The Otago Boys' High School First XV has had a rare mid-season change of coaches.
Otago Boys', which sits third in the Highlanders First XV competition, will no longer be coached by Grant Sneddon and Brian Free, with teachers Brian Ashwin and Ryan Martin taking over.
Ashwin, the former long-serving coach, was the manager of the team this year.
Otago Boys' High School teacher in charge of rugby, Neill Baker, said it had been the first time in its history two non-teachers had been in charge of the First XV.
But it had not worked out, and the teachers would now take over for the rest of the season.
He said it was a difficult situation, but the players were getting mixed messages, and planning was not as good as it should have been. The boys needed continuity throughout the week.
Sneddon and Free had not been sacked but had decided to move on, he said.
He said common sense had prevailed. Coaching a school team was different from a club team.
Baker said former First XV coach Bevan Townsend was also assisting.
The resignation was nothing to do with the side suffering a shock loss to Dunstan High School on May 29.
Sneddon said, when contacted, he and Free had stepped aside as no team could operate with two sets of coaches.
He had discussed the issue with Baker but for the good of the team, the pair decided to stand aside.
He declined further comment, and was simply looking to the future.
