A few years ago there were FAQ’s about whether or not DHS could still be considered a KZN tier-1 rugby school. Since then the challenges to produce quantity that invariably helps with depth hasn’t gone away. Nevertheless in 2016 and again this year, there won’t be too many locals questioning DHS’s quality. ‘School’ can reasonably set their sights on their best in province finish in over a decade – touch wood they don’t experience derailing injury setbacks though. More indications of the quality DHS has came in the form of SA u18 Sevens recognition this week:
From DHS media release:
2 DHS rugby players fly the flag for KZN in SARU 7’s Schools U18 squad
Durban High School are celebrating as two of their 1st XV rugby players have been selected for the SARU 7’s Schools U18 squad that will play in Windhoek, Namibia this weekend.
Talented rugby players Phendulani Buthelezi and Sanele Nohamba are not only representing their school, but they are also exclusively representing KwaZulu-Natal as they are the only two players selected from the province, amongst all the other rugby playing schools.
They will travel to Windhoek on Thursday, March 2, 2017 and return on Monday, March 5, 2017.
The 2 players were initially selected at the 7’s Rugby Tournament held at DHS in 2016 , where they were invited to attend a training camp along with 18 other players from around South Africa.
See the full team here: SA u18 Sevens Team for Windhoek
@Tang: You make some valid points; however, I think that Boys High has dropped too far behind the curve. I’m not suggesting that they drift ‘out of control’, but they should take their heads out of the sand.
Why not follow the House model – i.e. make sure that you have excellent rugby structures in place, provide a handful of scholarships during the grade 8 intake…and then back the boys through the strong and weak years.
It is fascinating to see how schools respond and how much emphasis they place on sports results.
I have been watching sport at PBHS for many years, and I have noticed how much schools are willing to compromise on values to achieve results. A win at all cost mentality has become the norm.
I must say that I am amazed at the spirit of the PBHS first team players. Week after week, they play against teams filled with players who have been brought in to improve results. In the last four years, the number and quality of imports have gone through the roof.
I have lost all enjoyment from watching first team rugby. I watch how much parents and old boys covet good results, and I am stunned. The problem with the rugby mentality is how it has found its way into other sports.
There are a few schools who are really out of control with the number of bursaries and the alternative funding mechanisms they use for their hired players.
@Skywalker: Dont disagree with you – see my comment regarding DHS – and again schools like St Benedicts; St stithians etc are starting to show that fire across the teams too.
But a bad season for the 1st XV (ask PBHS or Westville after their 2016 annus horribalis) does not finish the school off – but they bounce back.
unfortunately it remains the 1st XV score that counts – not an overall performance, or how thee U14 A did. The comment “Kearsney beat College” remains the talking point – irrespective that it was not about the number of teams that played each other, what staggering happened at lower teams – or what the overall Win:loss ratio or points scored was……
So your points are valid.
@Rugger fan: I agree with you in principle, and have always admired the spirit and passion that College produce throughout all teams – the difference though is that you have a long standing tradition of excellence because you have always had a winning (rugby) culture/teams.
You need a successful 1st team to set the tone. Without this – boys can commit and play their hearts out and work to better themselves – but that fire dwindles when you are losing 80% of the games you play,and watching your 1st team do the same (ask Northwood).
Just saying it a tough position, because you have to get that winning culture and have a great standard of player throughout to mean you don’t have to buy in a mercenary team. But which comes first? chicken or the egg?
@beet: Beet – too true if you are only concerned about ranking and 1st XV results.
However if you have that grunt factor and a 9ths that plays their heart out because their big dream is to one day kit up for the 6th. It also means there is a 5th team stalwart dreaming of the 1sts or 2nds.
So while the 1st XV national results will be driven by sports bursaries – I honestly believe it is the likes of Grey (x2), HJS, College, PBHS, KES, Glenwood, Queens, Dale, SACS, etc. etc. that will be contenders consistently over time – irrespective of the sports bursaries.
I believe the bursaries have built a number of new power house schools over the last 15 odd years – and been to the detriment of others (perhaps DHS is a point in case?) – but overall the schools that do not rely on bursaries only – but that have a long standing tradition are in a far better position.
As a parent, i’d prefer my son to be in a school where he is striving and working hard to better himself – and not one where some A level academy is full of “mercenaries” and he has a minuscule chance of even achieving the lofty heights so he may choose not to even try.
@beet: Beet you are so right. It comes down to money on hand to buy in the right talent up front, and even to top up around u16 level if needed. It is true that College, Glenwood and even Westville have the benefit of being seen as top rugby schools and so there is always a natural queue of boys wanting to go there in any case which helps – but that only makes the gulf wider for public schools like Northwood and DHS. They have to not only convince boys to come for rugby in particular, but also need the funds to make it happen. Vicious cycle.
@Tang: @Skywalker: @Gungets Tuft:
I want to say this as part of a reality and not as a dig at any school:
The influence of sports bursaries can never be underestimated. Even at College where it’s not unusual to see a proud 9th team player playing his heart out in the hopes of being promoted to a higher team and that same attitude being mimicked by boys in higher teams, that positive willingness to participate and progress only gets a school A-team so far these days. One will no doubt see a school with a large rugby player turnout put out many team and usually achieve good lower team results and the law of large numbers coupled with good coaching of lower teams should improve the probability of a once lower team junior developing into an A-team starter within his 5-year high school stay. But generally having numbers is not a worthy rival to the sports bursary. I think we’ve seen the effects of no sports bursaries at numerically advantaged Pretoria BH who have a fairly big BE as well and we are currently witnessing both ends of it at DHS. DHS benefitted from funds being made available to acquire good players a few years back, which they put to very good use. Vastly improve results followed after the school seemed to have reached a low point in their rugby history. Now with alleged cut backs in spending, their u14 and u15 teams of 2016 once again started to find the going extremely tough. At this stage even if DHS can somehow improve their rugby participation and better coaching structures, I still seriously doubt that they will find the talent in a school of probably 200+ boys per grade to influence A-team rugby results. It’s a questionable practice but they will have to find and spend money if they want to get better rugby results coming out of those two age-groups.
Sjoe! Forget about being part of the breakaway off the front, it’s hard enough making sure the peloton doesn’t drop you.
Northwood have a few players back this year’ as well. Watch Mark Fouche, perhaps not the biggest dog in the fight but plenty of fight in him. Saw some kids in the swimming pool that look like they’ve got what it takes. Participation is going hold them back, they’ve really got to build the numbers.
Same at DHS, they’ve got to work at the kids feeling proud to pull any jersey on, even the 8th. That’s what sets Glenwood, Westville and College aside.
@Skywalker: Sounds about right.
@Tang: Aside from other factors like a new coach – Scott Mathie, it was their 150th celebrations last year, so they spent a lot of money buying in a fantastic group of players about 5 years ago to coincide. You can’t be having your 1st team losing by 30 points in such a big year. Many of those players are still there again for this year.
Their lower age groups i dont think have not had the same financial investment clearly and that will be the challenge (as it is for schools like Northwood as well) – to keep getting in great new talent from u14 level to actually keep pace with the traditional rugby powerhouses like College, Glenwood and Westville – and to compete with the money being thrown around by the privates.
if i recall, Northwood lost horribly to them at 1st team level last year, while we won every game in u14 and u15 age groups (stand to e corrected..).
@beet: What is behind the change at DHS?