“You will never be involved in a rugby environment like this ever again, so embrace and enjoy it.”
Those were the words from my first XV coach at St Joseph’s College on the eve of the final game of our season, my last experience of schoolboy rugby.
At the time I received the words with skepticism, not truly believing all of what was being said.
I had ambitions to continue pursuing a career in rugby, maybe turn professional one day, and surely representing your state or even your country would blow the schoolboy rugby experience out of the water.
Looking back now, after five years as a professional rugby player, although not reaching the lofty heights I sought to achieve of playing international rugby (that was left to my schoolboy teammate and good friend Laurie Weeks), I understand where my coach was coming from.
Perhaps it was the reputation Joeys has as being a rugby nursery, or the fact that I boarded for the duration of my secondary school years, but any time I wasn’t in the classroom, I had a football in my hands.
Before school, recess and lunch hours were spent playing tackle rugby out on the college fields, all of us returning to the classroom with dirty knees and sweaty armpits, making the last two periods an extremely unpleasant environment for us and the teachers.
Then the final school bell would ring and off to training we’d go, before perhaps playing a little touch in the evening during our study break.
I loved it, as a young kid would. Surrounded by your best mates all the time and being able to play the sport you love.
It stepped up another level on weekends, where playing in front of massive crowds, your whole school singing and cheering you on for the whole 80 minutes, created an amphitheatre atmosphere like no other. Family and friends would even come to the ground the night before and lay their picnic rug on a seat in the stands just so they could have the best seat in the house.
If you’ve been to a first XV rugby match, you know what I’m talking about.
Perhaps it was this overload of rugby and the mental and physical pressure that went with it that, when I walked out of the college gates for the final time, I went to Europe for a year to work and travel.
Now 11 years out of school, while being heavily involved in the game both playing and coaching, I have lost all contact with schoolboy rugby. Where there was once a time when I would scour the Sunday papers for the GPS rugby scores, now it doesn’t bother me that Joeys haven’t won a title for over six years, and our cross the river rivals, St Ignatius have the bragging rights for now.
What does bother me though, is the changing face of schoolboy rugby. After recently taking up a coaching role at Riverview (the school I used to love to hate), I’ve seen the dramatic change in training and expectation. There’s a highly pressurised environment present in schools these days as opposed to when I left all those years ago.
Year 10 students are now on heavy weights training programs, along with a diet of protein shakes; bigger is seen as better.
The gulf in standard between schools has broadened, highlighted by the well documented century of points that the Scots College put past Newington, as the issuing of scholarships at schools creates an unbalanced playing field. As Nick Farr-Jones said last week, nobody likes mismatches, and the unfair imbalance of talent across schools creates an unsafe environment for players.
Schoolboy rugby is vital in the development of rugby in Australia, and in a time where there is so much sport to choose from, we don’t want to lose our brightest young stars to rival codes because they get 50 points put past them every week.
The development of rugby over the past 10 years has in a large part been responsible for this change in focus at the grassroots level. The game is faster, the players bigger and the opportunities that the professional game present for a young man at school are lucrative goals.
It’s important though that the fundamental skills of the game are embedded at a young age. Passing, kicking, catching, and the ability to read the game are invaluable skills that we are starting to lose sight of as our fascination and quest for fitness and strength increases.
Weight training and putting on bulk can be done at any time of a career. We want rugby players, not athletes who can’t play rugby.
Finally, and most importantly, education at schools has to remain the priority, not only for the academic future of students, but instilling an attitude of commitment and hard work that can be translated onto the rugby pitch.
I was lucky that I completed a university degree before I became a professional player. So many young men go straight from school into full-time sport, without a second look at furthering their studies.
Organisations like RUPA (The Rugby Union Players’ Association) help professional players with this, but the message must start with the schools, in outlining the importance of not putting all one’s focus on rugby.
It’s important that players realise that rugby does not last forever and the physical nature of the game means it can end at any time. It’s about being prepared for life after rugby. Whether this means studying at university part time or one night a week at TAFE, it will all help.
It’s hard work, but will pay off in the end.
Worm
Guest
Second that Sertori! Good old days! I might add that what really gave Joeys the edge in those days (apart from me at fullback) was the depth. Firsts to Ninths and four ninths Teams. That' what you got for making Rugby compulsory to all. That looks to have been eroded given Joeys results of late. Sad to see what Scots are doing. They were always pretty competitive anyway.
Joeys
Guest
What's the matter Pork? A sweet GPS romance went sour?
Geemacaitch
Guest
NFJ was as silent on the Newington dominance in past seasons being detrimental to the competition as he has been in various positions in NSW and Sydney Rugby about the dominance of his other alma mata in the last decade. I haven't read the all the comments and may have missed this; but, I also note that in the last two weeks since the 100-point controversy, Scots were down 21-0 at halftime against Riverview before coming back to win and only prevailed by 2 points over Joeys on the weekend. Have they been told to make it close or is Newington just really ordinary this season after their "scholarship" players have graduated?
Geemacaitch
Guest
It would make no sense for Super Rugby players not to play NRC. It is a synthetic competition created to sell a television package to Fox Sports. It is a NOT a development program, although that may be a happy side effect.
PJB
Guest
Johnno, do you just cut and paste all your comments?
PJB
Guest
Johnno, do you just cut and paste all your comments?
Jock M
Guest
No worries Bakky-you have it your way. People that I know have never played Rugby but they ask me what has happened to the flowing back line play of Rugby and where are the Ellas and Campisis now. If turnovers are possible now, why do we see so few of them?
Bakkies
Guest
Players were amateur skin flints back then and the modern game is not like league. You have lost the argument already by bringing those arguments in to the equation. Players in the defensive side can win turnovers if they stay on their feet, release the tackle player and get to the ball before the referee calls ruck. Counterrucking which requires technique and strength is another way to win the ball back.
Jock M
Guest
Bakky, The movements in the óld days' were faster-the rucks and mauls were contested and there was an urgency that isn't there these days. The law makers have structured the game so that the defensive side has little or no chance of winning the ball-this is obvious to all but those who refuse to see and is evidenced by the fact that defensive forwards retire to the back line rather then contest at the breakdown. The modern game is more like League than Rugby-the perceived speed in the modern game is due the fact that the laws allow players to run around like chooks with their heads cut off! The game could be vastly improved if players could fight for the ball with their hands (this would reduce the amount of rucking) and if the ball carrier had to release the ball upon making contact with the ground. The ridiculous use it or lose it and tram line laws should also be thrown out. I will debate anyone ,any where and anytime on this subject.
Bakkies
Guest
Jock it is a hell of a lot faster now, don't be stuck in the stone age. Get involved in junior Rugby the kids even at under 12 play a much faster pace than I played at that age. There are 13 year olds already bigger than their dads. I am a lot younger than you and Adam is younger than me by a few years so the gap in pace has increased since he finished. Adam and myself are involved now in under age Rugby so we know what we are working with.
Bakkies
Guest
We definitely require proper strength and conditioning in my team. PE is non existent in National Schools here (equivalent of state primary schools). The other coaches I work with try to do it but waste a lot of time we don't have. Some of the exercises they do can be shortened or are a waste of time. I have tried to steer clear from it and pushed to get proper assistance in as we are dealing with young bodies that are about to shoot up. The help is there from the branch and within the club. They have refused to do it and carry on with their unqualified PE, aerobics, stuff they picked up from GAA clubs which is played in Summer and bordering on non contact and it isn't relevant to Rugby. GAA football is fast but you don't get fatigue through heavy contact, boggy pitches and cold weather.
Bakkies
Guest
Shock horror.
Bakkies
Guest
I just read that NSW only started their under 20s side this year! Not relevant to Aus under 20s rugby but the Six Nations comp for women has really strengthened the Irish, French and English sides. So much so that Aus and NZ aren't in the semis in the World Cup. It's heading down the path of the under 20s where the 6 Nations comp has been very valuable.
Simon
Guest
Adam, It is interesting to hear your opinion on the current state of schoolboy rugby. I agree with you that there are concerns about the disparity between the competitiveness between schools. However, I don't believe you are properly informed on the safety, effectiveness and purpose of resistance training (weight training) in youth populations. After reading your post I felt compelled to respond and highlight some gaps in your opinion. An abundance of evidence exists to support resistance training in these youth populations and many of the previously held concerns, such as stunting vertical growth, have been dispelled. Some of the benefits following resistance training include: increased bone mineral content; increased muscular strength and power; improved balance and coordination; improved cardiorespiratory profile; enhanced self esteem and self efficacy; reduced injury risk; and increased muscle size. The contention you continually refer to that the purpose of weight training is solely to "put on muscular size" is misleading. An increase in muscle size is possible following resistance training but this is only one of numerous benefits to occur following resistance training. And should never be the primary goal for implementing resistance training programs in youth. Additionally, the degree to which muscle size increases can occur in youth is largely dependent on the presence of naturally occurring anabolic hormones that are at heightened levels during certain stages of maturation and vary from child to child. All resistance training performed by youth should be supervised by properly qualified professionals and activities should be age appropriate and fit with the needs of the child. I understand the perspective in which you wrote this article but believe you have have unfairly placed criticism on resistance training. Whilst you are entitled to an opinion, it is best to be as informed as possible about a topic before making blanket statements that are incorrect and incomplete. My suggestion for yourself and others interested in this topic is to consult the experts in the domain and thoroughly review the literature before casting stones.
Gus
Guest
It was ever thus. GPS sport has always had the potential to go over board. I rowed in the first and second eights in 79-81 we had pro fitness trainers 10 day rowing camps in the summer holidays diets and 7 day a week training schedules. With hind sight it was excessive but as the article above notes (coaches comment) it gave you an experience that only a very few elite athletes would ever match.
Jock M
Guest
Modern players are fitter and faster! Keep on believing if you must but don't disappoint yourself by viewing old footage-they could run like hares in the old days.
Batesy
Guest
There is an ARU professional path way. http://www.rugby.com.au/tryrugby/PathwaytoGold/Background.aspx
Batesy
Guest
And GPS students are allowed to play in it through direction from their schools.
Batesy
Guest
Good article, but once again I see strength and conditioning being slandered by people who have been exposed to bad S&C coaches or are shooting their mouths off half cocked. I am a professional S&C coach working with youth athletes as young as 11. Youth S&C is multifaceted, we work to prevent injury, improve movement efficiency, mobility, agility, balance, coordination, strength and yes of course when athletes are physically and mentally ready we look at increasing size we incorporate this into our programs as well. As you can see there is a hell of a lot more to S&C then just "heavy weight training". In my experience its been the coaches coming to me trying to get the athletes stronger, quicker or expecting youths to put on 5kgs in the off season. I find myself the S&C being the one having to give the coaches the reality check. And just so your aware youths are becoming more and more weak, spending hours on their phones at desks and I front of computers. I have had senior students playing for their school firsts and can't do 15 body weight squats with good form. Now you tell how long this kids is going to last before he gets injured and how long it will take him to be strong enough to put on any reasonable amount of muscle mass once he leaves school as you suggest. I agree education must come first, I agree S&C must not be the focus of their rugby training career. But you and by the sounds of it your strength coach need to work as a team. It's not an us (S&C) vs them (coach) situation. You should work in unison to develop athleticism and the skills to play the game. They are not separate factors but interlinked. Remember "You must have the physical competence to be able to do the technical stuff and the technical qualities to be able to do the tactical stuff... in that order. If your lose sight of this your youth athletes will not develop to the best of their abilities. And ultimately that is our jobs as professional coaches.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Coll E was the field of choice in my day John. Just being through the gates and across the road took the brothers eyes off you that little touch. I still chuckle at getting my nose broken accidentally in a game of touch by a schoolmate Hugh, with my busted nose and two black eyes everyone wanted to know who had done it. With my mangled nose making my voice sound strange I wound up in countless misunderstandings as my response of 'Hugh did it' was misheard as 'You did it'. Great lessons learned in those muck around games, remember getting smashed in a tackle by a a mate from a higher grade and as he helped me up he gave me the advice to run harder, the fact I was hesitant in contact was making me easy to tackle. Lesson learnt then and there and changed the game for me forever.