The 2013 Glenwood versus Westville rugby fixture has been scratched. It is uncertain whether or not the fixture will be reinstated before the start of next season. With the 2013 KwaZulu-Natal fixtures being so close to finalisation, it might already be too late for the two big schools to overturn a decision reached by officials at the highest level in their respective structures.* The feeling being put across is that the relationship between Glenwood and Westville has reached an all time low. The exact reasons for abandoning a fixture that has become a highlight of the local inter-schools rugby season in recent years are unclear at this stage. It is however safe to assume that events surrounding Glenwood’s Marne Coetzee being excluded from the Westville game in March had something but possibly not everything to do with the outcome. Hopefully these schools can iron out their differences soon for the sake of their boys who unlike the adults running the show just want to play some rugby.
* the headmasters have spoken after the decision to decline the fixture had already been made.
I had a moustache for Movember a couple of years ago, not sure how I won that one……but hey. I thought I would get most passionate or biggest whinger…
Those awards that Andre puts out are funny.
I see I got worst referee!! Hahaha. I see ALL posts on that site now go to ‘the moderator’ for approval before being posted.
@beet: Hahhaaa .. yaaaa boet. College holds the record for the most left handed, blue eyed boys.
@ Beet. No more Bells for you. I see on the Rugby 365 blog that you won most informed blogger. I won the Chad Le Clos Floating Trophy award(does that mean I have to give it back) and Grassy Best Moustache. The KZN bloggers also won the Title for Most Deleted Threads. I think that the GW bloggers can claim that one.
@star: @Gungets Tuft: Kearsney is the first KZN team to achieve this and College was the last Natal team to achieve 3+ players.
@Greenhopper: He actaully ran out for 10 minutes in the final game of the season as well. Ag, you know what – it’s over, done with, I used the analogy unwisely, didn’t want to start the debate again. I think everything has been said – nothing more to say now. Hopefully everyone keeps it tidy from now on and we can play some rugby.
@star: Yeah – 1987. Catterall was captain, Goedeke, Reed and Wilson all made the team. The Highway mail has been known to take license. Perhaps they did not ask the right people, perhaps their horizon ends at Kearsney.
@ Gungets- I was reading the Highway Mail where it said that the 3 Kearsney SA reps had made KZN history. Surely this is not correct as I am sure Udo and co at least equalled that record.
@Gungets Tuft: i think that could be the “vibe” that was being put out there, it would seem that the player with the twisted ankle , was actually older. he played in the GW game, Westville then undertook their own internal “age” investigation, and had a “clean sheet” but the player wasnt investigated, ? is this so ,
@Greenwood: About what part. Google passage sex – that is the easy one.
The twisted ankle – a lot of suspicious twisted ankles last year when the age thing broke. Sounds like you are saying that Westville refused the fixture against Glenwood this year because they thought they might lose, just like a giant twisted ankle to avoid scrutiny. Just seems a bit extreme to me.
Gungets – not sure what youre’ saying here
@beet: Sounds like the relationship between the two heads has got to the stage of “passage sex” …
@Greenwood – Sheesh bru, you saying that Westville would refuse fixtures they thought they might lose. Kind of like the whole school twisting an ankle ..???
@Greenwood: One school had to have initiated the decision but what’s important now is that both headmaster’s get together and resolve any differences that one (or both) may have with the other. It may involve swallowing a lot of pride and being bluntly honest but it is going to be a lot easier to fix this situation NOW as in TODAY before the relationship goes beyond the point of repair. There are many good kids, teachers and old boys at both schools that will be affected by the decision of one (or two) persons in charge. At the same time both Glenwood and Westville owe a lot to their respective heads for improving their schools which has involved making many wise decisions in the past, so its really just asking them to do what they have done so well to thus far. COMMUNICATION is key.
All Black which school would have cancelled the fixture?
Don’t think Kershaw would have – although he would have been rightly peed off with the situation
I think the now cancelled return match at Glenwood would have seen the Machine coming out firing big time – sort of pay back for Marne – Westville would know this and that would have been a potential loss on the cards…….
@All Black: agreed, i think the Old Boys need to take a stand on this one and start enforcing a little restaint form these guys ( heads)
question is still who was the intial school to cancel the fixture
Maybe they should read this blog and see what their old boys have to say. Very clear what both schools old boys and supporters feel about this. Maybe Governing Body members should also stand up and have their say? Both schools should listen. Well done old boys and supporters.
@Greenhopper, I have my ways. I will ask via a friend of mine. I would be very happy to meet Kershaw and anybody there face to face to discuss……I don’t have to use my blog name….
@Grasshopper: will they respond to you, knowing you will bring this back to the blog??
I will be emailing both headmasters and Old Boys Chairmans to sort this out. Absolutely childish behaviour. Put differences aside and play. Both headmasters won’t be there forever and are just a small part of both schools history, do they really want to be remembered for stopping fixtures?
@Sir Pius: you are so right , this is about proving a point at the expense of the boys, who only travel this path once in life , your other points are so very valid ,
question is now who declined the fixture first Glenwood or Westville
I personally think that this is selfish. To the boys this fixture means everything. As far as I’m concerned schoolboy rugby is about boys and not about adults. It’s disgusting that this is now used as a marketing tool instead of enjoyment. And I’m sure this madness only happens here in KZN and not other provinces. It will be very sad to lose this fixture.
@GreenBlooded: very good , i agree, only the boys have been vilified, and no mention or sanction on the recruiters, schools need to be open and say where they went wrong , so that these gaps can be closed, make it harder to get through the system, and keep closing the gaps as they are found, then the total number of overage boys will reduce and the odd one or two will appear , this will be far easier to weed out ,
all the top tier one schools need to agree on a principle on how to implement this and things will improve, in our country we face these oddities and have to plan and source solutions to best fix them
@All Black: The problem with the age thing is that there was no definitive end to the saga and it ended with more questions than answers. If we are to prevent this ever happening again we need to first understand how it happened in the first place and be open and honest about it. I fear that much of this has been swept under the carpet in the interests of not embarrassing certain schools which helps no one. For me the biggest question that needs answering is who were the agents/recruiters and the syndicate invovled at the front end of the operation; where are they and what sanction did they recieve.
@All Black: for me age groups and aging is a big problem, this combined with boys moving and putting in sometimes falsified copies et c, it make admin hard and strenuous for the School, with so much involved we battle.
I believe suspected and possible all should go through a scrutiny check and this will stop the chancers , gaps will be looked, for. I think this combined with imports and shopping for players is becoming worse and needs to be stop not just here but all provinces . I don’t know how bad it I so then kzn
@Greenhopper: Very disappointing for Glenwood and Westville boys and supporters. I also see more problems next year with the age thing. The honeymoon is over and if a boy is suspected of being overage there will no longer be any hesitation to query. Apparently already complaints about some E.Cape schools.
@All Black: wonder how the measuring is going , or are they just limp d*&ks
@Greenwood: Isnt that exactly how it should be? About the boys.
Yes Greenwood, that damn band at matches.
Off the main topic here – Amongst all this kak there is a small positive here
last Saturday they had the Cansa Relay at Glenwood -an all nite affair – whilst there is a serious note to this event there was also a festive spirit – there was great music and bands including the irritating Glenwood band as some bloggers have commented – the GWD band was a real hit , they did not play the repetitve music we hear weekend in and out at matches but some more modern stuff and people were dancing and getting revved up by the band – there was a large group of Westville boys in tracksuits and it was good to see them joining in & dancing along enjoying themselves
Star – About MHS & Hilton reminding Wvl about the agreement
MHS and Hilton were also out to beat Glenwood at any cost – these schools had built up good teams this year after 2 lean years and it was also in their interest that Marne did not play – however the records will show GWD won both games anyway
@GreenBlooded: i think we knao wall along that this agreement didnt exist and hence kershaw made no comment , plaine and simple a manipulation to beat GW , westville will loose face here
@GreenBlooded: I think there was lattitude in the old agreement where a kid legitimately moved cities due to family reasons. That would have been at least one reason why the other schools saw the agreement in a different light.
I think Greenblooded has it about right – it is an ego thing. If anyone knows Ron Jury knows that he is an upright, scrupulously fair man who does not see the school as an extension of himself, nor the other way around. The school community serves the school and vice versa. It was no different with Ken Elliot, nor with the head of my time Hector Commins. It goes without saying for men like Skonk Nicholson.
I can’t speak for the two Trevors but it strikes me that they are not thinking about 102 years and 55 years of history. Glenwood have faced worse, Westville are a young school that has had it’s moments and still will. They need to put their egos in their pencil cases and settle this nonsense. It is damaging to the school and a terrible lesson for young men – that at the first sign of a headwind you take your ball and go home. Next week they will ask John Allen to speak of that Scottish Grand Slam match at Landsdowne Road (if you have never heard it, ask the man – it is epic), or Chad le Clos to talk about sacrifice in reaching your goals … and try not to look like base hypocrites.
Something else to it perhaps, would be nice to know. Perhaps something that is still on the table – ID book issues for instance. Like the lack of leadership sucks mediocrity into the vaccuum, so the lack of information sucks in speculation.
@star: Bringing in other schools to support your arguement and what Westville did is not going to rub mate. Westville wanted to beat Glenwood – finnish and klaar. Most other schools in KZN had no problem playing against Marne. If there was this ‘agreement’ then why didn’t those other schools (DHS, College etc) not stick to it?
The same time I heard this news, I was told that Hilton and MHS had phoned the Westville head before the GW game and reminded him of the agreement and to do the right thing.The manipulation accusation where Westville acted unilaterally to win a game is therefore wearing a bit thin.I believe it is GW that is pulling up. If that is the case then Kershaw must put his case(which he has never done) and if necessary this must be taken to arbitration.There is too much at stake.
My best memories as a SB were those great battles we had between the schools and the connections we made which continue through life. The Westville /GW kids will be deprived of this by posturing individuals.This is not up for negotiation.Also what about the other sports. Where does it end? Westville and GW find it hard enough to find a full fixture list and invariably play fillers against each other.
The 2 Headmasters must put their differences aside and let the boys play. Taking this fixture away is taking part of the pre season hype away from the boys at both schools. Off topic iv heard that the PBHS game should happen next year
@Greenhopper: I can’t speak on behalf of Glenwood but I did get confirmation so not speculation. Things have been brewing for a while and have now boiled over, which indicates that its not just one incident. I think Glenwood are unhappy because of inconsistency. They feel frustrated that rules are being twisted to suit other schools (plural) needs.
@Greenwood: There was a lot of unhappiness about approaches made to College sportsmen not just rugga players. Some players moved across. College people were very upset. There was talk of cancelling the fixture against Glenwood. It wasn’t allowed to fester. Ron and Trevor met and sorted out matters. 2013: 2 College vs Glenwood games incl the Reunion Day special.
Beet – the wires are humming as I posted earlier on today – a little off the major subject – what was the story with College – Glenwood this year ?
OK so the Marne issue has popped up again
Pinetown weren’t scared to play Marne. I didn’t see broken legs and body parts on the field after the game – Westville didnt want to lose to Glenwood and thats’ that – Marne was a convenient tool for an excuse not to play Glenwood especially after all the pre -seaon hype about how strong Glenwood were
enough said
Good idea beet! But Ron is on retirement and not sure if he’s available.
If Trevor and Trevor want to have a dick measuring contest they should do it on their own time. Let the boys play.
beet, have you got inside information that you can share on this or is it just speculation at present
Heads are acting worse then school kids here
hey this cant happen, really , what the hell , this just isnt rugby , put your pride aside and let it go ahead for the boys
I think the 2 heads should phone Ron Jury and ask him to mediate. There was a bit of boiling blood up at College earlier this year but Ron seem to put things in perspective and as a result both College vs Glenwood games went ahead + the schools reached a gentleman’s agreement (not that these have proven to be that comforting of late :smile: ) But point is he got it sorted. Thats what you want from your leader: good leadership.
That is a major KZN fixture down the tubes. As you rightly say – I wonder how the boys feel about this? Guaranteed if you ask them they would want to play.
Trevor and Trevor – sort out your issues and let the boys play FFS.