Schools Cup 2010

[Cap'n Grumpy]

Grumpy - did you just fix your fixing?

Don't know what you're talking about!

[AndyB]

Both Inst and Campbell have more potential rugby players (i.e. boys) in the school so MCB's success relative to those schools can't all be about numbers.

How should one measure relative success? Is it the number of times a School gets it's name on the Trophy?

How would you suggest it is measured?

[cables]

How would you suggest it is measured?

Ooooooops Andy passed that ball quickly. Wonder why?

However, lets not play games. Times name on trophy for me and that means it is very close between 2.

[AndyB]

I would say that a school's record in the School's Cup is on the most important measures of success. For the big schools that obviously means the number of wins and while it's close at the top of the list between MCB and RBAI the team at the top is the one with the fewer number of potential players.

[Rooster]

What about number of players from schools that have gone on to be professional players

[ColinM]

What about taking a step back, its school rugby FFS it should be about who's developing skills for the future not instant success.

The way school rugby is approached a a small number of establishments appauls me, the poaching of players and high intensity weight training is something that is acceptable at club level and upwards, never at school.

[cjp]

The weight training isn't an issue if conducted in the right manner and under correct supervision, alot of guys with potential for the academy will have been given assistance from the Branch's strength and conditioning coaches with what to do.

I agree though that most schools will play players in the position that best suits them and not the position to best develop the player for the future.

[pwrmoore]

What about taking a step back, its school rugby FFS it should be about who's developing skills for the future not instant success.

The way school rugby is approached a a small number of establishments appauls me, the poaching of players and high intensity weight training is something that is acceptable at club level and upwards, never at school.

eh? Nothing to do with me Colin - perhaps you were appalled instead

[Rooster]

What about taking a step back, its school rugby FFS it should be about who's developing skills for the future not instant success.

That is the reason I suggested a breakdown of players going professional after school, I think the results over the past 10 years would be very interesting and in no way correlate with the school cup wins.

[ColinM]

Sorry paul. At least I wasnt appwred.

[pwrmoore]

Sorry paul. At least I wasnt appwred.

now that's like something I would type

[cables]

That is the reason I suggested a breakdown of players going professional after school, I think the results over the past 10 years would be very interesting and in no way correlate with the school cup wins.

It would probably take UR to tackle that one - I'll pass it by.

However, and as a top of the head job, the School that would come to my mind would be Ballymena Academy.

Humph - perhaps by 2
Topping
McCullough
Young
all in the professional era.

I believe Ballymena Academy won 2 lost 6.

The clubs players join after school must also have had an influence I would have thought.

[Rooster]

That is the reason I suggested a breakdown of players going professional after school, I think the results over the past 10 years would be very interesting and in no way correlate with the school cup wins.

It would probably take UR to tackle that one - I'll pass it by.

However, and as a top of the head job, the School that would come to my mind would be Ballymena Academy.

Humph - perhaps by 2
Topping
McCullough
Young
all in the professional era.

I believe Ballymena Academy won 2 lost 6.

The clubs players join after school must also have had an influence I would have thought.

Would stand a lot of research cables and as you say UR should know, I would be surprised though
But on a quick scan you would reveal quite a few from the lesser known schools of rugby, Neil Best, Simon and Rory Best, Nial O'Connor to name but 4.
The clubs they join after school are probably suggested to them by Academy staff etc and are not necessarily their "home" clubs, eg Faloon went to Hinch even though he went to RSA and has strong connections with Armagh club.

[Rooster]

There seems to be a strong-ish link between Armagh and 'Hinch to be fair-Faloon, Johnny Graham, Stuart Megaw, Tim Morton, Adam Bartholemeusz off the top of my head.

Latimer Adair is the link RHH

[cjp]

Ok I am bored and I am putting off Uni work so here is the current squad and Academy:

TJ Anderson - Rainey Endowed
Rory Best - Portadown College
Nigel Brady - Royal School Dungannon
Ryan Caldwell - RBAI
Darren Cave - Sullivan
Bryn Cunningham - Bangor Grammar?
Willie Faloon - RSA
Stephen Ferris - Friends
Chris Henry - Wallace HS
Ian Humphreys - Ballymena Academy
Paul Marshall - MCB
Mark McCrea - Belfast High School
Matt McCullough - Ballymena Academy
Naill O'Connor - Limavady GS
David Pollock - RSD
Andrew Trimble - CAI
Paddy Wallace - CCB
Ian Whitten - Wallace HS
Bryan Young - Ballymena Academy

Academy -
Michael Allen (MCB)
Ricky Andrew (Ballymena Academy)
Niall Annett (MCB)
John Burns (Foyle and Londonderry)
Chris Cochrane (CAI)
Conor Gaston (CAI)
Michael Heaney (MCB)
Ian Porter (Banbridge Academy)
James Sandford (RSA)
Tommy Seymour (Down High School)
Johnny Shiels (CAI)
Jamie Smith (Cambridge House/ CCB)
Nevin Spence (Dromore HS/ Wallace HS)
Adam Macklin (MCB)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena Academy)
Patrick McAllister (RSA)
James McKinney (CCB)
Paul Pritchard (Ballymena Academy)

Noteable others -
Gareth Steenson - RSA
Tommy Bowe - RSA
Paul McKenzie - Bangor Grammar
Andrew Maxwell - RBAI
Roger Wilson - RBAI
Neil Best - Wellington College?
Seamus Mallon - Foyle and Londonderry College/St. Columb's College
Lewis Stevenson - Ballyclare High School
John Andress - MCB/CCB
Neil McMillan - Belfast Royal Academy
Paul Shields - RBAI
Jonny Bell - CAI
Jimmy Topping - Ballymena Academy
Humph - Ballymena Academy
Tim Barker - Bangor Grammar?
Niall Conlon - RBAI
Mark Kettyle - MCB
Jeremy Davison - MCB
Tyrone Howe -Banbridge Academy?
Fair to say there is a big spread of players from across the province.