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Thread: Force fed future in WA Rugby

  1. #1
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    Force fed future in WA Rugby

    Currently, in my opinion there is a lot of talent in WA "going to waste" and I think harnessing that will be where the depth of future Force squads will come from.
    I'll give my own experience to illustrate my point.
    The Scotch College 1st XV was undefeated in the PSA comp in '89 & '90 and then dropped two matches to come third in '91.
    This was a strong period in Scotch Rugby history and presented about thirty players with genuine potential to go on with a rugby career of some success. Roughly that number went on to play Colts for various clubs and performed very well at that level. However, after five seasons there was only a hand full left and now there would be I think no more than five still playing at what should be the pinacle of a rugby players career (ie 30-33 years).
    On top of that, there were at least ten of the better 1st XV players who never played at club level as they went back to the bush to work on their family farms and stations.
    I fall into that category, having been Captain of my year group State teams at U14 and U15 then running out of money to pursue the invites to U16 and Open Trials and eventually heading home at the end of Year 12, never to play again.
    I quite possibly would have not had much success but the point is that we'll never know. Had there been a "Force" back then, then the opportunity would have been there to try and make a career in the sport without the huge upheaval of heading East.
    The reasons for such a fast drop off of talent are varied but chiefly amongst them is the need to knuckle down at studies or work and the urge to travel at that age because there has been no rugby career path for our better local players to follow.
    This is just three of the last fifteen years and one of seven PSA schools so there is little doubt of the multiplication effect on my experience.
    Further, with full respect to the subsequent career of John Welborn, I would argue that there was at least three or four players in his two years in the Scotch 1st XV ('86-'87) who had greater potential at the higher level that never played on to realise their full ability.
    Another analogy would be, having had first hand experience of Australian Rules in country WA, I know for a fact there are many players out here who are easily as skilled as those running around in the WAFL however, have chosen to remain at home to the detriment of their playing careers.
    Despite all the pontificating from Eastern Staters that Western Australia is a rugby desert, there has been a steady flow of players to Eastern clubs over the years.
    To some degree they are right in saying Australian Rules is the sport of choice however, it is rare that once chosen as their sport, an elite junior rugby player would go back to Aussie Rules.
    They tend to move to places that will provide rugby opportunities or just quit and get on with the rest of their life.
    Following the incredible increase of interest and participation in WA following the World Cup and the ever increasing number of expats from Southern Africa (SA & Zim) and NZ/Islanders, the Force will provide the catalyst to greater things for rugby in WA.
    No one over here is seriously suggesting huge success in the first couple of seasons, the real excitement comes from realising the potential of finally harnessing our real junior talent with some of Australia’s best rather than just presenting the best of what's left.
    Any genuine Australian Rugby supporter would understand that to mean a genuine boost to the national depth from rugby's last great Australian frontier, rather than continually sniping and bitching about having certain players "poached" etc.
    As the Force continues to offer a focal point and Rugby WA invests on this, the next few years will see the coming of age for Rugby in Western Australia.

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    Last edited by Burgs; 11-07-06 at 16:08.

  2. #2
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    The Western Force will prove to inject a whole new lease of life into West Australian Rugby. Fasten your seatbelts all and c'arn the Force!

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  3. #3
    (formerly known as Coach) Your Humble Servant Darren's Avatar
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    I agree with all - with our own S14 team, and RugbyWA's commitment to keep force players in WA, we can expect to see a whole new life breathed into rugby in this state. With the right marketing, and a successful Force team, I think we can look forward to seeing the game pick up in a big way!

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  4. #4
    How good has the Western Force been for lifting the profile of rugby in WA.

    Its like rugby's the new black.

    Check out Rugby WA's website on the lead story about volunteers. This is two clubs winning major state and national awards in the past 6 months. Sponsered by major companies and measured against other community organisations.

    Is it a case of rugby lifting its game all over or was rugby being overlooked as it wasn't as fashionable as it is at the moment?

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    ... on the 6th day God played rugby and on the 7th day he rested, because he was sore and a little hungover.

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    Apprentice Crutch Bind's Avatar
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    Well put Burgs, I agree, there will be plenty of players come out of the woodwork now that would have previously returned to their "safe" life journey of university or farm.
    I think also the likes of David Pocock is a good indication of the talent that will emerge from overseas if given the opportunity.

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  6. #6
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    The likes of Saturdays match will give local boys even more heart as they will see that if they are good enough they will be given a go.
    It would have been easy for Mitchell to not have used his 2nds and 3rds players against the Cheetahs to go for the win but he has shown that he is a coach for the future and is equally interested in developing his squad as getting scratch match wins on the board.
    He would have gone into his first match assuming that they would lose, even if hoping that they wouldn't.
    Those in the Academy will now be realistically aiming to make enough progress to be in next years first match to get the chance to play in the big time and make the step forward that WA pre '06 could never have offered them.

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