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The 2011 GPS rugby season has not even commenced and yet there is more evidence of its fundamental decline, misguided decision making and lack of vision or leadership.
Three Sydney private schools, Riverview, Kings and Joeys, are refusing to allow their 1st and 2nd XV rugby players to play in the State Championships of Rugby in 2011.
This is a qualifying tournament for the prestigious Sydney U17 or NSW U17. These teams are the pinnacle for under 17 rugby.
These decisions have been taken by the Headmaster, the Head of Sport and the 1st XV coach for each of these schools.
These representative rugby competitions provide more intense, faster rugby and hence will assist players to develop to their full potential. Specifically, I refer to the physical and mental toughness displayed by NZ teams.
On Thursday, Jamie Joseph wrote that he thought that the Australian Super Rugby franchises were playing rugby at school boy intensity. There is a reason for this.
“We played four New Zealand teams in a row, that’s a big ask because they are very physical,” he told Wellington’s Dominion Post.
“You watch the Waratahs play the Reds and it’s different rugby… it’s like school stuff while we are at war.”
He is an experienced coach and former player. He has taken the Highlanders to new heights this season and possibly a play off appearance.
His analogy triggered me to publicise this decision. The decision is at odds with the schools responsibility for developing the students’ in their care, individually and as community members.
Specifically, I am referring to the GPS schools: The Kings School (Kings), The Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore), Newington College (Newington), St Josephs College (Joeys), St Ignatius College (Riverview), The Scots College (Scots), Sydney Grammar School (Grammar) and Sydney Boys High School (High).
Set out below are the reasons and the explanation of why these reasons are so wrong:
1. They fear injury to their key players.
This view is contradicted by the world’s best practice. Rugby players need to play rugby consistently. This is the policy of the two best coaches in the world, the Australian and New Zealand national coaches respectively, Robbie Deans and Graham Henry. Through the bitter experience of his 2007 “rest program” Henry changed his policy in this area. Since becoming Wallabies coach, Deans has consistently dictated that his players play on weekends when they are not required for national duty.
2. They seek to maintain the isolation and exclusivity of the GPS competition.
These schools do not participate in the broader rugby community or competitions such as the Waratah Shield. The GPS schools play trial games against non GPS opponents before the GPS season commences. The GPS players wear their respective school’s standard jersey for these games against lesser opponents. The players are presented with unique 1st XV jerseys to wear in the GPS competition.
Do not confuse protecting the schools’ rich heritage and tradition with maintaining outdated, isolation and exclusivity, particularly when it comes at a cost to the child.
This protectionism argument is even less valuable when there are so many very suitable alternatives open to the GPS schools that still protect the tradition and provide their students with better rugby development. If Australia and New Zealand can “merge” the traditions of the second most valuable rugby competition on the planet, the Bledisloe Cup, with the pragmatism of the Tri Nations, surely the schools can do so as well.
3. They fail in their duty to provide the best development path for their students.
The state championships and the later Sydney and NSW U17 games involve a much better standard of player and play. Simply put, it is much tougher and faster. All players benefit from such games and develop more as a result of these games.
Their own competition, the GPS rugby competition comprises just seven competition games. Two of these games are essentially are meaningless, Grammar and High, as these schools have very weak teams. Until Newington and Scots began offering sports scholarships, and Riverview expanded, they were also just making up the numbers each year, reducing it to three meaningful games.
How can this be in the best interests of their students. Their colleagues at Combined Associated Schools have seen the light, extended their season and have made their players available. They can do more but they have already shown vision and a desire to provide the best for their students.
Private schools contain some of the most admirable and capable people in our society. They influence our children fundamentally by being great role models. Private schools unwittingly give enormous power and influence to their headmasters, sports masters and 1st XV coaches that is out of all proportion with their ability. They have the propensity to become isolated and overtaken by their own self importance and make clearly poor decisions on behalf of their students.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.