Co-curricular - Junior Sport Stage 3

After some poor weather mid-week, it was great to see the sun shining on Saturday, giving all our teams the opportunity to take to the field, court, or diamond. After a six-month hiatus, and only a short training session before Round 1, there was bound to be a little rust settled in. The feedback from coaches was great to hear. There was much talk of commitment, teamwork, and persistence. While results may have not always been in our favour on Saturday, it was exciting to hear that the St Patrick’s spirit remains strong. 

As we navigate the Term 4 Summer season, a reminder that boys need to be collected as soon as possible at the conclusion of training. There is limited supervision later in the afternoon and the boys’ safety is our primary concern. 

They say that New York is the city that never sleeps. In that vein, it seems that the same could be said about many of the boys in the Junior School. Over the recent school break, a number of boys were involved in a variety of sporting endeavors, both here and abroad. Please see below a reflection from Jonathan Jnr Udit on his experience playing rugby in Japan.

Playing rugby on the mountains, amongst the clouds in Sugadaira was a moment to cherish. I was given the opportunity to be part of the first international team to participate in the Heroes cup in Japan. Playing 25 games over 3 days, was exciting and tiring. We won 21 of those games, and I had the privilege of captaining my team against the top Japanese team, Toyota. We also played exhibition games against 2 other schools in Tokyo. We bowed to each other and the officials before and after each game as a sign of respect. I can tell you that Japanese rugby players are strong, kind, technical and very disciplined. I learnt a lot from them. 

There were so many highlights of the tour - joining in the bonfire party with my new rugby mates, sleeping on tatami mats, riding roller coasters in Fujiyama, visiting Mt Fuji, experiencing a sento (bathhouse), going to school with Japanese students, riding the bullet train, eating lots of yummy food and most of all, experiencing the mateship, humility and friendliness of the Japanese people whilst doing what I love, playing rugby.

I am fortunate to have been selected to return to Japan to play in the finals for the Heroes Cup in January 2025. Playing rugby in Japan was an unforgettable experience. It has helped me take another step towards becoming a better rugby player, and for this, I am forever grateful. 

Christian Boutros of Year 6 spent the first week of this term representing NSW in football. Christian gained his selection through the IPSHA, CIS pathway and played a pivotal role in the midfield. 

The NSW team performed well and came second overall in the School Sports Australia Tournament. 

Prior to this, Christian also spent time in Portugal, representing Sporting Lisbon in a youth competition. Again, his team performed well and came second in the competition. This is the second time this year that Christian has been selected into the team. 

Congratulations on your selections and performances Christian.

Following selection in the NSW Rugby Union side, Jonah Ayoub of Year 6 has been selected in the Barbarians team to play in the upcoming Pacifika Youth Cup. Out of 700 potential players, only 18 were chosen for the team. This caps off a stella year for Jonah having also been selected to represent IPSHA and CIS this year in rugby. Congratulations on your selection Jonah, we wish you all the best for the upcoming Youth Cup. 

This term will be very busy with a number of events. There are two major Co-curricular events this term for the Junior School. Firstly, the Junior School House Swimming Carnival. This will be held on Friday 15 November at Birrong Leisure and Aquatic Centre. Boys will be bussed out to the venue from the College and will be returned for normal dismissal in the afternoon. Parents/carers are more than welcome to attend, and there will be a small entry fee for spectators, around $5.00 per person. Please note that there are café facilities on the day however this is not available for students - boys are expected to bring their own food for the day.

Secondly, the Junior School Co-Curricular Presentation Afternoon. The presentation will be held on Friday 29 November in the College Gym. The presentation will begin promptly at 3:30 PM and parents/carers are warmly invited to attend. It is expected that all boys involved in sporting teams, Debating and Chess are in attendance on the day and are to stay for the duration of the presentation which is scheduled to end by 6:30 PM. 

Good luck to all our teams playing this weekend. I look forward to hearing of your experiences.

John Locke

Head of Co-Curricular Stage 3