19 Jun 2025

Principals fight ‘unethical’ boys school-only rugby competition

From Checkpoint, 5:08 pm on 19 June 2025

A dispute over school boy rugby is kicking off; with claims a proposed new competition is discriminatory and could lead to an arms race where colleges aggressively recruit top players to the detriment of the game. A collective of South Island boys' schools confirmed they're looking to launch a new first XV competition as part of wider efforts to improve educational outcomes for young men. Dozens of other principals are rallying against the plan. Darfield High School principal Andy England spoke to Lisa Owen.