2022 School rugby
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@Higgins show me a better prop and 2nd 5 in the Hurricanes zone than those two?
They also had a good 6, winger and fullback. Not saying they were better than Napiers but in the small sample we saw they looked outstanding. Lets not forget this team also beat Fielding and held them to 12 points i think
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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.
The top eight rugby schools in the world will face each other in December, but which schools?
The World School's Festival returns in 2022, with excitement that the best rugby schools in the world will be taking each other on. Could this signal a seismic shift in the world's view of school rugby.
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@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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@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 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!
Huge downvote.
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@Bovidae Liam Jack lock from Christs college will be selected. Nephew of Chris. Dad Graeme was a crusader too.
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@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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@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)I know that the Hamilton BHS players are busy fundraising as it isn't cheap to take part.
