Rugby: Three Highlanders First XV games to be televised

The Highlanders Schools First XV competition is due to start in April and three games in the competition will be televised.

Despite worries over the finances of the Otago Rugby Football Union and the departure of Otago union schools and clubs liaison officer Brett Compton from the union, the competition was still ready to start at the beginning of the second school term.

Otago Secondary Sports Association regional sports director Des Smith said a draft draw had been put together and an executive committee had been set up to run the competition.

The competition was entering its fourth year.

Smith said schools were enthusiastic about it and its benefits for the schools and players.

The public had been very supportive of the competition and large crowds had watched games.

Invercargill school Verdon College, which lost a play-off last year, was replaced in the 12-team competition by James Hargest College.

The competition cost about $80,000 to run each year and with schools putting in $3000 each, the rest of the money had to come from sponsorship.

The drive to attain sponsorship was under way.

The cost was mainly to cover travel and teams also stayed overnight when they played the two sides in Oamaru.

Smith said games between King's High School and Otago Boys' High School, Gore High School and Southland Boys' High School and the match between Otago Boys' and Southland Boys' will be telecast live on Sky television.

The competition was won by Southland Boys' in its first two years and Otago Boys' won last year.