Planet Rugby Forum

beachboy wrote:

OomPB wrote:

Sards wrote:

Sandstorm wrote:

Sards wrote:It's true. We get huge turnouts at school sports.

It's free

Where do you watch school sport ?

Entrance may be free yes but the rest sets you back a bit.
Not that I am complaining.

You'll pay entrance fees at all our high schools.

Nope. You wont pay entrance at any of the schools in the Southern Suburbs. When my son was playing and we would travel all the way to schools in the Boland only to be charged to get into the ground used to irritate me. Making money off visiting schools parents is pretty poor form.

That article by Barry has some serious warnings for SA Schools rugby. There is every chance of killing the goose that lays the golden egg. But selfishness and putting the schools name ahead of the primary function of educating children is already starting to be apparent.

We already see it at Varsity Cup level where youngsters are not getting proper educations and are rugby players who study in order to play rugby instead of students who play rugby. Courses in aids management and transport are a joke. We are doing this generation a disservice.

Mostly agree, but the players need to take ownership of their own lives as well.

Bloutoria wrote:

Average Joe wrote:

Bloutoria wrote:

OomPB wrote:

Bloutoria wrote:Prefer school's rugby as well. The atmosphere is much less artificial. No sideshows, just good clean rugby.

How is your son going?

Not well He is falling behind size-wise, and we know how important that is considered in rugby.

What age is he? If I may ask.

He's 14 years, in Grade 8. Second smallest guy on the field, plays 6. The brutes smash him off the rucks, mostly he still has the ball in hand Het takes a bit of a hammering though, starting to wear him down.

Rather that than being the early developer. He’ll learn to make the most of his size before he grows - that’ll stand him in good stead.

beachboy wrote:

OomPB wrote:

Sards wrote:

Sandstorm wrote:

Sards wrote:It's true. We get huge turnouts at school sports.

It's free

Where do you watch school sport ?

Entrance may be free yes but the rest sets you back a bit.
Not that I am complaining.

You'll pay entrance fees at all our high schools.

Nope. You wont pay entrance at any of the schools in the Southern Suburbs. When my son was playing and we would travel all the way to schools in the Boland only to be charged to get into the ground used to irritate me. Making money off visiting schools parents is pretty poor form.

That article by Barry has some serious warnings for SA Schools rugby. There is every chance of killing the goose that lays the golden egg. But selfishness and putting the schools name ahead of the primary function of educating children is already starting to be apparent.

We already see it at Varsity Cup level where youngsters are not getting proper educations and are rugby players who study in order to play rugby instead of students who play rugby. Courses in aids management and transport are a joke. We are doing this generation a disservice.

I don't fully agree with you on this. We are not all meant to be doctors, lawyers and rocket scientist. Why force kids into something they are not cut out to be? The human race is diverse and so it should be. Some people are athletic and some are academic and some creative. Why force someone who is clearly not academic into an academic environment? Would it not be best to first find out what they have aptitude for and then help them grow in that direction?

I think you don't want to be in a situation where you have to start at the very bottom aged 35. It's not nice reading about your heroes in strive and having other people organising fund raisers for them.

I love schools rugby and wont exchange it for provincial even SupeRugby even Springbok rugby. Our senior product sucks at the moment.

School vs school rugby is clean , hard , exciting rugby. The teams are there on merit and no politics involved.

I am very happy to watch this on livestream as long as there are supporters there will be sponsors.

Please tell me the Varsity Cup is not good for our rugby. No way, it give many players a chance to showcase his talents and get a senior contract.

handyman wrote:I think you don't want to be in a situation where you have to start at the very bottom aged 35. It's not nice reading about your heroes in strive and having other people organising fund raisers for them.

You could study to become an artisan and lose your arm in an accident at work.
You could study to become a hart surgeon and break your back in an accident.
You could study to become a computer programmer and one day go blind.

What then?

These type of things don't only happen to spots men.

handyman wrote:I think you don't want to be in a situation where you have to start at the very bottom aged 35. It's not nice reading about your heroes in strive and having other people organising fund raisers for them.

Some of these sportsmen are quite successful businessmen at 35. Hansie Cronje missed out, unfortunately, despite having a high intellect.
I see many many intelligent failures - and "mediocre" ultra-successes. One thrives in the environment that suits one.

OomPB wrote:

beachboy wrote: Courses in aids management and transport are a joke. We are doing this generation a disservice.

Wish Maties have those. Then my laaitie would played SA u21 hockey. He dont want to go to UCT, he is off to the UK, already have a year contract coaching at Queens College, Taunton.

Oom, there are a few Maties rugby players doing Aids Management. Tukkies is famous for the "Transport" diploma.

Entrance may be free yes but the rest sets you back a bit.
Not that I am complaining.[/quote]
You'll pay entrance fees at all our high schools.[/quote]
Nope. You wont pay entrance at any of the schools in the Southern Suburbs. When my son was playing and we would travel all the way to schools in the Boland only to be charged to get into the ground used to irritate me. Making money off visiting schools parents is pretty poor form.

That article by Barry has some serious warnings for SA Schools rugby. There is every chance of killing the goose that lays the golden egg. But selfishness and putting the schools name ahead of the primary function of educating children is already starting to be apparent.

We already see it at Varsity Cup level where youngsters are not getting proper educations and are rugby players who study in order to play rugby instead of students who play rugby. Courses in aids management and transport are a joke. We are doing this generation a disservice.[/quote]

I don't fully agree with you on this. We are not all meant to be doctors, lawyers and rocket scientist. Why force kids into something they are not cut out to be? The human race is diverse and so it should be. Some people are athletic and some are academic and some creative. Why force someone who is clearly not academic into an academic environment? Would it not be best to first find out what they have aptitude for and then help them grow in that direction?[/quote]
I dont have a problem with a University wanting a specific player and use an education as a means of getting him. But then you have to offer him a qualification that he can use and (absolutely as you say) he needs to have an aptitude test. It is not about a top degree but a qualification he can (and will want to) use when leaving. Of every hundred rugby playing students who arrive at University only a small handful will end up with a professional rugby contract and of those only one or two will last more than a few years. We have to look after them all.

Average Joe wrote:

handyman wrote:I think you don't want to be in a situation where you have to start at the very bottom aged 35. It's not nice reading about your heroes in strive and having other people organising fund raisers for them.

You could study to become an artisan and lose your arm in an accident at work.
You could study to become a hart surgeon and break your back in an accident.
You could study to become a computer programmer and one day go blind.

What then?

These type of things don't only happen to spots men.

You're talking about incidents outside of one's control. Retiring from rugby at 35 is a whole different matter. Well done on missing the point spectacularly.

handyman wrote:

Average Joe wrote:

handyman wrote:I think you don't want to be in a situation where you have to start at the very bottom aged 35. It's not nice reading about your heroes in strive and having other people organising fund raisers for them.

You could study to become an artisan and lose your arm in an accident at work.
You could study to become a hart surgeon and break your back in an accident.
You could study to become a computer programmer and one day go blind.

What then?

These type of things don't only happen to spots men.

You're talking about incidents outside of one's control. Retiring from rugby at 35 is a whole different matter. Well done on missing the point spectacularly.

When my son was 5, he asked me if you can play Rugby as a job. I answered very carefully... "Yes but it is risky because you can easily get injured and then be out of a job".

He looked at me for a moment, lost in thought and then gave me this zinger: "With a regular job, don't your butt get sore?" I had no come-back from that. Except that he's more correct than he thinks.

beachboy wrote:

OomPB wrote:

beachboy wrote: Courses in aids management and transport are a joke. We are doing this generation a disservice.

Wish Maties have those. Then my laaitie would played SA u21 hockey. He dont want to go to UCT, he is off to the UK, already have a year contract coaching at Queens College, Taunton.

Oom, there are a few Maties rugby players doing Aids Management. Tukkies is famous for the "Transport" diploma.

I need to look at that one.