schools have trusted their own player development.

I strongly believe that Newington would have easily won the comp this year if they didnt have apo. They have a strong core group of players from year 12 and mostly yr 11 I believe that have won the majority of their games throughout their times at school.
Just imagine if Newington had won the comp this year if without giving any scholarships.

This is why the GPS Head of the River is the most exciting sporting event of the year. 8 blokes from each school who have trained their hearts out for the last 8 months in trying to win a 6min race possibly by a tenth of a second.
The most amazing thing is that each school develops these boys from the first time they sit in a boat at the start of term 4 in year 7. The coaches put time and effort into these boys in aiming for glory throughout each age group and in particular for when theyre in the 1st VIII.

None of the above comments are meant to be racist.
Most importantly I still want to congratulate newington on their premiership for this year.

I'm sick to death of hearing this, the reality is that not all of Joeys first XV are full fee paying students, end of story
I find it poignantly absurd that these boys are on scholarships and are yet not considered "imports", Keliti Vaingalo would be considered
and import yet he began as a full fee paying student.

"Just imagine if Newington had won the comp this year without giving any scholarships"
also ridiculous, if Kings won you could say the same about them and their strong back row, Joeys and some sharp backline players
and by reading this it seems Riverview are not free of imports either...

While you say you "want to congratulate newington on their premiership", to me it seems to be merely a masquerade of sentiment, covering up
nasty undertones that you may not even realise.

The simple fact is that all GPS schools that compete for the premiership have players that are not paying the full fees.
There is no other point to argue.

 

[barbarian]

Guys this is going off the rails a bit. No more discussion of individual player's abilities, or baseless accusations please. We have done well to get to 9 pages on this without world war 3 breaking out, and I have no intention of letting it begin now.

 

[oldboy]

So rugbygirl, in 2013 when you win the title. the argument will be 4 of these kids joined in year 9 so are not imports?
I know some of these kids, and I know how much an Newington education costs their family.

as rugbygirl said, she never made reference to 2013 in anyway, to say otherwise is silly. You are essentially correct, there are indeed 3 imports in year 9. However you are obviously aware of the circumstances of that year, every other school has imported in order to win premierships on significant anniversaries, so there's nothing new going on there.

 

[Rugbygirl]

as rugbygirl said, she never made reference to 2013 in anyway, to say otherwise is silly. You are essentially correct, there are indeed 3 imports in year 9. However you are obviously aware of the circumstances of that year, every other school has imported in order to win premierships on significant anniversaries, so there's nothing new going on there.

That year group was very small - approx 120 boys. The school offerred a variety of scholarships to bring an entire new class - approx 25 boys - into the year group. They weren't "imports" in the traditional sense but were rather like the general range of scholarships offerred in Year 7. Some were academic, some were music and art, some were all-rounder. What is the school supposed to do - give scholarships to the mediocre an talentless ?? The whole point of scholarships is to reward talent !!

 

[Lee Grant]

oldboy

Cool it - you've made your point. Let's move on.

 

[baldingwingforward]

They weren't "imports" in the traditional sense but were rather like the general range of scholarships offerred in Year 7. The whole point of scholarships is to reward talent !!

But Sports scholarships are clearly against the GPS byelaws and rules. Doesn't matter how you dress it up i.e. "a general range of schloarships" - face it, Newington (and others) are blatantly cheating.

 

[pitbull]

is this news shocking to you? must be your first year of gps rugby then

 

[supporter]

But Sports scholarships are clearly against the GPS byelaws and rules. Doesn't matter how you dress it up i.e. "a general range of schloarships" - face it, Newington (and others) are blatantly cheating.

--------------

You called it 'cheating' but it's a BLESSING for these kids on scholarship. By the way - they go to school to study and then play rugby not just play rugby. Do you think these scholarship to play rugby only? These kids perform well in their study and rugby.

 

[skullring]

Most boring and over worked topic on green and gold by far.
Fact is, Australia needs GPS rugby to nurture a very low playing field, why should only the wealthy be responsible for this playing field.
Every moron whinging profusely about a few scholarships handed out to hardworking young men, is either bitter that their son posessing less talent got looked over, or is still hanging on to some distant rugby dream they can never let go; and needs to get a life of their own.
Can someone delete this topic, please

 

[supporter]

I had a conversation with the Headmaster of Wesley College (NZ - Jonah Lomu, Sivivatu, Sekope Kepu etc.etc an ex student) last week. Wesley College changed their policy to support the Pacific Islanders. More than 100 kids are on scholarship and the majority are Pacific Islanders.

Newington College will continuing offer scholarship to the Pacific Islanders, as a way to support the under privilege.

 

[lincoln]

Skullring, the AAGPS articles of association do not allow sporting scholarships. The AAGPS probably should change these rules based on your reasoning, but they are what they are now - some schools are blatantly not abiding by the rules - what would happen to our society if everyone felt they could ignore the rules - anarchy.

 

[baldingwingforward]

My last word on it (until someone else says something stupid about it...)

I don't have a problem with Sports Scholarships, but as it stands currently, in Sydney GPS (and CAS for that matter) schools are not supposed to give them out.

EITHER - they have to legalise it like they did in Queensland, which would stop all of this bitching and innuendo that currently goes on, OR the Headmasters at the various schools either grow some balls and stand up to the persistent cheats, and the ones who are shamelessly offering them need to get some integrity and work within the rules.

Skullring are you involved with this directly? If you're not you might feel a little differently if you actually saw the impact that it has on the kids involved, both at the schools the players join and displace other students, and at other schools, who realistically have their chance of winning/being competitive taken away from them by super star opposition.

I think the best solution for everyone would be if it was opened up and actually allowed - BUT i doubt they will do that as that will mean that they actually have to admit that it is going on at the moment!

 

[qwerty51]

Sounds like a nice deal they have going on there, geographically they're all pretty close to each other.

 

[qwerty51]

Works well for them. Sort of makes the title win a bit hollow for me. They should be congratulated for a good business deal. Expect Newington to dominate if this continues.

It doesn't take anything away from their title win for me, their boys worked as hard as any other premiers did in the past to get where they did. I don't see why it should take anything away from them. Plus this "relationship" with the West Harbour and the Tigers really only brought in boys in the 16s - not the 1st XV.

 

[supporter]

This may be on interest

Fees paid by Leagues Club

Today I attended the Randwick Legends Lunch at the Hilton. While there I spoke at length with a couple of people from other clubs. (Uni and Parra) They both were recruitment officers from their clubs. Topic turned to the great result for Newington. I asked if these clubs had any interest in the players at Stanmore. Their response was...

1. The islander Newington players have come through west harbor or feeder clubs. (confirmed by west club offical i spoke to) The Pirates along with West Tigers have struck up a deal to help recruit and keep talented players.
2. These players are actually contracted to the Pirates and to West Tigers.
3. As an incentive for these boys to play exclusively for West Harbor or the Tigers they have tuition at Newington paid for. This I am told applies to 7 players within the current 16A and 1st XV. (Confirmed by a Newington out sourced coach who works at West Harbor)

Sarge, Thanks for the imformations but I doubt it.

Two Pacific Islanders for Newington 16A and none of them connected to West Harbour. One is in Sydney Uni and the other is from Tonga on scholarship of ONU.

4 Pacific Islanders in the 1st XV - Apo, Joe, Allan and Ezra. Ezra is playing for Sydney Uni and he will stay with Sydney Uni for sure. Apo not so sure of him, and Joe will join West. Allan is the only one connected with West Harbour and I believe he is the one supported by West Harbour. Apo, Joe and Ezra is on scholarship offered by the ONU. I'm very close to Apo, Joe and Ezra parents and none of them mention anything about this deal as you mentioned about the Pacific Islanders.

 

[I like to watch]

Sarge,
sounds like good info from people who know what is going on, but I struggle to understand why the Tigers would be spending over $20k per annum for 2 or 3 years,to educate kids that they have an option on. When they don't pay anything like that to most of their Toyota cup players who are actually on the field and playing for them each week.
I am not saying you are wrong, it just does not sound logical.
Am I missing something?
As an aside, so many of the Schools are playing the Scholarship game, ( even with the "cleanskins" , there is innuendo over certain students) open the floodgates let them in. who is it going to hurt?

 

[observer]

Sarge,
sounds like good info from people who know what is going on, but I struggle to understand why the Tigers would be spending over $20k per annum for 2 or 3 years,to educate kids that they have an option on. When they don't pay anything like that to most of their Toyota cup players who are actually on the field and playing for them each week.
I am not saying you are wrong, it just does not sound logical.
Am I missing something?
As an aside, so many of the Schools are playing the Scholarship game, ( even with the "cleanskins" , there is innuendo over certain students) open the floodgates let them in. who is it going to hurt?

I have to agree with this post Sarge. Was it after the tenth schooner this was said to you?

 

[baldingwingforward]

You forgot about their best player... Luani! Not sure where he hails from but rumour has it he is definitely going to the Tigers. Shame as he is a real talent in union. West Harbour have long had a link with Trinity (or at least they used to) but i would also be surprised if they were prepared to fork out well over $20k + per player per year. The old boys unions are normally where the money comes from - that way the school can also detach themselves from it and pretend they don't know its going on.

 

[observer]

Ha
Wish it was. Was on the waters I am afraid.

What a waste of a good lunch!!

 

[qwerty51]

Luani played a few games in the 2nds last year and now is the #8 for Australian Schoolboys. Newington developed him into the player he is now.