Whilst the media spotlights AFL in Blacktown, there continues to be a strategy to reinforce rugby union in State High schools in the area.
Part of this strategy is the continuing direct affirmative action to send the first XV of selected state high schools in Western Sydney as the representative of Australian schools to the Sanix Rugby Tournament in Japan.
The invitation comes from the President of the JRU and former Prime Minister, Mr. Yoshiro Mori.
The invited school to represent Australian schools in early May this year is Hills Sport High School at 56 Best Road Seven Hills (the next railway station is, of course, Blacktown).
In 2007, Westfields High School was selected. In 2009, Prarievale High school. It would be easy for the ARU/NSWRU/QRU to just send GPS or Associated School winners but they have stuck with a strategy and all power to them.
The payback is not now but a decade from now.
These things are cumulative in nature and the building blocks to a strong rugby culture. The next step is to retain these players.
The tour is about more than just sport. It is the chance to obtain social and educational opportunities that may not otherwise available be to these young men. Someone at ARU and NSWRU is holding the line and they deserve acknowledgement.
Hills Sport High school is running a golf day for the team at Fox Hills Golf Club on Friday morning, 26th February ($75 a head, including a day’s play, breakfast and buffet lunch, and a guest speaker from the NSWRU).
The school is seeking donations of sporting memorabilia or goods for auction. You can contact the coordinator of the tour, Robert Hawkes, on 0425 288481. Give it your support with action not words.
Even hopeless golfers like me will be there.
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February 12th 2010 @ 11:47am
Bay35Pablo said | February 12th 2010 @ 11:47am | Report comment
The NSWRU really are starting to get as bad on the nose as the NSW government. Does anyone believe the current lot are going to dig our sport of the hole it is in?
They remind me of the band on the Titanic playing while everyone jumps in the lifeboats.
February 12th 2010 @ 8:35pm
rugbyfuture said | February 12th 2010 @ 8:35pm | Report comment
thats what you and Andrew Logan are her for Bay
February 12th 2010 @ 12:02pm
Matt S said | February 12th 2010 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
What are the ARU going to go to one state school at a time and offer them an overseas trip?
What’s wrong with them being attracted to the game by its merits? What kid ain’t going to turn down a trip OS?
Surely funds can be used to put more development officers in place as mentioned on this thread (lack of) instead of this ‘exclusive’ policy union seems to have in that an overseas trip will keep a selected few happy.
At least if these kids continue in union and go onto be administrators, they’ll be used to junkets!
February 12th 2010 @ 8:36pm
westy said | February 12th 2010 @ 8:36pm | Report comment
Matt S the invitation to attend the Sanix International Schools rugby tournament is issued by Japanese rugby union to the Australian rugby union. In the past Joeys and Kings have gone. The ARU only covers a fixed proportion of cost and has done so for all schools in the past. The ARU has made clear that it will always send a representative school along with all pacific nations ( Tonga/Samoa/NZ) to ensure a successful tournament. This is also to assist school rugby in japan.
You adopt an unusual position that this subsidy only be offered to already wealthy schools.
You seem to have this us and them mentality so characteristic of a certain generation. The majority of the hills Sports team play club rugby on the weekend but there are af ew boys who play both rugby league and rugby union for the school and do not seem to have hangups of elders.
They want to represent their school and take an opportunity they will remember for the rest of their life.
By the way the First XV rugby coach is rugby to his bootstraps but this does not stop him from acting as a trainer for the school’s rugby league teams.
I like the fact each does not exclude the other. my observation is that there is a healthy respect for both games
I like the fact they encourage the boys to just play and not get caught up in our attitudes
I am glad they have the opportunity.
I agree there is much more to be done but If the subsidy is to be paid anyway this is at least well directed.
February 15th 2010 @ 5:53pm
vinay verma said | February 15th 2010 @ 5:53pm | Report comment
Good to see,Westy,I’d like to donate something for the Auction. Give me a ring or email me. You can get my phone and email from ZAC.
May 20th 2010 @ 12:18am
westy said | May 20th 2010 @ 12:18am | Report comment
The hills sports high school rugby union team recent;ly returned home from japan where they finished a credible third in the Sanix corporation world school rugby tournament.
The best team hamilton high from New Zealand was successful. They beat HSH 18 to nil in the semi final. 15 to nil at half time. HSH made errors in not taking cheap penalties under the posts instead trying to post tries.
I would like to say that HSH performed very very well. unlike hamilton and all other schools present they play in no reguler school rugby competition .On reflection trial games against good GPS schools would have been a godsend although they may not have been keen to do so. HSH defence is heavy duty. Prior to leaving two key players No 10/12 and their No 15 contracted with NRL clubs were talked out of going.
Prior to the semi final with NZ the school lost their only Australian school rugby representative and main lineout jumper and their No 10 after their victory over the English U/18s national champions Truro College
I will say some of the rugby league backs after four or five games of consistent rugby union certainly showed me there is still merit at what they do best …running and stepping at the line and hitting hard . They even started to go for the ball and not retreat.
The school and the boys are to be congradulated. Rugby league or rugby union they turned out for their school