2022 School rugby
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A world tournament in Thailand? The author seems to be making a lot of the 2019 result when comparing the strengths of NZ and SA schools. I'm not saying that SA school rugby isn't strong, only that Christchurch BHS didn't even make the Top 4 that year.
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A world tournament in Thailand? The author seems to be making a lot of the 2019 result when comparing the strengths of NZ and SA schools. I'm not saying that SA school rugby isn't strong, only that Christchurch BHS didn't even make the Top 4 that year.
@Bovidae The problem with that World Schools Festival in South Africa has always been that there was an age difference between participating teams (the SA schoolboys were generally a year older) and that SA teams were/are notorious for poaching the best and biggest players in their areas. These schools have in the past also been linked to doping.
That the tournament will now be held in Thailand of all places, will not change that.
The fact that it is an invitational tournament also doesn't guarantee that you get the best schools.
Add to that schools are in different stages of their competitions. In December, most NZ schools are in their off-season and haven't even started their preseason yet. And who are in the NZ teams? The older boys that played 1stXV in 2022 have left school by then, so you get the younger, less experienced players.
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@Stargazer @Nepia :money_bag:
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@Stargazer @Nepia :money_bag:
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We did acquire Harry Godfrey from Collegiate so it can be looked at as a bit of payback for that. Next stop for Mr. Ioasa looks like it will be at either Scots College or St. Kentigans College!
@Higgins WCS may gain more than a coach. They may get his sons as well. Tali Ioasa (the oldest) has been very good for Hastings Boys' and has been selected for the Hurricanes U18 Development Camp, this year. Don't know whether it will be his last year at Hastings Boys, or whether his younger brothers are just as talented.
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@Higgins WCS may gain more than a coach. They may get his sons as well. Tali Ioasa (the oldest) has been very good for Hastings Boys' and has been selected for the Hurricanes U18 Development Camp, this year. Don't know whether it will be his last year at Hastings Boys, or whether his younger brothers are just as talented.
@Stargazer If Tali Ioasa stays at school in HB he will obviously have to become a boarder at Napier BHS. Queue @Nepia! :face_with_tears_of_joy:
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@Stargazer If Tali Ioasa stays at school in HB he will obviously have to become a boarder at Napier BHS. Queue @Nepia! :face_with_tears_of_joy:
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@Stargazer If Tali Ioasa stays at school in HB he will obviously have to become a boarder at Napier BHS. Queue @Nepia! :face_with_tears_of_joy:
@Higgins said in 2022 School rugby:
@Stargazer If Tali Ioasa stays at school in HB he will obviously have to become a boarder at Napier BHS. Queue @Nepia! :face_with_tears_of_joy:
Huge downvote.
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@Stargazer Yeah, I liked the NBHS hooker. It will be Bason plus another for the NZ Schools team. Obviously there is a Barbarians team to be named too.
As the commentators mentioned, Cory Berkett was one of the halfbacks in the Barbarians squad last year. As a 1st 5, he is a very good kicker, but I'm not sure about the rest of his game. Ratcliffe is probably the best bet from the forwards. Brown is too short to be a genuine lock and his height means he can be exposed in the scrum as a TH prop. Richie Tupuailei will be one of the TH props. Anyones guess for the other props.
If you want some locks with height then both Nelson and JMC had a couple. I don't know about the Chch teams.
From the Hamilton BHS team, both Spencer and Tuivalala will make the Schools team. Mathis, Hodgson and Putoko will be in the conversation for either team.
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@Bovidae Liam Jack lock from Christs college will be selected. Nephew of Chris. Dad Graeme was a crusader too.
@chchfanatic Will they name the NZ Schools squads before the U18 camps, as they did last year? Very back-to-front.
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Sky's 1st XV rugby shows more 1A games than from any other competition, so it will be interesting to see what they do next year, particularly if the Super 8 remains on Whakaata Māori.
@Bovidae Not sure what to think of this decision. Going from overexposed to nothing at all. Sounds like cracking a nut with a sledgehammer. Why not livestream a few games per season? It's a pity for all their supporters who are not able to attend all games at the sideline.
I hope we'll still be able to watch Super 8 games, next year.
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We've got three different companies all trying to get their slice of the revenue pie to show games. Some obviously now have exclusive deals, e.g., the Super 8. I know there has been some discussion in the past around the schools not benefitting financially from Sky's coverage, and when there was some sponsorship money it went to Auckland. I've no idea what happens now, other than Rob Waddell must be involved with Whakaata Māori's coverage in some capacity.
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School rugby is already starting to be excessively focused on a small number of schools. The same names appear again and again, draining good players from moderately good schools, and destroying rugby entirely at many.
If some of those games -- not evenly spread -- are televised, then that will start to make the situation even worse.
Waikato school rugby is not improved by the total dominance of Hamilton BHS. A few dozen Waikato boys get to play Super 8, at the expense of a meaningful competition for hundreds of others.
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So far 5 of the 8 schools have been announced to participate in the World Schools Festival in Thailand (December 12-17).
Grey College (South Africa)
Millfield School (England)
Hamilton Boys’ High School (New Zealand)
St Michael’s College (Ireland)
Sedbergh School (England)https://worldschoolsfestival.com
I know that the Hamilton BHS players are busy fundraising as it isn't cheap to take part.
