Age rage: Teens in rugby eligibility row
Concerned parents fear many young women will be lost to rugby under the strict enforcement of an eligibility law.
In the new year, the Canterbury Rugby Football Union (CRFU) will enforce a minimum-age rule that has been largely ignored in previous seasons.
World Rugby rules state players have to be 18 to play at senior level, but New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has been approving a dispensation for young women who turn
16 before the start of the season.
The clampdown means even established players such as 15-year-old Naia Toaolamai-Holden, who does not turn
16 until November, cannot play at senior level.
Toaolamai-Holden, who has played for three years at senior level, was the top tryscorer for the High School Old Boys women’s team, coached by her father Vern Holden, with 14 tries in 2017.
Toaolamai-Holden and her mother and teammate Tamara Toaolamai are distraught and pleading for the CRFU and NZR to consider case-by-case dispensations. That feeling is shared by fellow parent Jess Petersen.
Petersen, who began her own playing career at 15, predicts as many as 50 young players wanting to play at senior level will have their hopes dashed by the law and, along with Toaolamai, fears many of them will be lost to the game.
CRFU chief executive Nathan Godfrey said the rule was in place to protect young developing players from injury and there was no provision for dispensations for players under 16.
‘‘This rule has apparently been around for two years but we never heard of it until partway through this year,’’ Toaolamai said.
Petersen said her daughter, who has been playing rugby most of her life, is devastated she cannot play senior rugby in 2018. ‘‘Someone who has no experience in the sport but is a month older than Renee could walk into a senior team if their parents sign the form,’’ Petersen said.
Toaolamai and Petersen want the opportunity to prepare submissions or have their daughters front a panel.
‘‘That’s all I’m asking for is a process to be explored. She might fail that process but if she did fails it we could accept that,’’ Toaolamai said.
‘‘Anything would be better than a blanket rule that just says no.’’
But the CRFU is standing firm.
‘‘We feel it would be negligent for any individual or group – including a parent, registered coach, or affiliated club or school – to ignore the rules and any associated risks around player welfare,’’ Godfrey said.
Toaolamai-Holden missed three games through injury this year, but the injury occurred playing for Christchurch Girls’ High School in a schools competition.
Godfrey said the enforcement of the rule, partly brought about by changes to the Health and Safety Act, will be balanced by a new under-16 female competition and the expansion of CRFU’s 2017 initiative Let Her Play.
‘‘This is about establishing some consistency across the game of rugby. For example, we wouldn’t accept a 15-year-old boy playing senior club rugby against men,’’ Godfrey said.
But Toaolamai said no comparison can be made between women’s and men’s rugby.
Godfrey said the Let Her Play programme provides ‘‘exciting opportunities’’ for young women between 13 and 16 through coaching and education plus game time in the new under-16 competition.
Petersen and Toaolamai fear many young players will lack motivation to play in an under-16 grade that they believe will feature many entry-level players and lack competitiveness.
Their daughters will play in the competition, but the parents hold concerns about the confidence of 13-year-olds, who are new to rugby, having to take on established senior players.
Godfrey said four teams are confirmed for the new competition. The CRFU hopes to add another two, but Petersen and Toaolamai are sceptical.
‘‘What happens if it’s only two teams? Toaolamai questioned. ‘‘I don’t know if it’s going to give the established girls what they need in terms of development. She [Toaolamai-Holden] has played against Black Ferns and Farah Palmer Cup players.’’