How to reform schoolboy rugby in Sydney

Schoolboy Rugby must be encouraged to play in many MORE schools! This is the problem, it is not played in ENOUGH schools. Mothers have to be taught it is no more dangerous to play than soccer or AFL. Mothers are ill advising their son's to NOT play Rugby. Poor little Freddy may get hurt. Believe me this is a problem. Mothers want their sons to play soccer or AFL. We must do something about this!!!!! Also we must have super 15 on free to air. I know so many people who would love to watch super 15, but can't because they don't have Foxtel. This is fact. Carole Ford

Where does Matraville select it's rugby players from?

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yes Simon, the wide talent pool that has traditionally been in that South Sydney Randwick area still is something to be admired re rugby products

Gavin, naturally I am not persuaded that Matraville would be strong enough for a combined GPS team, for the same reason that not all Matraville players are good enough to make the CHS team, which itself does not dominate the annual fixture with the GPS team. I know that many would want to make the same argument for other school rugby teams at their best. For example, I have heard a similar argument made for the Joey’s 1990 and 1991 team where they had 7 and 6 Australian School Boys picked in those two years respectively - a feat unmatched by any other school. It’s hard to argue with stats like that. However, I understand the point you are trying to make. I would love to see the top couple of schools from all the different competitions (i.e. GPS, CHS, CAS, and ISA) get to play each other on an annual basis, before they are picked for other honours. This would help to resolve the argument of who really is the best rugby school in NSW for that year. And wouldn’t it be great if there was even scope to include other traditionally strong rugby schools from inter-state, such as Qld’s Nudgee College and ACT’s St. Edmund’s?

look at my typing mistakes "their instead of "there" Christ! Not to mention others

Simon, yes I may have overstated a bit, however, I would like to see Matraville high at it's best, against a good GPS school, as opposed to GPS v CHS My point is in part the synergy and teamwork is important and a school like Matraville traditionally shoed that. Perhaps by themselves, they would be better opponents for the GPS 15, while they were at their best. I could certainly see one of the St Joseph's brothers as a coach, as much as I would Mould or Sayle. That matraville/Randwick connection could have in the past supplied us with great rugby. Perhaps even now, so long as the talent pool is their

Gavin, you made some good points. Being a selective high school on sporting ability, Matraville should be expected to win against most schools. However, I think you have overstated your case about how they would “murder any GPS school”, and how badly treated CHS schools are. The annual GPS v CHS fixture works against your case. LeftArm Spinner, small point: most GPS schools don't play in the Waratah Shield.

Lefty As requested score and Match report .......taken from the Central Coast Rugby web site Avoca Beach won their fourth Premiership in succession when they defeated Kariong by 20 points to 5 at Bluetongue Stadium. It was a tough and physical encounter throughout and neither side submitted until the very end. Kariong got way to a good start and put the pressure on Avoca Beach in the opening minutes. However it did not take long before the Avoca Beach side made their mark on the game. Avoca Beach missed a penalty kick at goal in the fifth minute while a real scare went into the Avoca Beach camp when five-eight Aaron Bolte went to the blood bin with an injury. Play went back and forward in the opening period with some very strong defensive efforts. It was an abnormally warm to hot day and this was taking a lot from the players. Kariong had moved Shannon Beavan to flanker and he was having a great game. He was everywhere in defence and attack. The tussle between the two front rows was a beauty. Kariong’s Steve Lauti and replacement prop Christian Manuao went head to head with Avoca Beach’s Luke Sheridan and Hoani Rimene. There was nothing between them. It was in the 22nd minute that the scoring commenced. Avoca Beach winger Matt Maloney made a dash for the line to score adjacent to the posts. Maloney converted his own try. Avoca Beach had taken the lead by 7 points to nil. They probably deserved this lead based on the play just prior to that. They had controlled the game for long periods of play and had looked the more likely to score. However it was only midway through the first half that they were able to post points. The game was developing into a real arm wrestle. Both teams made breaks but just could cross the line. A feature of the game was the very good defence from both sides. Avoca Beach went further ahead in the 30th minute when kicker Matt Maloney kicked a penalty goal to make the score 10 points to nil. This remained the score to the halftime break and the game was certainly up for grabs. It was developing into a typical Grand Final with neither team giving anything away. The second half continued in the same mode. Both teams were trying to organise attacks but good defence held firm. Avoca Beach missed a penalty shot at goal early in the half. Kariong did have their chances at this stage. Their backs were making some strong surges. Centres Mark Tasi and Sione Malu almost broke through on several occasions but it just did not happen. Dropped ball was also a concern. Good Avoca Beach defence often forced the error and chances for Kariong went begging. A further penalty goal to Avoca Beach’s Matt Maloney took them to an increased lead of 13 points to nil. Kariong knew they had score next but it just did not happen. Avoca Beach’s best player was Michael Tsolakis who was outstanding. He was later named “Player of the Match’. He was well supported by both second rowers, Peter Steele and Adam Winter, while young hooker Matt Hipwell never shirked his duties in what was a torrid encounter. Kariong tried to post points to bridge the gap but they were unable to do so. Five-eight Scott Connors tried to organise the attack, Steve Lauti made several strong runs while outside centre Sione Malu looked dangerous in attack. The result was practically confirmed with ten minutes to go when Avoca Beach winger Brookelan Morgan crossed for his side’s second try and the conversion of the try by Matt Maloney made the score 20 points to nil and the game was basically all over. Kariong never gave in however. In fact it was centre Sione Malu who made one of his dangerous runs and raced through to score in the final few minutes. The score of 20 points to 5 remained the final score and Avoca Beach had secured their fourth successive Premiership. They had equalled the record of Kariong (early 1990’s) and Terrigal (late 1970’s) in winning four successive Premierships. They were deserved winners on the day and handled the very warm conditions very well. They were quick to the breakdown and their strong defensive efforts made it difficult for the Kariong side who gave it their best shot and who never stoped trying to post those vital points.

for those that haven't read this" In memory of rugby at Sydney Boys High School "may I suggest you do. You will find it in "most read below" Most read, but not most discussed.

further, as it happens, Matraville high especially is a traditional breeding ground of great players. Many great CHS players went to league in years gone by as their talents were respected more I am taking about the days when league was not played in schools only rugby. Now we have league in State schools too. A shame Thanks the pompous ARU

Hi LAS Unfortunately the ol' school time is alive and well. Sheek makes good points, although he doesn't allege what I do re GPS influence, or the extent of it, but Sheek is on the right track. This is the reason we have third rate front rowers. There have been exceptions in this position of course. GPS has supplied great players for Wallabies, but seldom tough, no nonsense front rowers. I suspect if the CHS was treated better, the game would spread wider among schoolboys and we'd have tough lads in the front row when they reached age and experience

midfielder, let us know who won.......... Gavin, I am not sure that I agree that GPS dominates rugby. may be in the past. The Aust Schoolboy team is very widely spread. the Waratah Shield was won by St Augustines from Stanies. Frankly, by not engaging, they have lost ground and any control they ever had.

you're absolutely right Sheek The GPS mob dominate rugby, to the point where we have fat young recently out of school teletubbie forwards. The reason they don't play Matraville high is because Matraville High would murder any GPS school on most occasions, without the Ellas The ARU need to look at all talent. Sadly it's still a game here played under old English GPS school tie, than even the Poms don't live by any more

OK OK OK before I post this you all know I am a park football tragic ......... and this I know also is a school thread. But from park football in the Central Coast a good story about a junior park rugby club and in a poorer part of the coast I might add ........... Kariong is the first part of the Central Coast you hit when you leave the F3 coming from Sydney TT & Westy I am sure this will appeal to you .......... from the Central Coast Advocate ..... its park football and how you build a game and I will say agian in one of the poorest parts of the coast .......... go Kariong ..... Avoca the other side beach front rich ......... what a match ....... Roy Masters and face slapping would be proud ........ go Kariong MEET Sione Ofahengaue, the man standing between Avoca and a record-equalling fourth straight Central Coast rugby union premiership tomorrow. The barnstorming Kariong lock and inspirational captain will lead the Wanderers out in the grand final at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford. Ofahengaue is the most fearsome runner on the coast. A gentle giant, Ofahengaue, 34, is deadly in defence and attack. He bagged a match-winning double in last week’s final win over Terrigal. He could win Kariong the grand final with another dominant display. “We’ll be up for it, the boys can’t wait,” Ofahengaue said. “This is a massive game for the club, the biggest in a long time.” It is Kariong’s most important match since its grand final win in 1993. The club has not qualified for the grand final since and has often been at the bottom of the table. The success 15 seasons ago was Kariong’s fourth grand final victory on the trot. Avoca will be gunning for the same fantastic achievement tomorrow. Ofahengaue knows the task ahead is enormous. “We’ve all got a lot of respect for them and what they’ve achieved during the past few seasons,” said Ofahengaue, the younger brother of Australian World Cup winner Willie O. “Getting to the grand final is great for the club, we’ve come a long way in the past couple of seasons. We’ve had some tough times but we’ve lifted. I’m very proud of the boys. “Our preparation has been great, we’ll be ready.” Avoca coach Brendan Slape knows the importance of stopping Ofahengaue and the rest of Kariong’s powerful pack. If the Sharks let Kariong dominate the scrum and set pieces an upset is on the cards. The key for Avoca is controlling Kariong’s big pack and dominating out wide.

True Tah ...........the NSWRU is doing some good things...........develop pathway.........improved TIP .... They however fail at times to follow up simple things or communicate effectively with the rugby community what thet are doing and why. The points system is an obvious example. Borrowed from League's Jim Beam Cup it is an attempt to deliver limit stockpiling of players in strong Shute Shield clubs. It is actually an attempt to indirectly strengthen over time the weakest clubs in the most populous parts of Sydney in the west and south. The decision by the Board is brave and should be supported. Problem the whiteanting has already begun and several Board members who took the risk have had their cards marked. The problem is it is the game's long term interests that are important. Remember we have not had an article yet on the Shute Shield finals yet continuous reponses on a fine academic school who is not very good at rugby. Such is life.

Hi Spiro.. I sent my son from NZ to geta different rugby education in Aussie. He is 83kg and plays inside centre..back here in NZ it is allabout size and he is considered small. So, took him to Brisbane. Tried to get a scholarship bnut could not get one from GPS school but got assittance from AIC school. He made a AIC rep team..went to trial for Qld ...what a waste of time ..the team was picked b4 the trials...average performance from most of the team that ended up being selected. Some never even put a jersey on. The majority of both teams from Qld came from 6 to 8 schools all GPS. They the best?? Doubt it. I played the game till 41 yrs old.. been a slector, coach..know my footie. Aussie better look for players everywhere if they want to really progress. Look in Private schools..look in public schools. In fact the trial teams should be stripped of AIC or GPS players and mixed and matched and played against each other. That is the only way to get a fair trial. Because how can you excell in your position if going backwards? ok cheers for listening...my pick for tomorrow..If Aussie get some mongrel in the forwards your backs will outclass the All Blacks...good luck..Lez

Bozo, I stand corrected...there must have been a huge gap though between when they stopped and recently got it going again, when I was at primary school rugby was virtually non-existent.

Well said Bozo. The only problem is that the NSW RU almost neglects the competition. I know first hand that the school never received a congratulations by phone or letter from the NSWRU or ARU. It was almost as if the whole thing never happened. I often wonder what the word "community" stands for in some of the job titles at either the ARU or NSWRU. The local Manly Club President and committed parents organised Cliffy Palu, to visit, and special T-shirts to commemorate the winning of a state title.

True Tah - Ignorance allows one to make a confident but incorrect statement. Perhaps you should tell the kids from the 90 public primary schools who compete in the Bryan Palmer shield each year that they don't play rugby any more.