Rugby: Leading Auckland college excluded from 1st XV competition

Leading Auckland rugby college Saint Kentigern insists it's playing by rules despite allegations of player poaching.

Ten rival Auckland secondary schools have agreed to boycott St Kentigern's in the firrst fifteen competition next year, after the college admitted five senior players from 1st XVs around the country will be bolstering its squad in 2019.

The principal of St Kentigern's, David Hodge, says College Sport Auckland sets the rules for the competition and they abide 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."

David Hodge wants New Zealand Rugby to intervene to help resolve the matter.

A letter signed by the principals of ten Auckland colleges - Aorere College, Auckland Grammar, De La Salle College, Dilworth School, Kelston Bou's High School, Liston College, Mt Albert Grammar, One Tree Hill College, Sacred Heart College and St Peter's College - has told St Kentigern's it won't play them next year.

The group has been trying to get St Kentigerns to sign up to a code of principles which included schools agreeing not to recruit players from another first fifteen through any form of inducement or scholarship.

St Kentigern's principal David Hodge met with the ten schools in November but the matter remains unresolved.

In a letter to Mr Hodge dated November 26th the ten principals state how concerned they are concerned St Kentigern's "is actively recruiting students from the region, and wider Auckland to join your 1st XV Rugby team......this was confirmed by your 1st XV coach."