Auckland Grammar principal calls out Sport NZ over 'Year 14' athletes
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."
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
3 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Midday Sports News for 23 July 2025
There is plenty of support for a change of netball in New Zealand. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
First Nations-Pasifika XV push Lions to the wire in historic debut
First Nations & Pasifika XV's Seru Uru (R) reacts after scoring a try as British and Irish Lions' Jac Morgan (L) holds the ball during the rugby tour match against at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne on 22 July 2025. Photo: AFP / William West The first-ever First Nations-Pasifika XV team took the British and Irish Lions to the wire in Melbourne on Tuesday night, going down 19-24 in a tough battle. It was history in the making from the start, with the combined selection playing against the Lions for the very first time. Down 14-0 in the first quarter of the game, the First Nations-Pasifika team fought back to score two converted tries and claim a 14-all draw at halftime. In the end, the Lions scored four tries against the local invitational side's three to claim the win and keep their unbeaten tour record so far, intact. While the Lions were favourites to win the match, and looked like it was going to be that way, the First Nations-Pasifika XV turned things around mid-way in the first half. Captain Kurtley Beale, supported by some of the best Pasifika and First Nations players in Fiji and Australia, had a decent game against the tourists. He said it was a proud moment for the players and the team. "Really proud of the boys. It's a real special week this week to get to connect, and come out together and represent our families and our cultures," he said. "We came out and I thought we did what we said we were gonna do and that was to take the pressure to the Lions." Beale said he was hopeful that the First Nations-Pasifika XV team can be retained for future international matches against teams that tour Australia. "You can see how much heart the boys played with tonight," he said. "There's so much talent here and I think it's a great thing for all the young First Nations and Pasifika players watching tonight, hopefully they can look at this jersey as something they can aspire to in future." Player of the match and Tongan heritage player Charlie Gamble said it was tough game but the players fought hard for each other. He said the players did not give up, despite the Lions leading early, and they kept going until the final whistle. "You see out there the players were fighting hard for each other," he said. "Down a couple of tries early but you saw the fight that we have, came back. Probably the first 10 minutes of that second half probably let us down but we didn't give up until the end. "It's been awesome being a part of this and hopefully this team keeps on going into the future." First Nations & Pasifika XV forward Rob Leota scores a try against the British and Irish Lions at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, 22 July 2025. Photo: AFP The team was the first of its kind, with players from the First Nations people of Australia, Samoan, Fijian, Tongan, Maori and Cook Islands heritage. Gamble was one of the key players for the FNP selection, working with 95-Test Wallaby Beale and current Wallabies squad members Taniela Tupou and Filipo Daugunu. Other capped Wallabies players in the side included Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Darcy Swain, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Seru Uru and Lalakai Foketi. Prop Mesake Doge and lock forward Mesake Vocevoce represented Fiji, while Fijian Drua winger Ponipate Loganimasi was part of the squad. Triston Reilly, Seru Uru and Rob Leota were the try-scorers for the side. Jamie Osborne scored two tries for the Lions, Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe got the Lions tries. A yellow card against Reilly gave the Lions a one-player advantage as the First Nations-Pasifika XV had to fight hard on defense for 10 minutes. That saw the Lions claim their first try. But Reilly intercepted a Lions backline move to score under the crossbar and in between the posts, and Beale's conversion saw them trail 14-7. Then a good forward drive near the Lions' tryline saw Uru pick and dive over the line, Beale converting again to level terms at 14-all. An intercept by Jack Debreczeni nearly gave the First Nations-Pasifika XV the lead, but the Lions drifting defence subdued the move near their line, taking the breather with a lot to talk about in the changeroom. Osborne scored his second after the resumption of play before van der Merwe strolled over to extend the lead to ten with 17 minutes to go. But the locals kept the pressure on and Melbourne-born Leota crashed through to close the gap again to five points. Had the combined First Nations-Pasifika XV finished off another good run towards the Lions line in the last 10 minutes of the game, history would have taken another turn. Lions captain for the match Owen Farell said they did not play as expected as their opponents pressured them throughout the match. "Massive credits must go to the First Nations-Pasifika boys," he said. "I thought they came after us tonight and they caused some trouble. "It was a tough 60 minutes to be honest, that last half of the first half was difficult as well." The Lions will now prepare to meet the Wallabies in their second test in Melbourne on Saturday.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Netball's ANZ Premiership is not delivering says former Silver Fern
Kelly Jackson of the Central Pulse and Ellie Bird of the Tactix tussle for the ball, 2025. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2025 Kelly Jackson of the Central Pulse and Ellie Bird of the Tactix tussle for the ball, 2025. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2025 Former Silver Fern Margaret Foster believes the ANZ Premiership has failed to produce the improvements to the game that Netball New Zealand had hoped for and is backing the change to the player eligibility rule. This week Netball New Zealand announced it had updated the Silver Ferns' eligibility criteria , paving the way for greater flexibility for athletes who wish to play overseas. That means the likes of goal shoot Grace Nweke, who has been playing for the New South Wales Swifts in the Australian League, could become available for selection for the Ferns this year. Until now players had to be playing in New Zealand to be considered for selection for the national side. "I get what they (Netball New Zealand) hoped to achieve to keep them all back here but no it (ANZ Premiership) is not delivering," Foster told RNZ. While it would be nice to have all of New Zealand's top athletes playing here, Foster said it was unrealistic with overseas clubs and competitions offering more money. "We're not in a privileged position where we're this massive professional sport where athletes are earning lots of money. "You want to have your best players available in your calendar year, that's why football do it well. "Regardless of where you are playing your netball you need to have your best athletes available." The Trans-Tasman Netball League ran for nine years between 2008 and 2016. Foster, who also coached in that competition, believed the game and therefore quality of the play here would improve by rejoining the Australian competition. "We definitely need to get back into the top league in the world which is the one based in Australia." Magic's Head Coach Noeline Taurua (R) and Assistant Coach Margaret Foster. 2011. Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung / PHOTOSPORT Also this week, Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio announced she would miss this year's internationals . Foster said Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua would be relieved that Ekenasio's decision may be offset by the possible return of Nweke to the Ferns' attacking circle. "A hundred percent thank goodness. Having the two power houses out that would be devastating for the Silver Ferns programme. "But knowing that the likes of a Grace who is playing over there in a tougher competition and playing against the top players in the world, that can only bode well for us." The Silver Ferns would play a series against South Africa in September, before the Constellation Cup series with Australia in October. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
