What’s the Buzz: Endeavour Sports High School shuts down rugby program
Not even the NSW Rugby could save a rugby union program from getting shut down at one of the state’s top sports schools. Phil Rothfield reveals the letter that got sent to the parents.
One of the state’s top sporting high schools has shut down its elite rugby union program in the latest grassroots blow to the struggling code.
Endeavour Sports High School will no longer offer a rugby union curriculum to its students following a steady decline in interest in recent years.
The school offers rugby league, AFL, soccer, cricket, athletics and golf – and is now encouraging the rugby union players to take up another sport.
The NSW Rugby Union has had unsuccessful talks with the high school in recent months about the future of the program.
The Sunday Telegraph has received a copy of a letter school principal James Kozlowski sent to parents and carers of the boys in the rugby program.
“Due to several factors out of our control, we have steadily seen a decline in the Boys Rugby Targeted Sports Program over the past several years,” he wrote.
“Each sport in the TSP requires a significant investment of resources. Unfortunately, the investment of these resources is no longer sustainable for rugby.”
NSW Rugby said it was disappointed at the decision taken by the Caringbah school.
“The Sports High Schools relationship has been a really positive step for rugby since we partnered with them in 2018,” said Andrew Hill, NSW Rugby’s head of strategy and foundation programs.
“We are disappointed by Endeavour’s announcement and will work with them to re-establish their program.”
A parent of one of the rugby students told The Sunday Telegraph the move was a retrograde step.
“The program was closed effectively immediately,” he wrote in an email. “No consultation with parents or children.
“Other NSW Sports High Schools are looking at their rugby programs and this will be the beginning of the end for the sport in public schools.
“Junior league is flourishing while junior rugby is dead.”
Rugby Australia has always had the strength of competition in the GPS schools to develop players for elite competition.
The sport moved into public schools in 2018, hoping to broaden the catchment area.
The pathways crisis comes at a time when cashed-up NRL clubs and their recruitment scouts are targeting the best prospects from GPS schools.
The timing couldn’t be worse for the code, with the Wallabies struggling to make an impact at the Rugby World Cup in France and facing a must-win clash with Wales early tomorrow (AEST) to avoid being knocked out of the running in the pool stages.
MEDIA BUZZ
Paul Crawley, 53 - Daily Telegraph and NRL 360
First job: Delivering the local paper, The Central Coast Express, on my pushbike. I was given a cadetship there in my first year out of school, before getting a job on the old Rugby League Week. I loved footy from the moment I could walk, and it was a dream come true.
Sporting heroes: Rugby league and boxing were my two passions as a kid. Muhammad Ali was the greatest, but league was my bread
and butter, and I watched every game and read every newspaper and magazine I could get my hands on. Mick Cronin, Steve Rogers, Bobby Fulton, Ray Price, Max Krilich, Terry Randall … they were all gods to me. And while I was never much of a cricketer, I loved watching Viv Richards bat.
What team did you follow: Growing up on the Central Coast, I never really had a favourite team because there wasn’t one in the area. But I used to play touch footy on a Sunday morning at Terrigal with the little Eels fullback Paul Taylor, and he was such a legend of a bloke. He would play an hour of touch, have a beer with the men, and then go down to Sydney and make 50 tackles in the match of the day. These days I cheer for any team Wayne Bennett coaches, and I’ll always have a soft spot for Ricky’s Raiders.
What sports did you play: League from the time I was four until I gave it up for work at 24. Wasn’t all that good, but I had a lot of fun. Played hooker, a bit of lock, and made plenty of great mates. Tried my luck at the North Sydney Bears when I was graded playing U21s. But got sick of getting splinters on the bench, so gave it away to go back to play local first grade before work took over. Claim to fame was playing in the Central Coast Division side against a Riverina team captained by a fella named Craig Bellamy. Of course, Bellamy’s team won.
How do you spend a day off: The morning starts with a coffee and a walk on the beach with the dog, sometimes my wife, or one of the kids might tag along. After that it’s doing grown-up duties like mowing the lawn, gardening and cleaning the pool, which gives me a reason to crack open a beer.
Career highlights: This will sound a bit weird, given I’ve been to some pretty amazing sporting events. But my standout favourite memory was being in the same room with a bunch of factory workers in western Sydney during the 2000 Olympics when Muhammad Ali walked in. The cheers of about 100 Aussie battlers that day made the hair stand up on the back of your neck like no other sporting event in my life. He was such a beautiful man who just happened to be the greatest athlete who ever lived. It still brings a tear to my eye just thinking that I got to shake Muhammad Ali’s hand.
CALLS FOR 360 REPLAY
Melbourne Storm tried to use a segment from Fox Sports’ NRL 360 to rev up their forward pack ahead of Friday night’s grand final qualifier against the Penrith Panthers.
Storm’s forwards were described by panellists as a “pop gun pack” that lacked fear and intimidation, on Wednesday night’s show.
The next morning a Melbourne club official rang Fox Sports to ask for a copy of the segment.
Not that it worked, as they were blasted off the park by the Panthers and belted in the forwards.
There’s no doubt Melbourne Storm have lost that fear factor in their middles this year, following the departures of Felise Kaufusi, the Bromwich brothers Jesse and Kenny, plus Brandon Smith.
NRL’S KIDS BOOK CLUB
Two of rugby league’s biggest names – Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic and South Sydney try-scoring machine Alex Johnston — have launched children’s books.
Johnston’s book was borne out of Covid-19, in which he used his long hours in lockdown to create A Footy Tail — a rhyming picture book and story about an underdog team of bunnies up against a stronger team of animals. It promotes themes of unity, togetherness, resilience and teamwork.
More Coverage
“I was looking for something to do during Covid to keep my mind busy,” Johnston said. “So I came up with the idea of the book, and here we are about to be on the bookshelves.”
The book goes on sale from October 3 and can be purchased from all good bookstores.
Manly Sea Eagles star Tom Trbojevic
has launched a children’s book, Turbo Pup, based on his real-life dog named CJ.
Originally published as What’s the Buzz: Endeavour Sports High School shuts down rugby program
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