Can someone please clarify the selection process used to select who attends the FTC? In my opinion it's all a shambles and some kids are only selected because dad knows someone who knows someone. I watched the Saturday game and was absolutely shocked that some of those kids are even in the FTC.
I think Mainland would argue fairly strongly that there is a robust selection process. My understanding is that after the Sth Island tournaments the rep coaches put names forward to Mainland. Mainland then invite players to a series of trials (Talent on Location it is called these days) in November. In December Mainland invites players into the FTC programme for the following year - and players either accept or decline. As to standard of players, there is no doubt that at any given time the FTC group might not be the best 16 players or whatever it is in an age group. This is because some players may have declined the opportunity and also because all players are on different trajectories and develop at different rates at different times. So the player invited last December who you saw playing this October may not have progressed as others may have. Others may have different views but that is my knowledge of the process.