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Peter Miskimmin: Sport NZ refuses to take sides in school rugby squabble
Sport New Zealand is refusing to take sides over the controversial school sporting squabble.
Ten Auckland schools are boycotting playing St Kentigern College's First XV next year because of its recruitment of elite players from rival teams.
Sport NZ CEO Peter Miskimmin told Mike Hosking his main focus is the integrity of sport and what's in the best interest of the players.
"It's about strengthening secondary school sport and I think it's a really good debate to have and hopefully some sense can come into it."
"It's about getting the right balance between the development of young people and about winning."
The recruitment of players, done in a way that emphasises winning or the commercial or marketing emphasis of the school, over the holistic development of young people is not what secondary school sport should be about."
"Making sure we have the best, level playing field [and] providing everyone with an opportunity and the integrity of that sporting competition is upheld."
While St Kentigern College isn't breaking any rules, principals say poaching top players is a farcical violation of the spirit of the game.
"From what I can see from some of the rules in the past, young kids can move into schools in year nine or 10 and that seems sensible and the school develops them," Miskimmin said.
"I think where it starts to irk people is when some of these students move in year 13 basically to bolster a school to win a title."
"That doesn't send a very good message to the kids in school where that kid has come from, because that [kid] typically is the hero of the team and they look forward to that season, and what does it say to the kids at the school they're going to, who are trying to make the First 15 or First 11?"
"That's what I think these principals are looking at and this debate has been whirling for awhile so I think it's really good we are having it now."
He said he understands parents need to do what's best for their kids but it's important to protect everyone's interests.
"I applaud the strong leadership from these principals. They are really trying to protect the interests of everyone and the school competition and I think that's great."
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By Newstalk ZBSport New Zealand is refusing to take sides over the controversial school sporting squabble.
Ten Auckland schools are boycotting playing St Kentigern College's First XV next year because of its recruitment of elite players from rival teams.
Sport NZ CEO Peter Miskimmin told Mike Hosking his main focus is the integrity of sport and what's in the best interest of the players.
"It's about strengthening secondary school sport and I think it's a really good debate to have and hopefully some sense can come into it."
"It's about getting the right balance between the development of young people and about winning."
The recruitment of players, done in a way that emphasises winning or the commercial or marketing emphasis of the school, over the holistic development of young people is not what secondary school sport should be about."
"Making sure we have the best, level playing field [and] providing everyone with an opportunity and the integrity of that sporting competition is upheld."
While St Kentigern College isn't breaking any rules, principals say poaching top players is a farcical violation of the spirit of the game.
"From what I can see from some of the rules in the past, young kids can move into schools in year nine or 10 and that seems sensible and the school develops them," Miskimmin said.
"I think where it starts to irk people is when some of these students move in year 13 basically to bolster a school to win a title."
"That doesn't send a very good message to the kids in school where that kid has come from, because that [kid] typically is the hero of the team and they look forward to that season, and what does it say to the kids at the school they're going to, who are trying to make the First 15 or First 11?"
"That's what I think these principals are looking at and this debate has been whirling for awhile so I think it's really good we are having it now."
He said he understands parents need to do what's best for their kids but it's important to protect everyone's interests.
"I applaud the strong leadership from these principals. They are really trying to protect the interests of everyone and the school competition and I think that's great."