Auckland school principals ban live broadcast of First XV rugby matches

Kelston BHS players celebrate winning the Auckland 1st XV rugby final at Eden Park in August.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Auckland school principals are banning the live broadcast of First Fifteen rugby matches next year, citing student welfare.

Sky regularly began broadcasting First XV matches in 2009.

“As educators we have become increasingly wary of organisations and individuals seeking to treat secondary schools rugby as an extension of the professional game,” Mt Albert Grammar headmaster Pat Drumm said in a statement.

The 2022 1A schools – St Peter’s College, Kelston Boys’ High School, Sacred Heart College, DeLa Salle College, Saint Kentigern College, King’s College, Mt Albert Grammar School, Dilworth School, Auckland Grammar School, Liston College, Tangaroa College, Aorere College and in 2023, potentially St Paul’s College and/or Macleans College – represent a broad cross-section of Tāmaki-Makaurau.

De La Salle College principal Myles Hogarty highlighted the “negative impacts of unnecessary hype,” around the broadcast of games.

“Many of our students already feel enormous pressure when they take the field. It is our job as principals to create safer environments for all of our students and we believe this course of action is entirely appropriate given what appears to be a greater emphasis than ever on commercialising school sport and the potential exploitation of those who choose to play it.

“In many cases we are dealing with players as young as 14 or 15, and we do not believe they have the requisite mechanisms to cope with the at times unwanted and unregulated attention that hasbeen allowed to develop in this space,” he said.

RNZ’s Checkpoint approached all the Auckland principals of the schools involved for further comment but they declined.

-RNZ