The DRSU Youth League comes to a close this Sunday with the finals of all age groups being played at Northwood Crusaders in Durban North.
In the 8 week club season we have seen no less than 600 players representing 33 teams in the various age groups with the top 110 players being selected to represent the DRSUYCA regional teams that will be touring to Pretoria for an inter provincial tournament at the end of the month.
Highlights of the season include seeing development clubs Jaguars and Amabhubesi joining the fray and being relatively competitive in some of the leagues, along with a general increase in the quality of rugby being played as more and more talented players use the club season to hone their skills and express themselves with less pressure than the school season.
The fixtures for the finals are as follows:
| Time | League | Team | Points | PD | Team | Points | PD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 | U 13 B | Jaguars | 15 | 54 | vs | Hillcrest | 15 | -65 |
| 10:00 | U 13 A | Collegians | 25 | 186 | vs | Hillcrest | 18 | 23 |
| 11:00 | U 15 B | Hillcrest | 23 | 70 | vs | Collegians | 19 | 46 |
| 13:00 | U 15 A | Collegians | 25 | 209 | vs | Varsity College | 25 | 156 |
| 14:00 | U 16 | Hillcrest | 25 | 202 | vs | Varsity College | 25 | 174 |
| 15:00 | U 18 | Collegians | 24 | 251 | vs | Varsity College | 24 | 157 |
To have a look at the logs to date and to see all the teams’ performances through the season, click through to http://goo.gl/gRhCr0
Players in the league are from a vast array of schools in the Durban / Maritzburg area – including among others …
Primary Schools: Glenwood Prep, Hillcrest, Queensburgh Primary, Atholl Heights, Chelsea Prep, Kloof, Highbury, Clifton Prep, DPHS, Curro HCA, Penzance
High Schools: George Campbell, Gelofte, Port Natal, Westville, Glenwood, Kearsney, Carter, Kloof, Maritzburg College, St Charles, Clifton, Werda, DHS, Kuswag, Hillcrest, Durban Academy, Northwood
@GreenBlooded: Bulking of teams
it’s a known fact that Collegians aren’t the only Culprits, i can’t say i have seen them “bulk” or have heard of them doing this before a game, I have and know they try and register players and entice other players from Clubs, i think we have established that
However the same can’t be said for Varsity College and Crusaders, Crusaders u18 coach has taken registered players, from other club, with the Full knowledge of MK vice chair of DRSU and played them in an age group above the age group, and u16 player in an u18 game, this coach is part of exco and IPT and when followed through the channels, he admitted doing this and nothing happened .
Harlequins have signed players on the day and had them play, influenced results etc, this again brought to the attention of the Day Official /MK and nothing happened .
Varsity College , played a registered player from a another club whom wasn’t released, and again MK and exco approved this , is blatant violation of their own rules, issued no less than 3 weeks prior.
So one would think that if this has been occurring , with the issues additional and noted here in and considering that the Issue with Collegians has been ongoing for many years , it has all transpired under the same exco leadership ,
Pedantic , knows full well , as I have suggested to him previously , unless you change this Exco you won’t see meaningful change and there are plenty of willing people out there , I would even hazard a guess that the present Chair lady of Collegians should be nominated for the Chairperson position of DRSU and that there should be times limits to representative positions in Exco
@Dixon’s: I have no gripe with you at all – and I’ll say the same for ML. I regard you as honourable men who put the game first. Having integrity and honour is not about paperwork being done and rules and regulations – it is about each person doing the right thing for the good of the game.
I can assure you that in the time I have been involved at Hillcrest, there has never ONCE been an occasion where we have bulked up our team for a final. It goes against our club ethos. The boys who got us to the finals have the honour of playing the finals – because it is the right thing to do, not because the rules say so.
@Pedantic: I hope that you can accept me at my word that all my boys where of the correct age as far as i know, and that all of them had played at least 1 game before our last game. during the course of the season i have even sent a team of 14 onto the field simply because i would not play an unregistered player.
@GreenBlooded: Fair enough, it just feels that when an accusation of cheating is aimed at a club, it feels that it is aimed at the coaches and a few of us (a few that you know as well) take it personally. if mistakes where made with paperwork, i can assure you that they where not made intentionally, and that all of our teams played the finals with the right spirit. also we (the coaches) would not intentionally put players on the field who should not have been there simply to win a game. I would have no respect for coach who does that.
@oldschool: Depending on your motives, there are 2 course of action you can take:
1. Put a formal complaint in writing through the proper channels and I assure you it will be treated seriously. A club chairman was brought up on charges last season by the DRSUYCA and suspended for a year for improper conduct – so I can assure you the system works. If you decide on this course of action – just stick to the facts and leave the hysterics out of it. It would only serve to make the powers that be take you less seriously. Already – much of your ranting has been disputed by a neutral party.
Alternatively you can confront the coach in question after the capping ceremony tonight and have it out with him man to man – and maybe bury the hatchet there and then. Your son’s are going to be team-mates next week so maybe it’s time to start getting along??
2. Carry on hiding behind your (not so) anonymity and slandering Hillcrest Club and the coach in question on this platform in which case nothing will happen.
Your choice will speak to your motives. Do you really care about this and want to action taken, or do you just want to mouth off here like a faceless coward? I assure you that action will be taken if the complaint has substance. Your choice Bubba.
@GreenBlooded: ha ha very good !!!! Still doesn’t detract from an adult coach screaming that he will break a 13 year old !!! Well I suppose if the correct channels are not followed it didn’t happen !!
@oldschool:
Just watched our collegians u13 A side destroy Hillcrest 31 10 in the final
they are a very weak side whom should keep quiet and just play the game
our lads have smashed all before them by 4 or tries a game
he played in the last 3 games , and quite frankly did not make much of an impact ….as he was given game time over one of our DRSU props …so we actually weakend our side buy including him…..
our Collegians lads really stuck it to the opposition
the joys of belonging to club that attracts really really good players !!!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hard to believe that it is 12 and 13 year old kids you are gaaning aan about. Sounds like you are really into this team and enjoyed the season more than they did. Vicarious dad perhaps? They are just kids enjoying a game of rugger. Get a grip.
@GreenBlooded: very surprising that the ref didn’t witness the coach losing his tits as he was very close to the incident ….and actually stopped play to allow the captains to chat to there teams ….any how it’s not a biggie ….our Collegians lads really stuck it to the opposition so they did there talking on the field and didn’t need any emotional support from the sideline …..the joys of belonging to club that attracts really really good players !!!
I can only comment on the U15B game mentioned – which Hillcrest were well and truly outplayed by a good Collegians side – but both sides still maintained a good spectacle – albeit of hard rugby.
The ref did a good job considering the physicality of the game and game 3 yellows on the day and could have given a few more I’m sure – but he was the man in the middle and ultimately the buck stops with him (right or wrong).
The players had no beefs about who they were playing against and the guys were in good spirits after the match and even the star centre from Collegians was embraced and joked with after the game as a worthy opponent and good rugby friend.
Yes there were parents and spectators shouting from the side – yes – some of the chirps were probably not warranted – but that seems to happen in all too many situations unfortunately and is a personal developmental issue and not for any particular club or official to correct. In the game in question a parent had a really full go at the Assistant ref (in capacity as a full union AR) – but both he and the ref ignored it and continued.
It is sad that the players give their all – and it is marred by elements outside of their control. Just as we were all upset with the All Black test and the influence of the ref – just as we were all upset by the allegations of match fixing in Protea Cricket – so too do allegations of non sporting activities surrounding junior club rugby.
Yes by all means play hard and play to win. But play fair and be sporting.
BTW: Win or lose – I enjoyed the U15 final far more as a spectacle than the previous 2 league games between the same 2 sides which were both rather scrappy.
@oldschool: Maybe send the same message to one of your coaches who I heard with my own ears while officiating say to one of the opposition players “Hey lighty – don’t look at me like that. I’ll F&*K YOU UP”. Not the first time either for this guy.
@Pedantic: When we are made aware of it from a RELIABLE source and through the correct channels we will do so. Hysterical bloggers do not cut the mustard I’m afraid.
I have verified some of the allegations with a neutral source – namely the match referee – who disputes the following allegations (with all the hysterical embellishment removed). Continuously abusive – nope. Shocking attitude? Wrong. Players backchat the ref / chirpy? Huh-Ah. I need something a bit more reliable to work with if I am going to formally act against this coach.
@oldschool: Yeah it’s an unfortunate reality that parents get out of hand – I don’t think any club or school can claim to have a bunch of angelic supporters on the side of the field.
When it comes to coaches’ conduct – then it’s the responsibility of the club to take action if they are made aware of it.
@Dixon’s: I have absolutely no problem competing against a combined club side – what I DO have a problem with is being put into an awkward situation when it comes to verifying ages and ultimately the safety of the players on the field.
@GreenBlooded: your last sentence……’All I would like to see is for all clubs to act with honour, respect and dignity – values we should be teaching our young charges by example.’
Maybe send that to the coach and some of the parents of the team whom played against collegians u13 on sunday !!!
@Dixon’s: So much for staying off of this blog.
Pedantic and I have 19 years collective experience as coaches and administrators of junior rugby – so please understand that these things are not just made up or extracted out of thin air. Hillcrest teams have been screwed on “Finals Day” more times that I care to remember – and it is always the same clubs. “Bulking up” their teams for the finals is something we have seen year in and year out by the same clubs. I am not going to get into the nitty gritty of the facts here – they just seem to precipitate tit-for-tat arguments which serve no purpose – suffice to say that there are many of them and they are not ‘rubbish’.
I don’t mean to sound condescending, but your involvement goes back a year or two so there are no doubt some issues which you are not aware of. Please understand that we are not on a ‘sour grapes’ mission at all here – for years we have “used the proper channels” and got nowhere. If the can of worms that Pedantic has publically opened here precipitates some much needed change then we will all be the better for it.
I have met and dealt with your new chairlady, and may I say that she seems to be an honourable and capable woman from what I have seen. Good luck to her in erasing the legacy created by your previous chairman who has thankfully removed his ample frame from the picture (that he is a Glenwood boy should be an embarrassment to both of us). As Green Hopper points out, she may now be in the hot seat but there is still some remnant flux in the ranks which may try to stretch it out a bit longer – that is where she needs to focus.
Collegians are a great club – I have great respect for them and for some of the coaches there. All I would like to see is for all clubs to act with honour, respect and dignity – values we should be teaching our young charges by example.
@Dixon’s: If you send me an email to pedantic32@hotmail.com I’ll be happy to point out the facts and also let you know why I made that admittedly obnoxious comment.
I have known your assistant coach for too many years and have too much respect for him to put it out in public.
@Dixon’s: Totally agree … “how was the approach made” ?
I’m lucky enough to be able to give you a first hand account of the two players you mention in your comment as I coached them last year in the DRSU team and also this year in my club team.
I got a call one night out of the blue asking if I could accommodate these two players as they wanted to move – I immediately made a call to the secretary of Collegians to ask about it and was informed that they were in fact at training at the time but she would find out what was happening. She called me back later confirming that they players wanted to move of their own accord.
The next morning I get a call from the boys themselves confirming that they want to move as Collegians did not have an Under 16 team – I told them to discuss it with their parents and get back to me. Parents contacted me and transfers were requested … nothing sinister.
As it turns out, the guys were right .. Collegians didn’t have an Under 16 team in the league and as a result twinned with Varsity College.
@Pedantic: “I threw out some rather controversial facts earlier in this thread and unfortunately it affected the “usual suspects” – the same clubs that contravene year after year – they may well be running a far better ship this season, but the facts are still there in black and white. (Incidentally, as I correctly predicted, these facts have since been sugar coated to make it all look above board).”
Your “facts” have been shown to be total rubbish, not just sugar coated. just because you disagree with the way things are run, does not mean that your opinion is correct.
i must also say that your comment
“I’m happy to report that two premier clubs combined didn’t have the firepower to down a genuine Hillcrest Under 16 club team – sometimes the good guys do win”
was a bit offensive to me. Beating Hillcrest in that game would have been a great achievement for my boys, but you clearly place a greater value on winning than I do. The combined team was formed simply to let the boys play. The good guys are the one that don’t care about winning. i was so proud of my boys, they played well above themselves, and i was happy to leave it at that. you seem to have a real problem with Collegians and i’m not sure why, but you come of as a bit petty. maybe change your attitude before you point fingers at other people!
@Dixon’s: I tend to agree with you – to a point! Keep in mind that scars of the past can be re-opened and it’s the current management’s responsibility to deal with that.
The following is an “around the campfire” story but I would consider the source to be very reliable considering that the same has been confirmed by various parents.
There is a particular coach at Collegians who apparently is a coach at Westville Boys – players (and ex players) have commented that he has put them under pressure to move to Collegians as “Westville has a standing arrangement with Collegians”. When approached, said coach arrogantly admits “of course that’s the case”.
What he doesn’t seem to realise is that the DRSUYCA has in the past outlawed any “arrangement” between clubs and schools. It’s totally unfair on the players as many of them have grown up in their respective clubs for up to 10 years .. why should they move in their 2nd or 3rd year of high school because the school wants it? The schools are effectively removing the players’ and parents freedom of choice – for what, maybe a 25% scholarship ?
When put forward to Collegians, the response is – these are things from the past – if they’re still affecting us today, surely the current management need to deal with it ?
@Green Hopper: I don’t think you’re getting my point … Sorry this is going to be a long one!
My issue is not with any specific individual – I have immense respect for the guys you mention as through the years I have seen them do a lot of positive – being involved in this thing for over 10 years I have seen committees come and go – the current EXCO are streets ahead of anything in the past and work damn hard to improve things a little every year. (This does not mean they are perfect and that I agree with everything)
I’m also not convinced that the work they do is for personal gain – at least I haven’t seen anyone gain personally from the thankless tasks involved in running an association of this nature.
My issue is with ALL the adults involved as a collective – be it coaches, club administrators, club chairpersons, certain parents and of course the inconsistent enforcement of the regulations. Players in the DRSUYCA range from 5 to 18 years old, it’s the adults’ responsibility to ensure everything is fair and above board for all these boys. Turning a blind eye to indiscretions makes everyone as guilty as the perpetrators, so hopefully a bit of controversy will result in all the adults feeling empowered to make a difference and not feeling afraid to speak the truth at the risk of falling out of favour with the EXCO and the respective clubs.
I threw out some rather controversial facts earlier in this thread and unfortunately it affected the “usual suspects” – the same clubs that contravene year after year – they may well be running a far better ship this season, but the facts are still there in black and white. (Incidentally, as I correctly predicted, these facts have since been sugar coated to make it all look above board).
The normal response to a registration complaint is “if we strictly enforce the rules, we may only have 5 games on any given Sunday”
My response to that:
1. If a team is sent home gameless on the first Sunday of the league because their paperwork is incomplete, do you think they might make an effort to get it in order next week to avoid the embarrassment?
2. If point 1. doesn’t work – then implement fines per unregistered player on the field – possibly R100 per player. After coughing R1500 for an unregistered team, I’m almost positive the fined club will have all their paperwork in order next week!
3. I don’t understand how it can be so difficult for clubs to get their admin in order – newcomers Maritzburg Collegians did a great job in that regard this season (Possibly because they haven’t experienced how slack the majority have been in the past).
4. In the past it has been proven that it’s actually beneficial to NOT have a proper teamsheet – that way, no-one can point out indiscretions. Surely this doesn’t make sense?
5. Have a participation only league where clubs don’t feel the need to contravene to get their hands on the trophy!
My final comment is for the EXCO – google “wilfull blindness” – it’s something that affects organisations around the world and I’m afraid it may have sneaked into the DRSUYCA.
@Green Hopper: All i can say is that it depends how the approach was made. It happened to my team this year. 2 boys that had been at Collegians for 2 seasons, and came to a few practices this year, packed up and moved to Hillcrest. Please don’t take this as me badmouthing Hillcrest, that is not the case, if those boys where happier at another club, it was a pleasure to allow them to go. I know it sounds like a cop out of a defense but every club does it. i just think that its something that too many people get too worked about, at school and at club level
@Dixon’s: it was said that boys from a certain club , who had played there for year had been approached to go to Colligians
@Green Hopper: Is it possible for you to elaborate on the “news coming out earlier”? I can try and answer any allegations or find out the truth from others, i just don’t like any negativity between clubs and people who are passionate about rugby, especially if it based on misinformation or in some cases malicious lies!
@Dixon’s: wsell news coming out early thsi year is a complete 180 degree from what you have said here, i wish her teh best , and it needed a clean out , but normally its teh old guard and coaches
@Green Hopper: i respectfully disagree, Collegians has a new chair-lady for this year and i have witnessed the way that she runs the club. I cannot speak for the things that have happened in the past, i can definitely say that the club is run in the right spirit and withing the rules.
@Green Hopper: beet , it now looks a bit like Rugby 365
well we know who has moaned CHAIRMAN of the DRSU AB and his VICE Varsity College Coach and ex Northwood Head of Rugby ( who i hear is looking to Hilton)
but beet i respect what you are trying to do here with the Blog , but since the ex head of Rugby has made a moan, as i know he reads this, he knows I have ll the dirt on him and his dramas at Northwood and how he worked and knifed Barry Wilson and others out of their Jobs and spectacularly destroyed Northwood rugby this year
Does anyone know why he applied for that Job in the first instance
@Dixon’s: i know you might take offence, but its the truth , say it as it is, they are past masters of this , the other Club Doing it is VC, they started it last year , and are probably worse at it now, but its an undenuable fact that Colliagians do it , cant hide that and its not allegations unfortuately , if you know other cluds that do it , speak out , why is everyone so concerned about speaking out about it , if its not out there resentment builds ,
@Green Hopper: i take real offence to the constant allegations thrown at Collegians. I believe what Collegians does to try and attract players to the club is no different to the way other clubs do things, yet Collegians are constantly accused of cheating and poaching. Why the double standard?
I have to agree, what you find is that Varsity College and others and I exclude Hillcrests here, have most of the exco Members , in addition *** is the owner of the registrations and game sheets etc, HOWEVER he is the **** contravener of rules there are
What is amazing is that the Chairman , another *** , knows these incidents are happening , as he constantly tells everyone, that he knows all the boys , but when these incidents are reported to him on game day , nothing happened, and he has his little two way radio, probably to interested in what’s happening in KZN rugby and his next step up .
You see this little click , of Collegians , Toti , Varsity College, Crusaders , have all been in the exco for years and its about their power struggle
Pedantic, you argued with me about this earlier, and this is why DRSU club will stagnate, I spoke tp you last yar about ridding the exco of the rot , but same thing year in and year out
@Noxml:@Pedantic: I think Pedantic, got it 100% right , Please Collegians are the biggest culprits of the whole sorry bunch . if you read every year they are out poaching in other club regions , in addition the problem with people trying to stand in and do the job, is that the present bunch Andre and MK are too entrenched for their own good, they get rewards out of this for their own good, just look further and see how there is make up of members in this bigger DRSU picture teams and managers etc , MK being the worse, he used DRSU and Northwood for his own benefit , Head Coach Varsity Cup etc. , don’t for one moment think that these two individuals do it for the benefit of the game
Examples of them breaching the rules, MK has done this but his teams play regardless and don’t get penalised, Andre Knows full well what’s going on at Game, day , and as Chairman should do something , but doesn’t , please wake up your coffee is getting cold, and who do you think pays for all the trips and these two on IPT , you honestly think that they pay for themselves , NO , its comes out of the funds each boy pays, and I won’t go into the debacle that’s been going on for years about expenses on the IPT trips
@Pedantic: In all fairness to I disagree with you and believe that you need to get your facts right before posting your findings in this public platform.
Collegians are great club and respects the guidelines of the DRSU in the interim the boys out played the bulk off their opponents and earned the wins on the day.
Referring to the previous reply by Green Blooded I believe that there are proper channels that you can follow if you feel that you need to voice irregularities.
I also saw a number of unsavoury incidents at the finals not to mention the inconsistent refereeing on the under/15B game. But let me not go there ….
As a parent, fan, dad and supporter I really enjoyed the season and I am looking forward to the next
@Green Hopper: who is prepared to do the job? it is a thankless task and they are lining themselves to get ironed out by all . not for me thanks. there is no way that they are going to keep everyone happy and as far as I am concerned they can keep on until someone is prepared to take all the s..t.
Yes, if rules are made then they must be applied but all clubs are guilty of bending them when things get tough. Injuries are a main contributing factor when unregistered players get asked to make up the numbers so a fixture can take place. In that case the offending team get 0 points for that particular fixture, but a game is played.
All the boys want is to play the game and they practice week in and out.
@Pedantic: i have emailed asking for those changes!
Best game of rugby i have ever been involved with!
@Green Hopper: After the sh##storm I’ve endured this morning – hopefully that will change!
@Dixon: In that case you need to ask Beet to add an “s” to the end and a green jersey as your avatar
Great game yesterday by the way .. was the game of the season – well coached!
i only found out afterwards who you are…. the name i chose is the name of the main rugby field at Glenwood High, my old school. A strange coincidence!
Toti = Chairman
Varsity College – registrations , website
Colligains, – Manger exco
Crusaders, – Exco IPT
what else can one say ??
@Pedantic: the problem is that its been made public, before , and still nothing happenes
@Dixon: The official channels have most certainly been followed – the problem is through years and years of the same, nothing gets done – hence my decision to make it public.
There is no problem with my identity – most bloggers know who I am, and clearly so do you
@Pedantic: funny i wonder who this coach was, funny thing about these premier clubs, they rank as teh biggest cheats to win games,
maybe it would be wise for Pedantic to follow the advise of his Chairman and follow official channels with his complaint, where he will have to provide proof and reveal his identity. or is it just easier for him to throw accusations on the internet?
@oldschool: I ask myself the same question … why contravene if you dominate the league?
The tighthead in question was first shown on an official teamsheet on 2013-09-08 which was the day of the semi finals. (all teamsheets can be viewed on the DRSUYCA page).
The regulations that can be found on the same page state:
“19.2 All players playing in semi-finals and finals MUST have played at least 1 (one) league match prior to the semi-final or final”
So strictly speaking, even though they dominated and deserved to win the league – they contravened the rules.
Both Collegians U15 sides also contravened the same rule.
It’s no biggie to me – but every year we see the same thing from the same clubs – win at all costs attitude.
Earlier in the season Crusaders had an U11A and U11B team in the finals – the night before the finals they withdrew their U11A team! Needless to say, many of their U11A players took the field in the U11B league. (Keep in mind, U11B is targeted at U10 players – Crusaders ignored that fact on the day of the final)
@Pedantic: I cant comment on the other age groups , but our u13 side did not bring in any one for the play offs …..why would we , our lads have smashed all before them by 4 or tries a game …..
vs Crusaders…29 5
vs Hillcrest….52 nil
vs Toti….33 10
vs Ballito….52 nil
vs Crusaders …40 5
and then beat Hillcrest in the Final ….31 10….
we actually started most games with our 2nd string guys to start and our better players off the bench ……
One of our Props did join later in the season , however , he played in the last 3 games , and quite frankly did not make much of an impact ….as he was given game time over one of our DRSU props …so we actually weakend our side buy including him…..
@GreenBlooded: Don’t get me confused for someone that gives a shit about following procedure ……what the coach did was unforgivable , as he violently screamed at a young 13 year old that he would ‘break him’ ….
I have no doubt that the man is probably a passionate rugby man , as he does give up his time to coach the game , but with that in mind , he is an educator of sorts and should learn to hold his tongue as the example he sets can have a lasting impression on these young men …….
However , I am sure some one from the crowd whom witnessed the incident will follow the correct channels and formally complain ……..
@GreenBlooded: Thanks .. fixed.
Saw some good rugby played today but still feel the premier clubs believe they are a law unto themselves – if the DRSU youth league want to be taken seriously, they should honestly enforce their regulations.
It’s always the same clubs that break the rules – usually Collegians when it comes to finals year after year. Rovers and Varsity College also pulled off some pretty scary “tricks” through the season.
During the season, Rovers pitched up one Sunday with 6 or 7 players registered to Collegians in a bid to down the Hillcrest U16’s … they couldn’t do it, and needless to say, I haven’t seen any of those players back on the club field on any Sunday after that … strange!
Just in the finals / semi finals, here are a few indiscretions from the usual suspects.
1. U13A – Collegians (New player brought in for playoffs only)
2. U15B – Collegians (New player brought in for playoffs only)
3. U15A – Collegians (2 new players brought in for playoffs only)
The above indiscretions are clearly covered in the league regulations but no action taken and they still get to brag about their league wins .. pretty shallow if you ask me.
I’m happy to report that two premier clubs combined didn’t have the firepower to down a genuine Hillcrest Under 16 club team – sometimes the good guys do win
If you need to bolster a side with “imported” players in the playoffs, then you’re clearly not teaching the boys anything about a proper team ethos as the guys who do the work all season end up on the bench and next season their parents bring them to other clubs who give them a fair chance.
@Pedantic: U15A was also Collegains.
@oldschool: For various reasons, I no longer blog on this forum but will make a rare exception in this case. I am the Chairman of Hillcrest Junior Rugby so your comments relate in a direct way. I will take your allegation very seriously IF AND WHEN they are addressed through the correct channels which begins with your club chairman and works it’s way thorough the structures of the DRSUYCA who have a very good record of taking disciplinary action against errant players and officials.
Taking the matter up as you have on a public platform such as this is not the correct way to address things – it just makes it seem like you have an axe to grind, a hunch reinforced by the emotive language in your posting.
I saw a number of unsavoury incidents at the finals today – mostly by parents of other clubs. I will address these via the DRSUYCA – not on this forum where it would only blemish the name of a good club due to the behaviour of a few individuals which is not really fair.
So the 2013 League Champs are:
U13B – Hillcrest
U13A – Collegians
U15B – Collegians
U15A – Collegians
U16 – Hillcrest
U18 – Collegians
Just watched our collegians u13 A side destroy Hillcrest 31 10 in the final….can’t get over how some parents and coaches behave ….Hillcrest have a coach that is continuously abusive from the side line going as far as to tell one of our 13 year old players that he will break him !!!!! The player is a KZN u13A player and a KZN u13 sevens lad and a very respectful and decent boy ……this same coach has even called the opposition boys bastards before ……Hillcrest should not allow this wimp of a man to coach young boys as he is a terrible example of a man and his shocking attitude has rubbed off on the boys in his side as they themselves back chat the ref and are also very chirpy ….which they shouldn’t be as they are a very weak side whom should keep quiet and just play the game …..the parents are no better as the comments that they shout from the side sway between ridiculous to racist and come from people whom don’t look like they have ever touched a rugby ball in there lives ….the executive committee at Hillcrest should instruct their parents to behave themselves and if the they truly want to teach boys rugby they should not allow a fool like their current coach to teach boys this great game as his behaviour is a very poor example to them !!!!
@Pedantic: Let us put it forward to the brass and see if we can get it sorted for next year.I think we would make a good team with these great ideas. Now it would be up to the clubs to get their a into g.
@Buffel: That would be ideal .. A & B section in each age group – it would also prevent the strong teams absolutely dominating the weaker and make for more competitive rugby.
@Pedantic: Howzit. that was just an example. you could have an A and B section. so say 4 in the A and 4 in the B and so on. Just think it could be done better. The marketing must be done so that the clubs get organised well in advance.
We should aim at getting 8 teams per age group . You could have the situation that one club could have an A and B team in a particular age group but endevour to get to the 8 then we could run 2 sections per age group. So now we would have a 6 game season and the IPT as a sweetner. Just a thought.Stagger the games so the B team plays before the A team so a club would need to supply 37 boys per age group if they run 2 teams.
@Buffel: I think the workload is the reason many players make themselves unavailable for the IPT.
The problem with a league system is the limitation of 4 teams per age group – most of the age groups had 6 or 7 teams – exclusion would defeat the object of the club season.
The 2013 Under 16 League will be determined by log position so the Under 16 match is not officially a knock out final although it effectively worked out that way. One wonders what happens in that match if the scores are tied at full time – Hillcrest would win via PD, but I wonder if the officials would enforce extra time.
@Buffel: I love club rugby because the boys generally have a lot of fun but you can see that they are tired. There are more “handbags” and injuries on the field. There are basically three teams across the board in the finals so the league format will probably work better.
Hope Sunday is a safe and enjoyable day.
The long season is beginning to take it’s toll with some wear and tear injuries coming to the fore. The u18 final is a depleted affair with both sides nursing a number of niggles. With the IPT just around the corner I think that a league system would be far better and a winner decided after the round robin stages .They can play each other twice and points for and against to be a decider if both teams end on the same number of league points.
They play 5 games in 6 days at the IPT and then just for good measure play another game against the Blue Bulls the next weekend here in Durban. With most schools beginning their preparation for the 2014 season, that is one hell of a work load for these growing bodies.
4 teams per age group with a total of 6 weeks play in the league format.No need for semi-finals and finals.