Yes - they are pink socks.
And, no, someone did not put them through the wash with something red.
Otago Boys' High School elected to play in pink socks during its interschool tournament against Christchurch Boys' High School in Dunedin yesterday.
Pink Shirt Day, held annually around the globe, began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying.
''We are working very hard to make our boys aware of it. We have to set the standard within our own school and that is what [yesterday] is all about.''
Otago Boys' won the interschool 5-3. It had wins in the basketball (82-59), football (3-1), golf (3.5-0.5), under-15 rugby (27-10) and in the first XV game. Christchurch Boys' won the hockey (2-0), the second XV game (27-21) and the squash (3-2).
The first XV match was a cracker. Otago Boys' emerged victorious 37-27, but at one point the home team trailed 27-13.
''Big raps for the forwards. They dominated the scrum. We got a tighthead from the first scrum of the game.''
Loosehead prop Marika Parker played a large role in that. He was a dominant force, while lock Levi Turoa snaffled a lot of ball. Loose forward Oliver Haig also stood out in the pack for his work rate.
Out wide Max Brown scored two excellent tries and first five-eighth Tevita Asi took control of the game in the second spell.