Poaching row hits schools

A school is under investigation by a sporting body for questionable recruitment practices, and others have been condemned for the "unethical" way in which they import foreign talent to strengthen elite sports teams.

The criticism levelled at state schools bringing in sporting stars from overseas follows long-running concerns over rich Auckland colleges poaching talent from poorer schools.

Details of the investigation into the Auckland school at the centre of a recruitment row were to be released last week, but colleges spoken to by the Herald on Sunday say importing students is common practice among Auckland's top tier state schools, especially in rugby, with some sending staff overseas on talent-scouting trips.

Poorer schools describe the practice as an unfair tactic they've grudgingly learned to live with. But proponents say they are obeying the rules, and are just seeking to keep their teams competitive.

Macleans College principal Byron Bentley said this year was the first time his school had imported players from overseas.

A group of parents at the decile 10 state school approached Mr Bentley, concerned that the 1st XV - languishing at the bottom of A-grade - would struggle this season after losing players last year. They offered to independently fund the transfer of two Fijian schoolboy stars.

No school money was used to support the Fijians, although the board of trustees waived their fees.

Bylaws set by the Auckland Secondary Schools Heads Association restrict the number of foreign imports a school can field to two per premier team. Players are usually brought over from the Pacific Islands.

At Auckland Grammar, director of sport Richard Skelly makes an annual talent-scouting trip to the Oceania Under-18 rugby tournament - a showcase for Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands and Fiji - whichhe says other schools also attend.

Mr Skelly said at Grammar the cost of importing international talent was paid by private sponsorship, which it was part of his role to solicit.

PPTA Auckland regional chairman Martin Henry said importing players to bolster a team was "unethical and unsupportable".

"If you're going into sport you should be able to play on an even playing field and this isn't even, it's weighted towards the rich and powerful." He said it was "outrageous" that school money was spent on "junkets" to recruit athletes, regardless of whether the money came from taxpayer funding, sponsorship, or parental contributions.

"It doesn't follow the ethics of education as it's been set up in this country."

Education Minister Trevor Mallard, also Minister for Sport and Recreation, was reluctant to criticise the practice, which he said had gone on for some time and had probably become more common since the re-introduction of school zoning.

Peter Sharp of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council said the public had to accept schools would do whatever they thought they should to raise their profile.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY