The future of the NZ Schools team
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@Stargazer said in The future of the NZ Schools team:
New Zealand Rugby, which took over management of NZSS in 2013, wants to rebrand the team as New Zealand Under-18 and open it up to those who are no longer playing for their First XV and in full-time secondary education.
The move is being pushed to bring New Zealand into line with other leading rugby nations and to bridge a representative gap for those who leave school early and the New Zealand Under-20 team.
Why can't they extend the current eligibility for NZ Schools to all U18 players and call the team "NZ Schools and U18 team" (similar to the Australian Schools and U18 team)?
That sounds like what they are doing? I don't see anything in that article saying school students aren't eligible, I read it as saying that it's just dropping the requirement to be one.
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@Cyclops Yeah, I may be reading that the wrong way.
I still think the schools are right in being concerned about the unwanted effect it may have on students' decisions about staying at or leaving school. They'll definitely need to be careful in how they're going to shape future pathways.
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@Stargazer said in The future of the NZ Schools team:
But a consortium of heavyweight schools, ... have jointly submitted feedback that vehemently opposes the move on the basis it could have a negative impact on the academic futures of pupils,
I don't think the schools give a fuck about their academic future if they're good enough to win a first xv title over any arch rival.
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@Stargazer I think there would be a lot of friction between coaches and the academia in some schools. And the parents!
I look at the NZ school system and see similarities with the schools systems here. The parallels of player warehousing at the big colleges, combined with erosion of the community game, means we see a lot of kids exiting the code altogether if they don't "make it".
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Well at least there's some serious debate and thinking going on regarding the lower levels. Along with the AB XV initiative, can we hope NZR are looking at the structure and development of the game at all levels?
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@Victor-Meldrew Yeah, that's my hope. Improving the selection process is probably the most important thing, but I'd be keen to hear if they're going to organise proper tours and/or tournaments.
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I agree with @Stargazer that this decision could have unwanted consequences but the NZ Barbarians and NZ Māori teams are U18s and include school leavers.
The problem for the NZ Schools team is that they don't play anyone outside of Oceania, and I doubt NZR is in any hurry to change that.
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I don't think finishing school or university are at all important in this day and age. The ones that stay just for 1st xv especially so.
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@muddyriver also plenty of schools have no 1st 15 or one of decent enough quality for the kids to get opportunities, so end up playing in club teams.
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We're talking, what, 30 kids? Many of those trying to make an Under 18 national team will stay in school anyway. It won't make much difference to 1st XV rugby.
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I think this is the start of NZRFU getting rid of all school rugby apart from 1st & 2nd xv. It needs to happen if clubs are to survive.
Not only are you losing kids from your club at year 9 , but you’re also losing all the volunteers that have coached/managed since under 6s.
