The Auckland

What has happened?

Ten of the 12 schools in the Auckland 1A first XV competition have refused to play against St Kentigern College next year over the fee-paying independent school’s recruitment policy.

St Kents admitted to recruiting five senior first XV players from outside Auckland, which principals from the coalition of schools claim goes against the integrity and values of the competition.

They wrote two letters inviting St Kents to agree to a new code of practice and principles and when St Kents declined, they decided to take extreme action.

The 10 schools are Aorere College, Liston College, Auckland Grammar School, St Peter’s College, Mount Albert Grammar School, De La Salle College, One Tree Hill College, Dilworth Boys’ School, Sacred Heart College, Kelston Boys’ High School.

Their stance has also been supported by schools around the country, including Napier Boys’ High, who lost their halfback from this year to St Kents.

It is understood the remaining school in the Auckland 1A competition, King’s College, has agreed to the changes but not to boycott St Kents.

How long has player recruitment been going on at first XV level for and why act now?

The poaching of players has been around for decades. But there has been a growing concern in recent years that such recruitment, which usually involves schools offering full scholarships, has created an uneven playing field between the big, wealthy schools and the rest. There are also fears that the recruitment of senior elite players fosters a win-at-allcosts mentality at the expense of education.

College Sport, which administers school sport in Auckland, has bylaws limiting the movement of senior players