The organisation which runs school sport in Auckland will investigate a row between St Kentigern's College and 10 Auckland schools over its rugby programme.
Disappointed St Kentigern's College players bury their heads in their hands after losing to St Peter's in the semi-finals of the Auckland College 1st XV competition. Photo: Photosport
College Sport has appointed an independent panel made up of former All Black Ian Jones, Wellington barrister Tim Castle and former Diocesan School principal Gail Thomson.
Ten rival Auckland secondary schools say they will boycott St Kentigern's in the First XV competition next year, after the college admitted five senior players from around the country will be bolstering its squad.
St Kentigerns wants College Sport to investigate if the actions of the 10 principals to see if they were within the rules or were bringing the college system into disrepute.
Poaching has long been an issue in schoolboy rugby, and many schools have expressed concern about the practice.
St Kentigern's principal David Hodge earlier this month told RNZ that College Sport Auckland set the rules for the competition and they abided by them.
"We haven't been charged by College Sport... with contravening the rules and it's up to College Sport to determine whether they run the code or whether a group of schools run the code," he said at the time.