Player sidelined in school rugby ruling

David Tommas with son Sam, who goes to Parnell College which does not have its own rugby team. Photo / Richard Robinson

All Sam Tommas wanted to do was play rugby.

The 14-year-old ACG Parnell College student, who can't play rugby for his school because there aren't enough players to make a team, didn't mind that he was placed in the lowest grade possible in another school's team - or that the conditions around playing meant he would never play in a semi-final or final.

But, after 18 months of hard work by his father, Dave Tommas, who did everything he could to get Sam playing for another school, the teenager's hopes were dashed two games into the season when he was told he could not play.

A misunderstanding occurred between the Auckland Rugby Union's secondary schools rugby development officer, staff at Sam's school and staff at Auckland Grammar who Sam was supposed to play for.

No one told Mr Tommas, who was coaching the team, that he needed the approval of both schools' principals - not just sports staff - for Sam to play.

So Auckland Grammar principal John Morris pulled Sam from the team.

After plans to play for St Peter's College fell through last season, Sam was placed in Auckland Grammar's 7th grade C team this season.

But, while playing in their second game, a parent from another school complained that Sam was not playing for his own school.

He cannot play for a club because the club rugby cut-off is age 14.

Sam's father said it would never have mattered what school Sam played for.

"It was never about that at all - this is the lowest team we could find. It's about kids having a run around a paddock on a Saturday morning in the cold and rain for the love of the game. Isn't that what the sport's all about? Well, it used to be."

He is annoyed that no one told him the correct procedure earlier.

"I jumped over every hurdle I thought I absolutely had to for the very reason that I didn't want Sam to be in the position where he was accused of cheating by another school.

"Why does it have to be so damn territorial? This is not an issue of a school that's got seven rugby teams that's rocking up saying: 'Gee, let's play in the Grammar team'.

"This is a school that doesn't have enough kids to make a team ...maybe I'm missing the point, but I can't see how schools can't embrace the philosophy of trying to support other schools in sport."

But Mr Morris is making no apologies. "The boy doesn't go to our school, therefore he can't play for our school, it's as simple as that.

"If he is so committed to rugby, then he should have chosen a school for his son that played rugby... he's chosen to go to a private school that doesn't play a lot of sport ... he can't have his cake and eat it.

"Part of the development of a school's pride and sense of belonging is you actually play for your school."

ACG Parnell College acting principal Kenny Beeton said the school had received a letter of apology from Auckland Secondary Schools Rugby Union chairman Jim Lonergan.

Mr Lonergan said situations like Sam's were unfortunate, but rare.

"It's bad communication. It didn't come through to us at all so it wasn't official."