Rugby schools cork

gummiebear

Please advise me. I've 4 children 2 who are about to start secondary school (eldest 2015 and second son 2016). Both are 'good enough' at rugby and want to attend a school in Cork which has a rugby team. Problem is that Pres and Christians are the only ones I know about and would be putting me out by at least 8k per year. First guy is average academically and needs a lot of encouragement but is the stronger rugby player. Second guy is quite bright and of the 2 desperately wants a rugby school education. Am I holding them back in their hopes to get on the Munster youth development squad??

The Lost Sheep

Pres and Christians are the most high profile schools that play rugby, If you decided to send your son's to either they would only play with those schools while in secondary school as both have 3/4 teams per age group and all sides get plenty of games against other schools in cases of top teams per age group or mix of schools and clubs at lower down teams(3rds/4ths) at each age group

There is plenty of other schools in Cork who play rugby but not to the same extent as pres and Christians however if you chose to send your son's to those schools they could also play regular competitive rugby in a club like Highfield, Sundays Well, Dolphin, Cork Con etc

Your son's are several years away from representative rugby and if they attended Pres or Christians would be aiming, if that was what they wanted, for the Munster u18 schools squad and under 16/17 schools development squads while if they attended other schools and their rugby was in a club like the aforementioned Highfield, Sundays Well etc they would be aiming to make South Munster Cadets at under 16 level, South Munster Development squad at under 17 level and Munster Youths at under 18 level.

The most important things are the education your sons will get. Where do you think they'll get the best education? Where will your sons friends be going to secondary school? That is also a key point. Will that be a factor in the decision?

gummiebear

Thanks for that Lost Sheep, and in particular for explaining the Munster developing system. Their current school is a feeder school for both Pres and CBC and a large percentage of their friends are going to go there so you can imagine the pressure.
So did I take you up correctly that the South Munster Cadets U16's and the U16/17 schools development squads are 2 different things? The first for clubs and the latter for schools?
Also, would you care to advise on which club is best? During the summer my lads did the Munster Summer camp and the coaches commented on my second lad, he played with older boys and did well. One of the coaches said that there was only one problem. When I asked what it was he said it was the club he played with. I'm sure it was just banter but are some clubs better at training the lads?

The Lost Sheep

gummiebear wrote: »

Thanks for that Lost Sheep, and in particular for explaining the Munster developing system. Their current school is a feeder school for both Pres and CBC and a large percentage of their friends are going to go there so you can imagine the pressure.
So did I take you up correctly that the South Munster Cadets U16's and the U16/17 schools development squads are 2 different things? The first for clubs and the latter for schools?
Also, would you care to advise on which club is best? During the summer my lads did the Munster Summer camp and the coaches commented on my second lad, he played with older boys and did well. One of the coaches said that there was only one problem. When I asked what it was he said it was the club he played with. I'm sure it was just banter but are some clubs better at training the lads?

Yes cadets and south munster u17 development squads are a different pathway to the schools u17 squad and one is for players coming through clubs and another for schools.
Hard to say which club is best. Highfield would have a good name, both as place where kids treated well and they've good underage sides.
Yes some clubs will be better at training and developing kids into players but its not right to say over forum which. PM if you have any questions

Tim Robbins

gummiebear wrote: »

Please advise me. I've 4 children 2 who are about to start secondary school (eldest 2015 and second son 2016). Both are 'good enough' at rugby and want to attend a school in Cork which has a rugby team. Problem is that Pres and Christians are the only ones I know about and would be putting me out by at least 8k per year. First guy is average academically and needs a lot of encouragement but is the stronger rugby player. Second guy is quite bright and of the 2 desperately wants a rugby school education. Am I holding them back in their hopes to get on the Munster youth development squad??

Someone from the IRB should read this post. This is the problem with Rugby. There is a perception to play it competitively you have to pay 8K a year. Whereas to play Soccer or GAA competitively you pay 100 euro a year. If even.

blackdog1

Not alot of rugby schools in cork other than fee paying. Pres and Christians are the best , then you have midleton college and bandon grammar. Best bet is get them involved with cork con as they have the most power of all the clubs. Exceptional players sometimes get offered scholarships from what I've heard.

thehairyone

My day is long gone (and im not from Cork) but it used to be that Schools rugby would have more exposure and be of a higher standard than club rugby. if they are serious about playing for Munster their chances would probably be enhanced if they went to one of those two schools (pick whichever one is better).

In saying that there is a way into Munster from youth/club rugby but it would be the road less traveled. Things are changing but Schools are probably still top dog.

gummiebear

Thanks guys esp Lost Sheep. Decision made. We'll be going the 'road less traveled' and staying in the club. We'll see how things go in couple of years.

The Lost Sheep

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Someone from the IRB should read this post. This is the problem with Rugby. There is a perception to play it competitively you have to pay 8K a year. Whereas to play Soccer or GAA competitively you pay 100 euro a year. If even.

Tim reading bit too much into this. It is to a degree an issue but not so much anymore. There is very successful clubs etc playing all through country and at decent level and have nothing to do with that fee paying sector

blackdog1 wrote: »

Not alot of rugby schools in cork other than fee paying. Pres and Christians are the best , then you have midleton college and bandon grammar. Best bet is get them involved with cork con as they have the most power of all the clubs. Exceptional players sometimes get offered scholarships from what I've heard.

There is a few schools but they don't play to the same level and the rugby is better with the clubs. The best bet isn't to get the kids involved in Con. Some kids at 16/17 get offers to move school to play in an A grade but they have to be very very good to get that

thehairyone wrote: »

My day is long gone (and im not from Cork) but it used to be that Schools rugby would have more exposure and be of a higher standard than club rugby. if they are serious about playing for Munster their chances would probably be enhanced if they went to one of those two schools (pick whichever one is better).

In saying that there is a way into Munster from youth/club rugby but it would be the road less traveled. Things are changing but Schools are probably still top dog.

Schools gets more exposure and is higher standard to an extent but wouldn't say their chances would be enhanced by playing in a school from first year.
OP send your children where their friends are going and if they feel they need to play schools rugby they can move school when older if its still an issue.
The way to Munster from youths/club rugby is road less travelled but its a fairly well travelled road these days especially with advent of pan munster competitions at older age groups and huge improvements in coaching standards etc

gummiebear

It's funny but the school they most likely will attend has every sport under the sun except rugby. It does compete with Pres and Christians academically so maybe that's why it won't entertain the idea of a rugby team. The students who play club rugby got a petition going last year and had it signed by tons of people but to no avail. They were told it would never happen.

The Lost Sheep

gummiebear wrote: »

It's funny but the school they most likely will attend has every sport under the sun except rugby. It does compete with Pres and Christians academically so maybe that's why it won't entertain the idea of a rugby team. The students who play club rugby got a petition going last year and had it signed by tons of people but to no avail. They were told it would never happen.

If they attend that school they'll just play club rugby and that'll be fine. Plenty of schools will never really entertain having a competitive rugby side but if, as in the case of your son's, there is loads of clubs who'll play competitive rugby.
They'll play in South Munster Youths competitions and possibly at older age groups Pan Munster competitions.

gummiebear

Thanks for that.

thebaz

gummiebear wrote: »

Thanks guys esp Lost Sheep. Decision made. We'll be going the 'road less traveled' and staying in the club. We'll see how things go in couple of years.

best of luck , and remember it worked well for SOB - if you have talent & dedication you can make it , club or school - no guarantee either way

CatFromHue

It's worked out for a lot of guys that didn't go to a fee paying rugby school, or certainly a school of rugby note.

As far as I know Mike Ross, Shane Horgan, James Cronin, Dave Foley, Donnacha Ryan (mostly), and Tommy O Donnell all went to non mainstream rugby schools.

blackdog1

CatFromHue wrote: »

It's worked out for a lot of guys that didn't go to a fee paying rugby school, or certainly a school of rugby note.

As far as I know Mike Ross, Shane Horgan, James Cronin, Dave Foley, Donnacha Ryan (mostly), and Tommy O Donnell all went to non mainstream rugby schools.

You have to go where the best coaching is. Mike ross never made it in munster but had the required level of coaching to make it in England. He got from con and ucc not a school. I advise you to go to con because they look after their own and the sooner you get in the better. Also there under 20 teams are very good. Ucc will just pick all the school players and feck all clubs. Also go to a club where your kids gets gametime. Don't be afraid to move clubs

The Lost Sheep

blackdog1 wrote: »

You have to go where the best coaching is. Mike ross never made it in munster but had the required level of coaching to make it in England. He got from con and ucc not a school. I advise you to go to con because they look after their own and the sooner you get in the better. Also there under 20 teams are very good. Ucc will just pick all the school players and feck all clubs. Also go to a club where your kids gets gametime. Don't be afraid to move clubs

Bit in red isn't true. There is always plenty of players who came through youths rugby involved in college sides either their senior xv, j1s/2s/3s or u20s/

I would recommend Highfield or Well as much as Con as they've stronger and better underage teams in the main and at the age of kids of the OP there isn't a need for politicking in terms of clubs to join. They can always move if its necessary when older as in under 20 level