Easy fix for UC Championship problems

OPINION Fixing the problems with the Crusaders Schools Championship could be quite simple if someone is brave enough to take the reins.

All the competing schools want the prestige associated with playing in a Crusaders competition, so why not just split it between two divisions.

There is a large gap between the top and bottom schools. With 15 teams the obvious place would be an eight-seven split but that creates a headache of which two teams to leave out of the top tier.

It would be better to make it 10 and five, with a promotionrelegation game, and work hard to introduce some new schools into the second tier over time.

(The eight-seven split proposed by the CRFU was rounded defeated by a schools’ vote last this year as it meant St Bede’s and St Andrew’s College would have been relegated after finishing 9th and 10th in 2016).

Already there are four combined schools struggling in the UC Championship and some may have want to go on their own in a second tier.

Other schools could be prepared to join a division two if they didn’t have to face the likes of Christchurch Boys’ High School, Nelson Boys’ College and Christ’s College. The combined schools would also not be eligible for the top tier, making it traditional First XV competition.

Other simmering concerns around the championship have bubbled to the surface in a letter by Christchurch Boys’ High School to the Canterbury union, but could be also easily solved with common sense and strong leadership.

Get tough on over age players – no matter whether from overseas or local – no dispensations allowed for those turning 19 during the season.

Also ban those players returning for Year 14. They are supposedly chasing NCEA results that usually don’t mean much after the rugby season is finished.

Just follow the New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council rules that have already dealt with many of the issues.

Dealing with players transferring between schools is a sticky one as ‘poaching’ is always denied.

The move is either for the ‘opportunities’ afforded the student or for academic reasons. Big, well-financed schools are always going to have an advantage – that’s life but put some rules in place.

Invoke a stand down for a period of six weeks for boys who have played for another First XV within Crusaders boundaries.

Splitting into two smaller divisions will also allow time for schools to play their traditional inter-schools without possibly facing three games in eight days, as player welfare has also been cited as a concern, and also give byes.

The principals of the competing schools are meeting with CRFU chief executive Nathan Godfrey to thrash out answers.

The principals want leadership shown but they will also need to put aside their own agendas for it to work. The championship also needs a functioning committee to oversee it and make decisions, perhaps with some independent voices.

The independence also needs to filter down as far as simple things like the draw and the distribution of travel.

The perception from schools outside Christchurch’s boundaries that they don’t seem to get the ‘fair rub of the green’ when it comes to their requests, including simple things like the allocation of the bye.

Timaru Boys’ High School requested the bye either side of their traditional midweek game against the powerful Otago Boys’ High School.

Instead they drew Burnside and Marlborough Boys’ High School, both away, and the bye drawn in the last week of the round robin. Christ’s College and Christchurch Boys’ High School were a bit luckier.

Roncalli College would also benefit big time from having two divisions.

The players give it their all each week but with only 250 boys they are always going to be up against it, unless it is an extraordinary year.

Roncalli have not won a game for over two seasons and it could be three. They would be better suited to play in a second division, avoiding the power house schools that run up huge scores.

If it doesn’t happen they could look south to the Otago schools’ competition, where they would be much more competitive as Otago Boys’ High School and Southland Boys’ do not play in it.