My bad re: Dallin should have done my homework. I think you'll find all three Newington boys will play GPS rugby exclusively once it begins, which I assume is soon. Tepai and Taane are both playing 20s and I'd imagine Joey Lussick wouldn't be far away from a call up either after his stellar ball season. Although all 3 are on scholarship so that would surely come with the condition of playing GPS rugby. You'd also imagine that all 3 would have to be close to OZ schools contention and as mentioned you couldn't pass up the UK trip. Tuc or M4E I would have thought the boys, would have generally made a commitment by now unless hedging their bets to not preclude them from the tour. I'd be surprised if the roosters or parra would have not tried to or in fact already have contracted the boys given they have already been promoted to NYC. In regards the 18s game as Tepai played 16s you'd think the school would let him play 18s. I know you mentioned Tuc them pulling him from the 17s but it doesn't have the prestige of this game.
HB,
With respect to making an 'election/commitment', could not agree with you more! It is usually made by now but such is the talent of these 3 boys you mention above (and the fact they are in the GPS system [and the same school]) they are still able to hedge their bets! Nevertheless I would hate to think of the toll it would have on their bodies. In saying all that I would also note your other valid point about what the Parra and the Roosters are doing to enforce any (if any) contractual obligations.
With regard to your other point which concerned being released for the 18's, it my understanding that junior rugby union at the school level places much more emphasis on the 18's than it does on the 16's (or U/17's). The 16's have a national championship (which is more or less the equivalent of league's 15's) but unlike league it doesn't select an Australian team at the conclusion (albeit a 'Merit Team'). The 18's however are a different kettle of fish altogether and last year when Tepai was a withdrawal from the U/17's the rugby U/18 's selection process was in full swing!
The 18's national championships for union is built into into the ARU framework where not only are participants selected for either the 'Australian A' or 'Australian' teams, but the same are generally earmarked and selected for the ARU's U/20's programs which revolve around building teams for the annual 'IRB U/20's World Champoionship'. In addition the same players generally go into the various 'Super Rugby Academies'.
There are two recent standout junior ('league to union') converts that come to mind to whom the ARU's chief recruitment officer, Manu Sutherland, was able to sell the dream of rugby. The first one is Rob Horne, ex-Dragons junior now current NSW and Australian Inside Centre. And even more recently, Jim Stewart, an ex- Manly junior who was selected in Australian U/15's Merit Team, converted to rugby and was selected for the Australian Schoolboy's last year. In fact him and Tepai were the partners in the centres!
There is no doubt in my mind that Tepai will be selected for the U/18's NSWRL team (to play at Suncorp on 26 June 2013) if he is available. However the GPS rugby commences in mid-May 2013; then from 18-21 June the U/18 NSWSRU trials are being held for selection of the NSWSRU 1 and 2 teams. The teams will be selected on the following day on 22 June 2013. The two NSWSRU teams will then compete at the U/18 ASRU Championship which is being held in Sydney from 30 June to 6 July 2013. Now here is the killer blow; the NSWSRU teams go into camp on 24 or 25 June 2013! and right bang smack in the middle of all this rugby union is the U/18 SOO!
Now last year Tepai made the Australian team, and Taane made the Australian A team, but both made the NSWSRU 1 team so you can expect this to occur again given the exemplary form of both player this season. Lussick has always been there as well and should make the NSWSRU No.2 team (but i dont think he will be in contention for an U/18 SOO spot), so all I can say is what a dilemma! WHICH WAY DO YOU GO?
Tuc
