AB squad for the Rugby Championship
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@Mokey yeah I kinda covered that with Blues (ARU, NRU & NHR) should be all over the exceptional young kids, seeing what thier long term plans are outside rugby and trying to make it work for them.
But by the same token I expect some will have always had a dream of gong to X-Uni (as well as the other dream of being a professional rugby player) so that may still dictate where they go first.
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Many of these guys (eg Malakai) weren't making it in AKLD so went elsewhere. I think the uni angle in the pro era is less significant than in the past. The Blues have to sort out everything from the management at the top down to scouting and talent identification. The other hard thing is talent development. Players stagnating in Auckland only to go elsewhere and then make the ABs is very concerning
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@canefan I wonder if the franchises add education as an incentive to sign as well?
I reckon they should be, help these guys study/train for somethign post-rugby, if rugby doesnt pay off or they get a career ending injury.
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@taniwharugby said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
@canefan I wonder if the franchises add education as an incentive to sign as well?
I reckon they should be, help these guys study/train for somethign post-rugby, if rugby doesnt pay off or they get a career ending injury.
Not sure. I think they give them financial advice now
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@taniwharugby If by franchises you mean Waikato, Taranaki etc. I know of one. Bradley Slater who was the hooker called into the Chiefs was on a scholarship to the University of Waikato from the TRFU and that had him go stay in the halls of residence and study, not sure what, but also part of the agreement was he had to come back and play for Taranaki and not move to Waikato. I know this because my old flatmate was in the halls with him and. If you mean the Chiefs, I'm pretty certain ALB was on a scholarship with Waikato and the Chiefs to go to uni and play rugby. Also, considering the the University of Otago is a major sponsor of the Landers, I'd say there would be some kind of scholarship.
Edit: Tagged the wrong person.
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@Yeetyaah said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
and not move to Waikato. I know this because my old flatmate was in the halls with him and. If you mean the Chiefs, I'm pretty certain ALB was on a scholarship with Waikato and the Chiefs to go to uni and play rugby. Also, considering the the University of Otago is a major sponsor of the Landers, I'd say there would be some kind of scholarship.
Edit: Tagged the wrong person.well yeah I expect the provincial unions and the franchises could (should?) all be involved in that side of things
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Was talking with a mate who has more knowledge of the situation than me. Said the Blues are considering getting their young players accommodated in a purpose built facility near their Alexandra Park base, especially those who grew up in AKL. It is a problem that some of these young guys continue to live at home, hang with the same mates and this enables continued bad habits. Housing them together, teaching them good work, nutrition, training habits might help
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face it, Auckland is where professional sports go to die
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@reprobate said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
@canefan gotta be a big part of why the guys who leave do better. new place, no mates except professional teammates, better focus.
why does that not hold true anywhere else?
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@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
face it, Auckland is where professional sports go to die
They are the Knicks of NZ rugby at the moment
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@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
@reprobate said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
@canefan gotta be a big part of why the guys who leave do better. new place, no mates except professional teammates, better focus.
why does that not hold true anywhere else?
I don't know if I can answer that without making a racial generalisation
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@canefan said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
face it, Auckland is where professional sports go to die
They are the Knicks of NZ rugby at the moment
fair, it's a real struggle to remember when either were last relevant
