1st XV rugby match between Nelson College and Marlborough Boys. Nelson College, Nelson. Photo: Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz
Auckland Grammar principal Tim O'Connor has challenged Sport NZ to take a stand on extra-year students returning to schools on sporting grounds.
The issue of 'Year 14' athletes has raised its head again, with Marlborough Boys' College admitting it has five such players in its First XV, which scored a historic - and controversial - win over Nelson College last month.
That 28-26 result came after Marlborough were awarded a first-half penalty and instead of aiming for the posts, the goalkicker struck for the corner, where one of his teammates chased it down for a try that was eventually awarded.
O'Connor told Checkpoint that bringing students back for an extra year for sporting purposes was a distortion of their roles as educators and openly wondered where the national sporting administrators were in this debate.
"Really, our role as principals and our role as schools is to educate young people," he said. "Sport NZ talks about balance is better, but where are they in this discussion?
"They haven't come out to say, 'why are we allowing this to occur?'
"I'd love to see them being more proactive and having the courage to speak up on this.
"Perhaps there are organisations that want to turn a blind eye to what is the pathway for young men and rugby in this country frankly. We need to get beyond that."
RNZ has approached Sport NZ for reaction to O'Connor's comments.
Auckland's 1A competition has put is members on notice that Year 14 players will not be permitted from next season. O'Connor admits two of the 12 teams currently have two such players each on their rosters.
"We discussed that at the beginning of the year and felt the fair thing to do was give everyone 12 months' notice, and then we wouldn't be allowing that to occur again."
Earlier this year, the issue led to a ban on extra-year rowers at the prestigious Maadi Cup regatta at Lake Karapiro.
School Sport NZ is now considering a total ban on the Year 14 athletes.
"There is no doubt there is a distinct advantage - muscle co-ordination and technical ability - in a sixth-year student," O'Connor said. "They're taking away positions from students who are coming through their natural schooling years.
"For example, Rieko Ioane could have returned - we could have encouraged him to return, because he would have met all the other criteria, and he could have returned to play rugby for another year, which would have been a huge advantage to our school.
"Our view was Rieko should actually carry on with his life and move to the next stage, and we'd fully support him in doing so."
Now an 81-test All Black, Ioane debuted for Auckland and the NZ sevens team the year after leaving Auckland Grammar, and made his test debut aged 19.
O'Connor insisted his school would not take the field against Marlborough with their Year 14 players.
"I don't know why there would be a reason to play them," he told Checkpoint. "I'd rather play in a competition where we know there is a level playing field and we're treating each other with respect.
"In the 1A competition, mid-season, we have about six teams who could still win it - that's a great competition, that keeps it alive across multiple schools."
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