Comment: RBHS makes history with league side

ON FIELD: Rotorua Boys' High School league team perform the haka before their first match.PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

For some time now league has been the poor cousin to rugby especially when it came to the secondary school level.

Until recently none of the secondary schools had a 1st XIII, instead opting to concentrate on rugby. In fact, some schools even discouraged their students from playing league.

There have been a number of times I've seen students playing for their school's 1st XV and, later on that day, putting on a league jersey for one of the Rotorua clubs.

However, it seems things are about to change and some of the credit has to go to Rotorua businesswoman Donna Grant.

A board member at the Warriors rugby league club, Mrs Grant has been a staunch supporter of getting more youngsters involved in the sport.

Rotorua Boys' High School principal Chris Grinter also needs to be acknowledged for being one of the first schools in the Rotorua area to see the merits of having both a rugby and a league team in the school.

This week, Rotorua Boys' High School is making history as they field a league side at the New Zealand Rugby League National Secondary School Tournament in Auckland.

The school has a proud history in rugby and with the depth and talent within the school I'm sure they can create some great league history to go with it. Hopefully other schools will follow the lead of Boys' High and start their own league teams. The benefit from having both codes in the school is the opportunity for more students to play sport and if they are good enough possibly making a career out of it.

What would really help the league depth grow within the Rotorua area would be an inter-school competition, possibly played mid-week so as not to clash with the club competition. I'm sure we'd soon see more of our youngsters being recognised at representative level and give our local league clubs the boost they need.

Currently at the club level there is a development hole in age group leagues. Youngsters can play from mini-mods (junior level) through to under-17. After that, a youngster who wants to continue to play league, has to either leave the district or play senior reserves or premier grade. A huge leap for some youngsters.

With the introduction of a secondary school division between the schools in Rotorua this could bridge the gap. Let's hope the other schools see the merit in starting up a 1st XIII.