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Just give me a minute before you finish assembling the lynch mob and let me at least explain my position. Please, just look away from your pitch forks and torches for a moment and just read the following and see what you think.
I like many over recent times have lamented the apparent lack of grassroots development through clubs and schools, particularly in the public sector.
I have called for action alongside many before me and since and have expounded the virtues of the need to get the game into more and more schools as the best possible pathway to reaching the greater number of children.
I still believe this to be the case but not necessarily the option with the highest likelihood of success in the short to medium term.
Why? Why the change in perspective?
To answer, from recent experience. The biggest issue with school sports today particularly at the primary level is the rapid transformation of the teaching demographic.
Only 15 years ago the split of male to female teachers was comparatively even, however, since my time in primary school that situation has dramatically altered to one of a sector dominated by women.
This had corresponded with the decline of PSSA sporting competition in favour of Gala Days (not blaming women for this) and the decline of most contact sports as organised competitions at that level.
This has to an extent been reflected in secondary education to a large extent with many formerly great schools competition struggling to organise competitive schedules.
But, there is one sector where this isn’t the case. Most if not all Catholic and Independent schools participate in highly organised and well endorsed schools sporting competitions.
And it is this level of organisation rugby should be endeavouring to tap into its attempts to further expand its playing base.
I know, I know, it’s been the old ‘private schools’ elitist catchcry that many attribute to rugby’s position as a relatively niche sport at this level and that the likes of GPS that have done more damage to the game than good.
However, that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. I have recently begun coaching and more or less educating a group of 13-year-olds in the game at my old and my brother’s current school in St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown.
The program is effectively in its 10th season at the school but only really beginning to take it seriously in the past few seasons.
When the game first arrived in was very ad hoc, not for the lack of effort from those organising it but just the general nature of the school. It was a primarily boarder sport with only a few day students (myself included) involved.
This year things are different. With around 200 boys involved in the program (that’s one in every five students at the college) things have certainly grown and it’s been fantastic to witness. But how does one person’s opinion change things.
Well, here’s a statistic for you, right from the files of the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
As of this year 35 percent (roughly 1.2 million) of all students currently in the primary and secondary education sectors are being educated in private schools.
Additionally, in accordance with the findings of the ABS, it is the fastest growing trend in education. So, why would private be preferable to public to achieve rugby’s short to medium term goals?
Well, the obvious answer is growth but the other is resources and more importantly, teachers.
Coaching and administering such competitions take a great deal of time and effort. Time and effort that more often than not involves little to no remuneration for them.
In an increasingly busy world that makes the prospect of dedicating more resources of the individual more of a daunting task.
Add to that, that many choose not to and you can begin to see the issues.
This is were private schools differ, staff are often more invested with the school.
That comes with the higher levels of income that accompanies their employment in the sector. And it’s this heightened level of investment that rugby should look to foster a relationship with.
The basic building blocks are already in place. Look to the likes of the ISA who this season will be operating a third division in its rugby schedules for the first time.
Rugby could engage this sector to a greater extent and work on getting rugby in as one of the primary sports. There are many ambitious private schools looking toward adding a forgive the expression ‘prestige’ sport.
Rugby can fill that gap.
Wouldn’t it be better to have the game entrenched as the sport of choice in the growth sector in education reaching many, many more children than none at all?
Essentially, we should look to what is a strength often perceived as a weakness.
I know what many will be thinking, ‘this guy has rocks in his head’ or ‘what elitist rubbish’.
But I’ll put this to you. I’m from a blue-collar area, as are most private school students.
Private schooling is not longer elitist. It’s aspirational. Parents looking to provide the best educational opportunities for their children and its growing and rapidly at that.
Why fight it?
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.