The North Otago club council may have to look at or remind clubs of age requirements for players in premier rugby.
The current state of the Valley club and others in similar circumstances has meant that often, in an effort to field a full complement, younger players have been asked to fill a place on the bench.
When queried this week, the North Otago Rugby Football Union said players under the age of 18 must have the approval of the union before being allowed to play. This ruling is based on the New Zealand Rugby handbook.
Old Boys and Excelsior, the two top teams in the Citizens Shield, meet on the WCS No 1 ground tomorrow at 2.45pm in round 14 of premier rugby.
Old Boys is in no danger of losing the top slot for the semifinals but Excelsior is only two points ahead of third-placed Athletic Marist.
Athletic hosts Kurow, which is in fourth place, six points behind Athletic, and would like to have Athletic's scalp on the belt going into the semifinals in a fortnight.
Three players have brought up a century of points this season. Old Boys halfback Inoke Naufahu has 165 points, followed by Brad McKenzie (114) and Ben Nowell (105).
The leading try-scorer is Old Boys lock Sale Pi'i, who has scored 13 tries in 14 games, followed by fellow loose forward Max Mapusaga (11) and front rower Ralph Darling (12).
Old Boys has scored 98 tries, followed by Excelsior (61), Athletic Marist (55), Kurow (45), Valley (30) and Maheno (20).
Meanwhile, North Otago coaches Barry Stevens and Kilifi Fangupo have named an enlarged squad which has been having extended fitness sessions.
There are no loan players.
On Citizens Shield form, this could be a possible line-up. -Stewart Kirby, Sam Fleming, Hamish McCulloch, James Pillay, Craig Robson, Ben Nowell, Cameron Keenan, Samisoni Tongotongo, John Kelly, Matt Duff, Sale Pi'i, Jared Whitburn, Palenapa Mafi, Ralph Darling, Thomas Shields. Reserves: Joe Collins, Wallace Milne, Max Mapusaga, Hayden Tisdall, Ben Palmer, Inoke Naufahun, Siua Ngalo.
- Terry O'Neill
