The high-school student who left Auckland in alert level 4 to get to Dunedin is understood to be a rugby player who arrived just before a big game.
Otago Boys' High School is due to play Nelson College in the South Island secondary schools' final in Dunedin on Saturday.
Otago Boys' has not confirmed any link between the match and the student, who arrived in Dunedin last Friday.
A statement from rector Richard Hall on Tuesday made no mention of rugby.