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Is it fair for year 14s to play on school sports teams?

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Sat, 14 Jun 2025, 2:58pm
General view during the Super 8 Rugby match between Hastings Boys High School and Napier Boys High School at Hastings Boys' High School Field 1 on June 15, 2024 in Hastings, New Zealand. (Photo by Kerry Marshall/Getty Images)
General view during the Super 8 Rugby match between Hastings Boys High School and Napier Boys High School at Hastings Boys' High School Field 1 on June 15, 2024 in Hastings, New Zealand. (Photo by Kerry Marshall/Getty Images)

Is it fair for year 14s to play on school sports teams?

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Sat, 14 Jun 2025, 2:58pm

Marlborough Boy’s College has made headlines once more, this time for the number of “year 14s” in its First XV team. 

One of the top rugby schools in the South Island, the team has five year 14 students playing this season. 

It’s led to debates around eligibility for school sports, and raised questions about the integrity of the Miles Totora Premiership. 

Rongotai College Principal Kevin Carter joined Piney to discuss what schools are doing to try keep a level playing field.  

“[Returning for year 14] has to be about the academics,” he told Piney. 

“I’d hate to think that there were schools out there encouraging students to come back solely to boost their sports teams.” 

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