Phil Shaefer awarded ASSRL Life Membership

Phil Schaefer has been nominated for ASSRL Life Membership for his ongoing commitment to schoolboy rugby league and for the development of the NSW Combined Independent Schools into an active constituent body of the ASSRLC.

As a player, Phil represented Balmain RLFC in over 25 first grade matches between 1978 and 1982.

He has been involved in schoolboy rugby league since he commenced teaching in 1982 at De La Salle, Revesby and has continued throughout his whole career as a teacher.

During the early 1990s, Phil was instrumental in the development of the game within the Christian Schools Sports Association, a sub-association of the NSW Combined Independent Schools, selecting and coaching teams to play against various school and district sides as well as the running of an annual 7-a-side carnival, which later became the NSWCIS 7’s Gala Day.

In 1997, Phil was appointed coach of the inaugural NSWCIS U/18s team which competed at the ASSRL Championships in Parkes.

He continued to coach the CIS Team in 1998 (Melbourne), 1999 (Gold Coast – Pool B Runners-Up) and 2000 (Brisbane).

In 2000, Phil was appointed Convenor of the NSWCIS Rugby League, a position in which he has continued to this present day.

Phil has worked tirelessly to promote rugby league amongst the many schools within CIS through gala days, annual state competitions and opportunities for students to compete at the ASSRL Championships.

In 2001, Phil convened a very successful ASSRL 15 Years Championships at Moorebank and followed this up by conducting another successful 18 Years Championships in St Marys in 2004.

Phil was an ASSRL selector for the 18 Years Australian schoolboy teams in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007. He has also been a delegate to the ASSRL Council since1998.

In this role, he was instrumental in the development of a new draw format for the ASSRL Championships to accommodate the new Combined Affiliated States Team (18 Years) and a second Queensland Team (15 Years).

This outline was endorsed by the ASSRL Council in 2005 and first implemented in 2006.

Phil has always been a dedicated Council member and has contributed to the development of the organization through his thoughtful and selfless commitment to schoolboy rugby league.

Peter Griffen (left) and Scott Ritchie will represent NSW Independent Schools in rugby league later this year.

Scott Ritchie (U18s) and Peter Griffen (U15s) have been selected to represent the New South Wales Combined Independent Schools (NSWCIS).

Ritchie said being selected to play in the championships was a dream come true.

“Coming from the country it’s sometimes hard to get noticed but this is the perfect opportunity,” Ritchie said.

“There is going to be NRL talent scouts from every club at the games so I’m just hoping to play well and you never know what could happen.”

The Australian Schoolboys Championships is a week-long competition involving seven States showcasing the best young rugby league footballers in Australia.

The 15s championships will be held in Adelaide on Sunday until July 3 while Newcastle is the venue for the 18s from July 12 to 17.

In lead up to the championships both boys attended a three day training camp at the NSW Rugby League Academy in Narrabeen.

“We got to meet all our team mates and work on our combinations,” Griffen said.

NSWCIS 18s played in a close trial game against Hunter Academy and Newcastle Knights development team prevailing 32 - 28.

However, the side lost to elite Sydney school Patrician Brothers Blacktown 38 - 22.

Macleay Vocational College principal Jann Eason said both students were the first applicants to come through the Elite Sports Program.

“The whole school is very proud of both Peter and Scott,” Mrs Eason said.

“The school couldn’t attract a PE teacher when we first opened and it wasn’t until Bronwyn (Jolly) came on board that we used the Elite Sports Program.”

Funding falls under the Department of Health and Ageing’s Healthy Active Australia program.

GAME ON: Hamish Austin will represent the Combined Independent Schools at the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League under-15 championships

But it was his first three that had got him there.

Austin, 15, lined up for the NSW Combined Independent Schools (CIS) under-15s team against Manly in a trial match for the upcoming 2009 Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League under-15 championships in Adelaide.

Austin, who normally plays rugby union, said he was looking forward to it and felt honoured to be given the opportunity to experience a new sport and get the chance to play in Adelaide.

“It is something new,” Austin said.

“I have never done it before and it will be a rush going to Adelaide.

“I feel lucky to be representing my school, the Hunter and my family.”

The Year 10 student at Hunter Valley Grammar School made the switch from rugby union to rugby league last month and after impressing selectors over a series of three matches he was chosen to represent NSW CIS.

Austin, who plays prop in both codes, said the main difference between the sports was the defensive patterns.

“Getting back the 10m is the main difference and the speed of the game,” Austin said.

The boy from Bolwarra Heights will line up against the Australian Capital Territory at Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday and Queensland White on Monday before finals on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.