SI-wide first XV competition in works

Otago Daily Times

21-05-2025

South Island first XV rugby appears poised to level up.
In a joint statement from the South Island boys' secondary principals, the schools confirmed they are "engaged in positive conversations about how we can collaborate more effectively to raise achievement and strengthen engagement for our students".
That includes a radical revamp of the first XV structures.
Under the proposal, up to eight schools from Canterbury and Tasman would join five schools from Otago and Southland to compete in a new competition.
The three Dunedin boys' schools — King's, Otago Boys' and John McGlashan — as well as Southland Boys' and Waitaki Boys' would leave the Southern Secondary Schools Rugby Championship and join the new super grade.
The co-educational schools such as Dunstan High School, which achieved a memorable victory against Otago Boys' at the weekend, would effectively be locked out.
King's rector Nick McIvor confirmed his school's involvement in the breakaway competition.
"That is what we are wanting to happen, absolutely," he said.
"I'm one of a group of 12 principals who started a conversation around that in the latter part of last year to find out how we could connect to build our strength in curriculum, arts and sport.
"As part of that, we've been exploring ways to create a new and exciting first XV competition for our boys to play.
"The intention is to start next year."
It is an ambitious plan that will add a lot more cost and involve more travelling.
McIvor said they were still exploring options around attracting additional community and business support to help resource the competition.
"We are aware there are challenges in terms of just the geography, travel and other things connected to a new competition that goes as far as the top of the South Island for us.
"But we really believe it is worth it because it offers such an exciting prospect for us.
"By heading north and being able to play the likes of the boys' schools in Christchurch ... it is just an added opportunity and it is expanding our rugby through a new challenge."
Those opportunities will not be spread evenly, though. The co-educational schools are not invited.
McIvor said there would still be some crossover games and the co-educational schools would still be eligible to qualify for the National First XV finals.
Dunstan principal Andrew King had not responded to an interview request by the deadline.
However, the best rugby players would be hard pressed to get noticed toiling away for a co-educational school in what would effectively be a second-tier competition.
The temptation to move schools for rugby would seemingly increase along with the gap between the different school rugby programmes.
McIvor said there were many reasons for moving schools and sport was only one.
"I have to emphasise that this just isn't about the rugby. What we are looking to do is connect our schools for the strength of boys' education.
"We were very careful to get a wide view on what this could become. We have a model that we have seen in action successfully, which is the Super 8 in the North Island.
"We've consulted with those involved in that for years and have seen how that has developed into a truly impressive cross connection between schools ... in everything from chess through to every imaginable sport and the arts as well."
Otago Secondary Schools Rugby Council chairman Greg Heller said, while he had been kept informed by the Otago schools involved in the proposed breakway competition,
it was hard to comment until more details came to light.