2022 School rugby
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@Bovidae Correct: we had several boys stay that otherwise would have left, so they could play 1st XV, having missed out due to Covid.
The current rules do make it quite hard for Year 14s though. And also those overseas players who drop back a year on arrival in NZ. We've had Year 13s too old to play 1st XV, having arrived late from the Islands.
@Chester-Draws said in 2022 School rugby:
@Bovidae Correct: we had several boys stay that otherwise would have left, so they could play 1st XV, having missed out due to Covid.
The current rules do make it quite hard for Year 14s though. And also those overseas players who drop back a year on arrival in NZ. We've had Year 13s too old to play 1st XV, having arrived late from the Islands.
What is actual rule Chester, I not sure what it is, is it age?
I know a few years ago over in Brisbane there was a stink about boys repeating year 12 (or whatever it was) to play another year of rugby, not I real keen on seeing that happen really, it's not really what 1st XV rugby is meant to be about is it? -
@Chester-Draws said in 2022 School rugby:
@Bovidae Correct: we had several boys stay that otherwise would have left, so they could play 1st XV, having missed out due to Covid.
The current rules do make it quite hard for Year 14s though. And also those overseas players who drop back a year on arrival in NZ. We've had Year 13s too old to play 1st XV, having arrived late from the Islands.
What is actual rule Chester, I not sure what it is, is it age?
I know a few years ago over in Brisbane there was a stink about boys repeating year 12 (or whatever it was) to play another year of rugby, not I real keen on seeing that happen really, it's not really what 1st XV rugby is meant to be about is it?@Dan54 pretty sure it is under 18 on 1 Jan.
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From NZRs National policy (NZR) for all competitions for 2022:
Players have to be 18 years old or under (not: under 18) at the 1st of January 2022 to be allowed to play secondary school rugby in 2022. This means that under this policy it's possible for 19-year-olds to play 1st XV rugby as long as they turn 19 after the 1st of January.
However, that's the national policy. Specific competition regulations may stipulate something else!
The regs for the Top 4 (now called "New Zealand Barbarians National 1st Xv Championship") state that all but two participating players must be "under 18 years of age on 1 January in the year of the competition". So players may turn 18 years old after the 1st of January, not 19, except for two players if they want to play in the Top 4.
That's from the 2019 version of the regulations; I've not been able to find a more recent one, so I assume those rules still apply, except that the invitational coed championship isn't played for anymore.
So you can have the situation that a 19-year-old is allowed to play 1st XV rugby in - for example - the Auckland 1A or North Harbour 1A competition, but cannot play at the Top 4! -
There was the situation a few years back when RBHS won the National Title but didn't have any players in the NZ Schools team. That's probably what @Rapido was referring to, as their best players were too old.
@Bovidae said in 2022 School rugby:
There was the situation a few years back when RBHS won the National Title but didn't have any players in the NZ Schools team. That's probably what @Rapido was referring to, as their best players were too old.
Makes for interesting coaching of teams I guessing, between holding onto players bersus bringing through young ones doesn't it? I always enjoy Rugby new when they have their early season college edition and who is brining through young players etc.
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There was the situation a few years back when RBHS won the National Title but didn't have any players in the NZ Schools team. That's probably what @Rapido was referring to, as their best players were too old.
@Bovidae said in 2022 School rugby:
There was the situation a few years back when RBHS won the National Title but didn't have any players in the NZ Schools team. That's probably what @Rapido was referring to, as their best players were too old.
I think that was the spark to change the rules. It had got completely out of hand.
Interesting that rowing is the other sport where under 18 applies, presumably for the same reason. Students staying at school as Year 14s until Maadi, then immediately leaving school.
I know that Basketball has major issues with this, schools playing Year 14 "students" who basically never attend lessons (being in "work academies" or just not showing up).
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@Rapido said in 2022 School rugby:
I think Rotorua Boys' missed this memo ....
Didn't they change the regulations about this, as too many teams were fielding teams full of Year 14s?
I seem to remember a kid this year at my school who thought he was returning to play 1st XV, only to be told he was too old and they wouldn't field him.
Indeed, here it is: https://www.nzsssc.co.nz/Sport-1/Events/Eligibility-Regulations
@Chester-Draws you have to be u18 now. You can be year 14 as long as you are under 18. The majority of schools have at least 1 in this boat in the top comps.
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Interesting. I wonder if other NZ schools are doing the same? These two boys are both 16.
Brian Vizard, US Rugby Foundation President, is pleased to announce today that there will be not one, but two recipients of 2023 Nelson College (NZ) Scholarships.
The goal of the Foundation’s High School Rugby Scholarship Program is to advance the personal, cultural, and academic development of the scholar athletes while also giving them the opportunity to become better rugby players and use their experience in New Zealand to influence and help elevate the play of their high school teammates when they return.
The Selection Committee received nineteen applications and after the review process concluded that two applicants stood out academically and athletically from the others, Max Doerfler and Oliver Kirk. -
@Bovidae great coach and great man
