School Paneling of Under Age Club Players

Chico Flores wrote: »

I would agree, either small panels or an exemption based on the minutes played etc.

The principle is sound, it does need fine tuning.

Smaller numbers of pannelled players should happen like clubs and schools should be able to panel 10 each with the rest able to play either/both

fuzzy wrote: »

I wasn't aware the school could do this. It seems utterly ridiculous to place a player on a panel when he has clearly stated this is against his wish.

Is your son playing junior or senior?
Panelling has been in place for years. Its unfortunate but i would assume parents would know about this policy at this stage

Quin_Dub wrote: »

For this specific issue , it seems fairly simple that the solution is to de-panel the player - However the downside of that is that the boy might not get back on to a panel in future years as the school might consider that he has "abandoned them" . I have heard of schools telling players that "they will never play for the school again" if they ask to be de-paneled at Jnr cup. That's neither right nor fair , but it does happen sadly.

So if he has a future aspiration to play Snr Cup (or at Jnr cup next year if eligible) then the long term implications of a decision now need to be considered

The principal of panels is a reasonable one, but it's the size and implementation of them where we have problems.

With a panel of 28, the reality is that there are probably 8-10 players from that squad that will get little to no competitive rugby during the year. you also have the situation where schools are telling players outside the official panel of 28 to not play for their clubs as they are being "considered" for the panel.. Which is at best disingenuous from the schools and at worst a flat out lie.

The schools should panel about 15 players for each squad as their core players who will start/play the majority the games..

Anyone not in that list of 15 should be allowed to play for Club and School with their playing time being measured and managed appropriately between both organisations.

Its less than 8-10 who get little to no competitive rugby. Schools are not limiting themselves by and large to just 18/19 players.... but schools and clubs should be allowed panel a small number of players each as core players with rest allowed play club and school

daheff wrote: »

if you feel that strongly then i would suggest you put your objection in writing to

Minister for Education (who ultimately has oversight of the school)
Minister for Sport
School Principal
IRFU
Munster rugby branch.

Outline how your son does not want to play for the school (and why if possible) and how the situation is unfair to him in that the school have co-opted him to the team and blocked him playing for his club ,which has has done for X number of years.

If that fails send a letter to the head of sport at your local paper.

Id go to press ahead of some of those to write to. There was a parent last year or year before who contacted one of the radio stations to complain about the same issue as the OP and a son not getting anywhere near enough rugby.

fuzzy wrote: »

He's a Junior. First team player on both club and school.

I'm not sure knowing about it in advance is much use. The school and Munster higher ups did not allow any choice in the matter, despite prior written request not to be placed on the school panel.

Knowing about it in advance would be of use in that you could have prepared. Looked to do more to ensure son can get to play rugby somewhere on a regular basis. If on panel and not getting game time you can look to be released for club rugby. Keep on to school as much as possible

Quin_Dub wrote: »

However without some level of control over playing time , the risk is that kids get totally burned out - Playing 2 or 3 games a week along with training isn't a great idea. Add to that volume is the likelihood that they are playing another sport as well and all of a sudden the player is just getting chewed up.
.

By way of backing you up here.

When I was playing schools U 14 it was Monday JCT, Tuesday U 14 training, Wednesday Match, Thursday U 14/JCT training and a match on Saturday. Often I had a swim on the Tuesday after training as well and whatever other PE classes. One week I injured my right foot in a gameand short of players so I played on it for 3 weeks and 7 games until Mum took me out of school as I couldn't walk. That was me done for the season and all for the want of not laying up when I needed to.

Hands Like Flippers wrote: »

Did BOD not play one year for club u16 instead of Rock?

He did. played with mates he'd grown up with, In Clontarf

One cork school have depanelled 5 players last week after parents threatened legal action if they weren’t panelled. The branch agreed as long as 5 other players weren’t added afterwards.

What my club in limerick have done in previous year is:
Parents write to school before paneling stating that they did not wish their child to be panelled . Some have got a solicitors letter as well.
If paneling happens then get another letter in quoting your wishes from the first letter.
Send this to munster branch. There is now precedence this season with this non cork city school depanelling players.

If your child is getting depressed of down about it then report it to the Spirit officer, munster rugby, Emily O’Leary (contact details on munster rugby.ie)who will look into the case with the child’s welfare as the main priority.

The school will expect you to eventually go away and they can intimidate your child to play schools rugby.

My own case a good few years ago was that i was struggling with the academic side of school pre leaving cert and my father asked that i be removed form the panel before Xmas to concentrate on my studies.
The schools officially removed me from the panel, but each and every day i was was called out of a class by the head coach to ask me in front of everyone why I wouldn’t play for the school.
I eventually agreed to play and after we got to the final (and got hammered:)), i was offered the chance to repeat the leaving cert next year . did i mention i was underage for senior choose the following year ?
I left the school with an average leaving cert and got on with life.
The above is what we would now call child abuse and abuse of power, and there are many more worse cases over the years.

It doesn’t help that the chairman of munster youths (not elected)has just stepped down as the schools representative.
And what happens this September ?all club loans previously approved by the branch have been turned down by the committee leaving about 100 players in the province, mostly cork and limerick without rugby.
Meanwhile there is only one limerick club out of 8 entered into the u16 munster league this season (this club lost 13 players to schools so is down to 17 in squad) while st munchins can field 3 teams for friendlies at u16 two weeks ago.

When the CEO of the IRFU describes the munster clubs as “difficult” in his keynote speech last week , then you know things are stacked against you.

The limerick clubs have made it a priority issue for the branch as its getting worse year on year , but munster rugby and the IRFU want munster to follow Leinster example and concentrate the talent at schools.

No fuzzy, they were panelled in September and then parents and club forced school to depanel them

And you can check munster rugby website and see they are now the only school with a junior cup panel of 23

Sent you a PM fuzzy. Tough situation to be in and not what rugby should be about

We don't normally allow discussion of schools rugby, but this is a specific issue that I think is ok to discuss. Please do not name any schools, clubs, players or coaches involved, as this will lead to the thread being closed. Discussion of the topic in general only please.