Rugby: First XV competition loses OBHS

"Our boys have probably outgrown the Highlanders competition and we need to play in a competition...
"Our boys have probably outgrown the Highlanders competition and we need to play in a competition which poses more challenges and where we can get beaten" - OBHS rugby administrator Brian Ashwin.
Otago Boys' High School has pulled out of the Highlanders First XV competition next year to play in the Dunedin premier colts grade.

After winning the school competition the past four years, Otago Boys' leaves the competition on a 54-match winning streak, many of them blowouts.

The decision to play in the premier colts grade came down to the school wanting to play more competitive rugby, Otago Boys' rugby administrator Brian Ashwin said.

''We have been internally debating staying in the Highlanders competition or returning to colts for two years. So we have made that call to play in a competition that is more challenging.

''Our boys have probably outgrown the Highlanders competition and we need to play in a competition which poses more challenges and where we can get beaten.

''It was a very tough decision. We have had lots of benefits from the Highlanders competition ... but we are looking to be challenged on a regular basis,'' he said.

The move is not foreign territory for the school, which played in the premier colts competition from 1996 to 2005.

As well as the second best school in the South Island pulling out, the format of the competition has been revamped ahead of next season.

Taieri College, Kavanagh College and one unconfirmed team will now take part in the competition, boosting the number of teams from 14 to 16.

Much like the ITM Cup, the teams will be split into two pools of eight, the Premiership and Championship.

Each team will play the other teams in its pool once and three teams from the other pool.

The competition will then split into a top six champions round, a bowl cup (next five teams) and plate cup (bottom five teams).

Otago Boys' will still have a chance to play off for the South Island secondary schools title against the winner of the Press Cup.

However, it is not yet known if the challenger will be decided by inter-school results or a playoff between Otago Boys' and the winner of the Highlanders competition.

Highlanders First XV committee chairman Don McFarlane was pleased with the new format, but said it was a shame Otago Boys' had pulled out of the competition.

''We are well aware the last two years it [the competition] hasn't created the dynamic finish that we would have liked.

''We [the committee] are disappointed they [Otago Boys'] have opted to withdraw, but we can understand where they want to head to.''

The 16 teams in next year's competition will be seeded into the two pools off the back of this year's results and the draw should be released by the end of the year, McFarlane said.

The revamped model of the Highlanders competition will kick off on Anzac Day.

- Robert van Royen

Add a Comment