This is something I would like rugby people to think about. A thread that maybe @SARugbymag could follow up. A challenge for @TheSharksZA & @Springboks to help me understand how this is growing the game.

Follow this thread if you will ...

A player who has matriculated but is a year young (u18) cannot play in the club setup (u20) but also cannot go back & play at school either?
What happens to them when they finish school? Do they just train for a year & lose a year of game time? Do they just give up?

At the same time, u19s can play at school if papers are signed. They can stay back a year and get an extra year of school rugby while a guy who finishes early & doesn't jippo the system is penalised by a year? An u19 school goer can also play club rugby.

At the same time, an u13 in grade 8 can play down a level in the primary school provincials despite being out of primary school. Similarly the same cannot be equated by an u18 once he has matriculated? Surely we need to look after this group?

I understand this is a topic that is being discussed in the coming days. Why not give them an option? Either allow them to play in high school still or play in u20. If we want to grow the game, let the players play.

I wouldn't mind hearing from the brains of SA rugby like @RassieRugby or someone like @coetzee_eduard who is making waves at the Sharks.