0
Having read the last few threads it is fairly evident that poaching of youth rugby players is rife in W.A. Rugby, specifically from those clubs that are trying to enter the top flight , Mr Sammut has come up with several methods to assist the development of the clubs but has not addressed two areas that prevents the junior clubs from becoming Senior clubs, nor has he taken to task the obvious anomolies in what is supposed to be a competitive environment.
Lets look only at two or three areas: Area One - Poaching
(and yes players do have the right to leave a club - and make a choice, however we are talking deliberate poaching of players with false and incorrect statements and promises)
1. Players who started as junior with a club and who have achieved representation at state or the force academy do so based on parents assistance and coaching. They are a valuable commodity and yet they can be co-erced into leaving their club by false promises or embittered coaches
If there was a price to pay for those kids I wonder if the clubs would be so fast to recruit them.
Lets start with a base figure of $1000 for a player who has been with a club for a period of 5 years as a junior , then add a further $1,000 for his having represented WA at under 15, then another if he reaches under 16 state, then another if he reaches schoolboys, then another of he reaches the WF Academy and on to the gold.
That would help fund a clubs junior ranks and allow it to continue its development . lets face it they must be doing something right if the player achieves at that level.
It would also make the so called top clubs whose recruitment is at best costly consider whether poaching is worthwhile.
The cost of coaching and development is huge, getting a local players into your first grade is one in a eight at best - to get that one we have to develop 8 players. That gives us 2 out of a team at best 3 out of your under 16 will make it - to lose 1 is bad to lose 2 is a waste of 8 years coaching (under 8 to 16)
Point 2:
If promotion and relegation came back there would be no easy years , no hiding at the bottom of the ladder, no time for poor management, no time for lack of sponsors and the pressure would be on at all times , possibly forcing the improvement of the game at all levels.
Clubs may well find their level and possibly stay there , the current system does not allow for the growth of this city and allows for stagnation in some of the so called senior clubs.
Whether there was a play off between the clubs at the bottom of one level and the top of the other, whether they had to be graded as to the criteria set down by the WARU ( and right now some clubs would fail in some areas of the criteria that has been set for clubs like Joondalup and Mandurah) before that play off occurred,
At least allow the junior clubs the right to challenge!
Point 3:
On another note - why not consider an 8 team 3 round premier competition, dropping the last 2 clubs at the end of this year , making all other clubs divisions 1-2-3 and possibly 4 - with colts and 18's
Promotion relegation if you win division one and do not have a team in that division
and fit all of the criteria, (3 grades plus u20 and u18 and minimum level of juniors of 400 below age 16)
Then add point 1 into the mix
The Scot