Schoolboy rugby wrangle sent to mediation

The playing future of U14, U15 and U16 rugby sides from Nelson College will now be decided by an independent mediator.

The college opposed a ruling by the Nelson Bays Sub-union that its secondary school teams would no longer be allowed to compete in the local club competition,

The sub-union argued that was damaging age grade playing numbers for clubs, especially in the countryside, so Nelson College students should instead turn out for clubs.

Nelson College and the sub-union held separate zoom calls with Steve Lancaster, NZ Rugby’s General Manager of Community Rugby in January.

The rival parties were then asked to make written submissions, backing their cases.

They were lengthy but an NZ Rugby decision was expected last week.

Word filtered through at a sub-union meeting on Monday about mediation and it was officially confirmed by an NZ Rugby email last night.

Nelson College has called a special meeting of parents and players for 6pm tonight.

The mediator is Nelson barrister Bill Rainey who has a long history in the dispute resolution field.

The schoolboy club rugby competition is due to start in early May, the second week of term.