The DRSU trials take place at Riverside Sports Complex in Durban North this weekend. The trials are by invitation only. Two players per position per age-group are invited to trials by the respective age group Inter Provincial Tournament (IPT) coaching teams. Club coaches are also allowed to nominate a limited number of players to attend trials. It is believed that Swys de Bruin and Deon Kayser from the Sharks Academy will be the independent selectors this weekend. From here 22 players per age group will be selected to attend the IPT in Kempton Park. Including all players and three coaches per team, that makes a massive touring party of 125. It was also quite interesting to read that players are not allowed to wear club colours or socks to trials ( http://www.drsujuniorrugby.co.za/ )
Trial times are as follows: u14 & u16 : Saturday 01 September at 12H00 u13 & u15 : Sunday 02 September at 08H30 u18 : Sunday 02 September at 13H00Leave a Reply
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well done to all that were selected, now the hard works starts I suppose
I’d like to congragulate the 16 Westville Boys who made it throughout all the age groups. Hope all the teams do well. I’d like to make a small mention about a boy who i think has worked hard. The Lee boy who made the u15 side. This boy has worked hard from playing D team, to playing most A team games to making DRSU.# HARD WORK
Squads have been announced.
http://www.drsujuniorrugby.co.za
@Pedantic: You are so very right – between myself and Michelle the refresh button is worn
Hope the web master knows that TODAY is Tuesday – or did he mean next Tuesday??
@NW_Knight: Cyndi knows it’s more coz she’s refreshed the page more than 168 times !!
@NW_Knight:
At least by tonight, I will know whether the start polishing lenses, preparing disks etc for photos.
No way, I think just from our parents there have been more than that
@Cyndi: 168 since Sunday. Waiting for 200 to release the names
I would love to know how many hits the DRSU web site has had since Sunday. Judging by the number of anxious parents who have contacted me, it would be a huge number. And this is despite being told at trials that the information would only be up on Tuesday night very late or Wednesday morning.
@Pedantic: There is a responsibility from the clubs to ensure compliance and an efficient admin process but there is also a responsibility from the DRSUYCRA to ensure that the admin policies (red tape) which THEY have instisted on are properly administered.
It appears this was done diligently for the first season where players were issued with positive ID cards and players/transfers were flawlessly documented but now the honeymoon appears to be over, the admin which was insisted on has been neglected and that is why we sit with the problems you allude to with respect to play registrations, incorrect age-groups and transfers.
@star: As far as I know, the teams will be made public on Wednesday.
@Greenhopper: To clarify … there were many players participating in matches that weren’t properly registered or transferred – the coaching teams then invite those players to trials but they are ineligible due to the above, so effectively lost to the provincial teams due to poor early admin – a real pity.
Having said that, I must admit that the red-tape involved in getting a player onto the field is pretty restrictive – but on the other hand, it’s a necessary evil to avoid over-age (and under age) players from competing. It would be great if this admin system could be streamlined.
@Greenhopper: i am sure they will go onto the website as a public announcement and each Club will have names, issued, one should think that it will happen during the course of this week
@Pedantic:I think , from what i read here, Hillcrest have the upward curve, they seem to have the parent involvement , established , good club IMO.
I agree you guys have possibly done the right thing , by getting these signed off, maybe it’s something that the Committee should Template and distribute to all clubs and selected players prior to trials.
AS I have read here, things are certainly getting more structured, I don’t understand the issue regarding “ineligible players who were initially invited to trials” I thought you mentioned that this was noted and agreed . If players where selected, where or who did the selections, certainly not the Clubs, so how could they, the clubs , be accused of Bad administration? One might suggest that Admin is at fault in other areas?
When will the selections be finalized and made public?
@Greenhopper: As far as I’m concerned that is the responsibility of the respective clubs – I know at our club, players only went to trials after signing an acceptance letter confirming availability / affordability.
It’s time for the clubs to start taking responsibility for their actions – an example is the high number of ineligible players who were initially invited to trials due to their clubs’ poor administration. It seems those same clubs are the ones with the loudest voices when it comes to complaining.
Time for the guys to get their own houses in order – only then can the entire structure be improved.
@Amalekite: as mentioned, i just hope that the screening process was done, PRIOR, to selections and not after the Trials find out who can go and afford it , would seem a complete waste of everyone’s time if 8 of the selected players and 10 of the shadow side noted they couldn’t go and then they would have to ask boys that weren’t even at the trials, I know that I is probably the worst case scenario , but it could happen
@Amalekite: i think that is a good idea, you should propose it through your club rep/chairman, i know teh likes of Pedantic and Green Blooded would support it and even possibly NW Knight
@Greenhopper: I do not know which club the chairman was referring to.
Concerning the ” bragging rights ” issue,I do not know to what extent, but it definitely exists. I came across one such disadvantaged played last year who pulled that move.
I think that the DRSU could charge a fee of say, R200 or R500 to take part in the trials. If the player is selected, then the money gets deducted from his tour fee. If he is not selected, he is re-imbursed. If he pulls out, then he forfeits the money and it can go towards disadvantaged players tour fees that are selected.
@GreenBlooded: The 20% deposit could help pay for those players who cannot afford the tour but what happens if said players cannot afford the deposit as that does amount to R900 for this tour?
I would like to see some fundraising done on DRSU level to assist with this fee. With the size of the DRSU we could raise funds to assist in reducing the amount of the tour.
@GreenBlooded: agreed, if they know this then they should be out and penalties paid, well done on the supporting of players that might not be able to afford and the club assists, I am sure with Juniors Clubs it’s hard when they don’t get any funds from the union like the senior clubs
@Greenhopper: My comment above wasn’t refering to boys who cannot afford the tour – indeed I put some boys forward who may run into problems but we will make a plan for these boys one way or another. I am refering to boys who KNOW ALREADY that they will be going on a school (insert sporting or cultural code here) tour in October yet come to trials anyway to get bragging rights and then pull out once selected. That to me is not on and they should forfeit a 20% deposit if they do this in future.
@GreenBlooded: I should add that the process has to start somewhere, and this is a good starting point , hopefully in the years to come with the appropriate exposure and branding it can and will par with the other streams of getting colors
@Pedantic: as mentioned above , selection or invitation is also based on the premise that they can afford they tour,
however there is absolutely no excuse for boys just not pitching, however , social embarrassment might have to do with some of the non-showers, as they just know that their parents can’t afford the tours, and as such better to save face and just not pitch, I think the selector/selectors /coaches and committee, need to be very mindful of this ,
no boy want to openly say “sorry I can’t afford it “ especially when he has shown the ability to be at the trails
@GreenBlooded: I would have thought that the boys selected through the coaches should have indicated to the selectors , prior to the announcement of players for the trials, indicated that they could or couldn’t make the fees for the tour.
I agree if boys who were notified and didn’t pitch , then should automatically excluded as they just waste valuable time, for the selectors and the players .
One thing does need to be looked at and this would be the selection of the boys is tainted with the cat that only the boys that can meet the tour fees will be selected?? It is a two edges sword, boys getting DRSU colors could be seen as those that can afford the colors, it does sound a bit bias? And I don’t want to put a negative feel or slant to what is essentially a good thing , and is improving year on year .
My understanding is that boys selected for Bokkie week, only paid half the amount that this tour is costing ? so costs and affordability has lots to do with selection and awarding of Colors , but I am sure this will improve in the years to come, as more sponsors buy into the process
@Amalekite: The U14 players that did arrive, were invited due to them showing good form through the season – IMO those players should be selected by default. (Obviously this on the premise that there were in fact players to cover all positions there).
@Amalekite: Agree 100% with all of your comments. The boys that did not pitch on Saturday without excusing themselves and without a very good reason should be excluded. If that is the level of committment then they are certainly not going to be reliable team members on tour.
Must also say that the trials ran like clo9ckwork and were very well organised – quantum leap over previous years. Well done to those invovled.
Also found a comment that the Chairman made yesterday quite interesting – that many boys attend trials well aware that they are not available to tour but just want to prove a point i.e. that they can make it. This is a waste of everyone’s time. They need to introduce a non-rufundable deposit system next year which gets deducted from tour fee’s to discourgae this practice.
@Amalekite: hi , which club players didnt pitch?? strange i would have throught that being invited you noted you could or couldnt make it , ??? :shock:
I agree with all your points.Well done to DRSU.
I must say that it was very disappointing for half of invited U14 boys who arrived at the trials, only to find that the other half did not bother to pitch or to excuse themselves.
Because of this, their trials had to be post-poned to Wednesday.
Furthermore, it appears that all the boys from a certain club were non-showers. Very poor etiquette. I feel that, unless they excused themselves, they should be excluded from the trials on Wednesday and new players should be invited.
Spare a thought for the players and parents who made the effort to arrive on Saturday and were turned back because of the selfishness of others…
@CyndiAtRugby: i heard the same thing about the trials, seems that its improving every year, this is good news as it builds this type of credibility amongst clubs , , players and supporters etc , I am sure the want to strive for a viable and equal positions as possibly KZN colors is wanted
@amalekite:
you comments are valid in terms of the boys having experience if they have been to trials before. They learn how to be in the correct places, what to look and listen for and how to take care of themselves in terms of food and liquid intake. The “first-timers” also seem to be more stressed and anxious. I do not believe there was any other advantage as the selectors didn’t know the previous teams.
I would like to compliment the DRSU team – its was an exemplary trials which did run a bit late but otherwise was well done.
Having attended the trials for the first time last year, I was quite impressed and did not feel that there was any bias.
Having said that, I think that that if a player has been selected previously, he will most probably have the inside track over a new unknown player, if they are found to be on par with one another.
sorry it was meant to be @Pedantic:
@NW_Knight: Reminds me of Kurt Webster last year … he just “filled in” at # 8 for a chukka and scored the highest of all # 8’s in all age groups on the day – what a player!
@NW_Knight: i disagree , it could happen as @Greenhopper: noted that a boy has a bad Chukka, thsis would result in a lower average score,
dont you forsee thsi as being a possible problem,
@Pedantic: hey i am not against recruiters?, if the identify themselves to the people holding the event and its not done in a covert manager , keep it open, ,
my problem would be that as its happened before, the Schools, who take preference over School Boy Rugby , would withdraw any possible support they now have as they might lose players to other schools, we have seen the difficulties this as caused at High schools over such issues, Example being Staples, look at the GW – MC , any maybe it should be limited to only the u13, I don’t know the answers , I just foresee the possible problems
Trials will be on the same basis as last year. Each and every player will be rated in his position (a mark out of 10) and will have a comment on his play. These marks will be averaged at the end of the day, so it doesn’t matter whether you play 1, 2 or 5 chukka’s.
@Greenhopper: I understand your stance, but still the question remains – what difference does that make?
Recruiters can be there regardless of whether they selectors or not.
At some stage we need to respect the professionalism and honour of the people involved.
@GreenBlooded: agree, independant selectors would be good and fair , isnt this supposed to be the dream of Club
The problem I would have with selectors attached to certain schools is not so much recruiting players for their schools – they can do that anyway from the stands. I would be more concerned with a bias towards their schools in the team selections.
If the selection panel is truely unattached and unbiased and will perform their function without fear or favour as NW Knight claims then I’m all for it.
@NW_Knight: In all honesty – it’s irrelevant whether the school reps are there as selectors or scouts – nothing stops the “shoppers” from being at trials and approaching players anyways.
@Pedantic: Simply put , one can see the link between EXCO- Northwood – and Swys – Varsity College, please one has to assume that there exist a link , 1 + 1 does = 3
@NW_Knight: Thanks for clarifying … between @Greenhopper and @NW_Knight I felt like I was falling through a twilight zone for sure – nothing is what it seems
@Pedantic: Sorry, that was the original plan, but it may have created the impression that NW were looking to recruit players and that is not what we want. The selectors are all well qualified for the job and have no affiliation to any school as far as I know.
As I said before, 2 others were also put forward and declined on this basis (can’t have a GW shopping spree
)
@Beet: I can very reliably tell you that they aren’t involved at all (in any way). Can also confirm that none of the NW rugby management team has approached any club player at any game.
I know that someone will always be unhappy with the way trials are done, but we have tried to ensure that these trials are as neutral and fair as they can possibly be.
@NW_Knight: Strange … I was also under the impression the convenors were Swys & Kayser as communicated to the IPT coaching teams?
EXCO have a change of heart?
@NW_Knight: Sorry, this wasn’t an attempt to be controversial. I thought I was being reliably informed when told that de Bruin and Kayser would be in attendance. The correct term to use might have been convenors?
@Beet: A good rumor about selectors – can only guess who started it – but very untrue. While I certainly don’t doubt their abilities, it would be hard to be neutral when you deal with a lot of these boys on daily basis. 2 high school coaches were put forward (including a prominent one) and both were turned down. Trying to ensure that the selections are as neutral and professional as possible.
@GreenBlooded: hey with those socks , they will be asking for money from you??
best or better to use a pair from Girls College Hockey Socks
@Pedantic: hi there , sorry No
@Greenhopper: Is your boy going to trials this year ?
I’m gonna hire them by the Chukka!! :smile: :smile: :grin: :grin:
@GreenBlooded: you ar eso cruel
I’ve got a few pairs of spare Northwood socks – reckon I could make a killing there on the weekend. :grin: :grin: :grin:
