Opportunity for Hilton to add to their rugby coaching structure

Hilton are already in the fortunate position of being able to afford both Brad Macleod-Henderson and Greg Miller to oversee their rugby. Recently it was confirmed that Shane Gaffney, their existing Director of Sports and Director of Coaching Cricket had been announced as the St Dominic’s College Welkom Headmaster with effect from the 2nd term of 2016. With his Hilton position now up for grabs, its a chance for the College to further enhance their rugby coaching structure by appointing another rugby heavyweight, if they so choose.

The website SASchoolSports conducted an informative interview with Gaffney back in 2013 – read it all here:  http://www.saschoolsports.co.za/rugby/kwazulu-natal/hilton-college-dean-of-sports-shane-gaffney.html

Here is one of the questions that was put to him and answered:

Some school teachers and even school coaches have expressed disquiet as to the “professionalism” that is taking hold in school sport; where prep/primary school boys are offered sports bursaries?

“For as long as I can recall scholarships have been awarded at Grade 8 entry level. These awards are made across academic, sporting and cultural spheres of school life. Some schools have funding available to offer scholarships at Grade 10 entry level across these same spheres. It has been done for years and I have no doubt that it will continue for years to come. ‘Poaching’ is a reality but, I would argue, is limited to, in most instances, rugby. I’m not sure that this being driven by schools or your franchises who are identifying talented players from in and around the country and placing them in schools. I think that your top rugby schools are taking full advantage of this opportunity. My concern really revolves around a boy who goes through a school system only to be discarded in his senior years. What message are we sending? I know this is top of the agenda when the Headmasters meet.”