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A major clothing manufacturer is defending its sponsorship of a cheeky student event that left dozens of teenagers in hot water with their school.
Underwear brand Jockey provided sets of underwear for more than 40 pupils of Marlborough Boys College in Blenheim who stripped down to their new garments and tried to perform their annual "grundy run" through the grounds of Marlborough Girls College on Friday.
The scantily clad group were cut off by college staff and unable to make it onto the grounds, much to the disappointment of waiting girls' college pupils.
The principals of both colleges had earlier warned their pupils not to take part because past events had been linked to acts of vandalism, dangerous driving and "obscene behaviour".
As a result of his boys ignoring the wishes of their school this year, principal John Rodgers said they had been punished.
"They will do a bit of community work to acknowledge they were unco-operative," Mr Rodgers said.
Despite the colleges' stance, product manager for Jockey Mens New Zealand Amanda Carmichael said the brand supported the boys in the spirit of good fun.
"Our initial investigations into it show that it's more of a student event than a school event. No publicity is bad publicity."
Ms Carmichael said the pupils had approached Jockey for sponsorship and the manufacturer had had no contact from the college principals.
If contacted, it would have reconsidered its position.
"We are not in a position to condone it or not condone it. That's up to the authorities at the schools to decide on."
Mr Rodgers said he had no issue with the arrangement between Jockey and his pupils.
Jockey would not have been aware of the college's feelings on the matter, he said.
While the grundy run was a light-hearted event, it had given rise to some "undesirables" attaching themselves to it and causing damage in recent years.
No such problems were reported this year.
Marlborough Girls College did not want to comment.
But last week, the principal, Karen Stewart, said: "It has not been an event that we have condoned for many years."
Footage from the run is expected to feature on YouTube.
