John Duncan, the head coach of the Queens College 1st XV from the time he arrived at the school in 2010, has resigned. Duncan was never one to hide his true passion. He was well-respected and even described as being one of the finest coaches in schoolboy rugby in the country. Queens College was tipped to have a big 2012 season at the start of the year. In spite of initially falling short of expectations, the team bounced back and enjoyed a fairly successful campaign. Season highlights included an unprecedented double over Selborne as well as home victories against national top 10 ranked Grey High, coached by John’s brother Rory, and a big 28-0 win over highly rated main rivals Dale College in the season ending derby. The blanking of Dale turned out to be John Duncan’s last in charge in the 15-man game. Sources have indicated that he will be pursuing a career in farming. He will be missed and leaves big boots to fill.
This news follows hard on the heels of reports that Dale College head coach Grant “Griffy” Griffith had handed in his notice, meaning that when Queens and Dale meet on the Rec on 20 April 2013, both schools will be under the guidance of new coaches.
Dep is another fine fellow C. Loest
Ludz who is the assisant coach
Ludz/Queenian any idea who they have in mind.
@Ludz: Well maybe Queens should rope in Mr Dell to coach there 1st he was a good rugby player himself he,s kids have done well and has coached before. Great man i think he would do well.
@Grasshopper: The last three- OR FLY OFF
Sorry, lagging behind in text speak, what is FIOFO? I’m guessing a few choose words thrown in with a couple of others…..
@BOG: Yep – like I said .. FIOFO. Everyone has a spot, I am told that some schools are dripping lawyers. Find one … or even better, home school ..
@Andre T: @Gungets Tuft: I would be very surprised if AT was even permitted onto the premises of Oranje. We called them the Afrikaanse Klooster(Convent). The blokes were only allowed to visit on Sunday afternoons, dressed in suits and to top it all, there had to be “day light” between you and the girl with the spinster teachers vigilantly enforcing this rule. Thankfully, we had an English medium sister school, Eunice, as well, where things were a lot more relaxed. But most of those Oranje meisies certainly made up for lost time when they got to varsity. As far as tradition is concerned, I believe it is the responsibility of a prospective parents to familiarise themselves with the traditions, culture and ethos of the school and if they dont like it, move on.Id go so far as to say that they should sign an acknowledgement of that BEFORE admission of the child.
@Andre T: Eeeisch. I might get banned if I tell you the contents of the standard .. er .. no. You will have to mail me. gungetstuft(at)gmail.com … certain members esor will klap me with an EOS7D .. Beet will tell me I have ruined a friendship … Grassy will blush so hard he will be visible from space
@Gungets Tuft: Those mathematicians and scientists from Bloem’s Best could not even find the ‘gap’.
@Andre T: College has two girls schools on their doorstep, one private, one govt. Speak to the Clark House 3rd formers (Gr 9) that got gated when they bunked to watch the Girls High tjikkins do their VC 3 weeks ago. College boys are engineers, not scientists. The scientists and mathematicians give up because they theoretically can never completely close the gap [snigger] between the girls at GHS and themselves. The engineers go for it, because they know they can get close enough for all practical purposes. These are the Footlong days of the GHS girls lives …. 8)
I’ve always been a bit worried about schools for boys only. Strange and weird things happen there. I’m more of a traditionalist where boy meets girl. Remember back in the days in Bloem when I used to visit Oranje Meisies’ res how those girls told us they were a bit wary of the Grey okes with their polyester hats and how they walk in the streets singing and holding hands. Those were the Footlong days of our lives.
@Gungets Tuft: true, we all know Mr Duncan at Queen’s, he’s a good oke, passionate a lot of the time, I have no clue what happened, it’s tough being at a boys schools, both from the staff and fellow pupils, parents intervening helps with nothing.
Just to clarify, it’s not a rugby related thing, Mr Duncan is also a school teacher at Queen’s
@Gungets Tuft: Exactly.
@BOG: If I read correctly between the lines here, this thread could almost be merged with “over zealous parents”. Parents need to walk the line, understanding that high school starts immitating life, and our boys need to start learning a few grown up lessons. It is tough to stop yourself intervening but sometimes the lightie has to realise that life isn’t always fair, but it is life, that you sometimes need to stand your ground, sometimes just sway with the breeze. Rescuing yuor lightie frmo every little bit of headwind is not doing him any favours. Obviously outright bullying and targetted unfair behaviour needs to be dealt with, but the courts are never an option, because even if you win, you lose. As for tradition and culture – FIOFO .. seriously. Culture that has stood the test of 50, 100, 150 years of evolution .. probably works. Go to Crawford if you don’t like it.
It is always sad to hear of a resignation under these types of circumstances. I remember him from the Kearsney festival – very vocal but also very close to each and every boy. I even commented to one of the staff that it was good to see mutual respect.
@BOG: Always so ‘diplomatic’ but I can see right through you buddy. I can actually even see that you had Strawberry Pops for breakfast.
Sounds like there is a story behind the scenes here. He is a very vocal coach from the side of the field. Did that have anything to do with it?
@Ludz: This is tragic news for Queens rugby.He really has been an asset to the school in the short space of time that he’s coached.Huge loss.
What’s this story about a parent wanting to sue him?
Also, I hear Mr Lovatt has resigned as headmaster.Hasnt been there for long has he.Who’s his replacement?
@Ludz: Some time ago, I referred to the threat to tradition and ethos at some schools by the unrestricted admission of pupils simply for numbers sake(and this has nothing to do with colour) Here, I read between the lines, that we have an example, of such a case where a parent is not familiar with the traditions of the school,and its tragic consequences.
I still cannot believe a parent decided she wanted to sue Mr Duncan, really when you take your son to a boys school, you should expect that it’s not your normal co-ed school and things are a bit tougher here.
Dissapointed doesn’t even begin to describe how am feeling, absolutely gutted, passionate man who loves his rugby. I so hoped he would stay on at Queen’s for a number of years
That said I wish Mr D all the best in his future endeavours, hopefully a return to Queen’s Rugby is somewhere in that future. Privileged and honoured to have had you at Queen’s sir