Nelson College blasts TRU after 'unjust' decision

Nelson College is seeking intervention from New Zealand Rugby after an "unjust, discriminatory, and inconsistent" decision by Tasman Rugby will mean it will be the only boys' school in the country excluded from playing age group rugby.

The school has sent an urgent request to NZR asking it to establish a new, fairer, independent club status application process. It is in response to a proposal from the Tasman Rugby Union to no longer permit Nelson College to participate in Saturday rugby, because it is not a club. Instead, the TRU asks that U14, U15, U16 college players play exclusively for local rugby clubs.

Nelson College has been told that TRU’s rationale includes fostering club rugby to support senior rugby pathways and concerns about the perceived decline in services within the college’s junior rugby programme recently.

Nelson College Principal Richard Washington says he is extremely disappointed with the "poor process" for how TRU arrived at its "incorrect assessment of the college’s junior programme" and the rationale that fielding Nelson College teams is detrimental to regional rugby.

In a letter to parents Richard called the proposal "unjust, discriminatory, and inconsistent".

“Nelson College helps keep rugby alive in our region – we are a school where a large number of potential rugby players can be nurtured into the game and supported to stay in the game, while also remaining at school for an education. For this investment our players have achieved the highest accolades in New Zealand schoolboy rugby over the years, and we have many former students who now play professional rugby,” says Richard. “Our school’s positive contribution to local and national rugby is undeniable.

“The issue for the clubs in our region is not that players lose touch with their club while playing for college, rather it is the fact that the majority of young people leave our small region after school. Whether they play for colleges or clubs at age 15 to 18 makes no difference to club retention. However, when they return to Nelson, having gone through club junior programmes, players do go back to their clubs as seniors.

“I do understand clubs’ concerns about player recruitment and retention, and that is why I wrote to the TRU and club delegates earlier this year to say that students are free to play for clubs if they want to, and if they did it would not affect their ability to represent the school in other competitions. But, even though players have a choice to play for clubs, the vast majority choose to play for their school, wearing our legacy badge with pride.

“Rather than stopping Nelson College playing, in my view clubs have an opportunity to work closer with the schools that don’t have a rugby programme, like the collaborative partnership we have with FC Nelson for football. I would be happy to share with the other schools how we work with FC Nelson if this would be helpful.”

Richard says that the consultation about age grade rugby was unfair and unbalanced.

“The TRU decision is based on a survey of clubs and schools - clubs who are looking for talent and player registrations, and schools who don’t have a rugby programme anyway. No wonder the outcome was a decision to disband Nelson College Saturday rugby, with only ourselves and Nelson Rugby Football Club supporting us staying in the Saturday competitions.

“Meanwhile, our attempts to become a club so our boys can play have been denied by the Nelson Bays Sub-Union, again due to what we perceive as being a biased process.

“What is particularly astounding is that no other college in the country has been requested to not field teams on a Saturday. Even Marlborough Boys’ College will compete because it was given a designation as a club.

“Unlike this TRU decision, as a school, our decisions have the boys front and centre. We look to what is best for their educational outcomes and their personal wellbeing and we are concerned about the implications of this change on player welfare.

“Boys will have to juggle commitments to both club and school programmes, in our view significantly increasing the risk of burnout, injuries, and reduced long-term participation. Holistically, our school-based rugby programme provides a balanced approach, allowing students to manage academic and extracurricular responsibilities while pursuing other sports or taking necessary breaks.

“The disparity in process and decision making also discriminates against our boarders whose home-town schools don’t have a rugby programme. Being away from home means they require pastoral care as well as logistical support to get to trainings and games. When they play for the college this support comes with our programme, which is important to them and their parents.

“Our concerns about player welfare, the unfair TRU club status process, and the removal of choice for our boys to represent their school in weekend competitions, is part of what we want to discuss with the NZR with urgency.

“Saturday rugby is a tradition that is deeply embedded in Nelson’s history and integral to the pride of school representation. For players who may not make A teams for tournaments, not being able to play for the college on a Saturday means they may never play for the college. Grassroots rugby thrives on inclusivity, fairness, and the pride of school representation, values we will fight to uphold.”

Tasman Rugby has been approached for comment.