Tackle school-rugby poachers

FOR a number of years there has been an obsession in some schools with winning the Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup at all costs.

If that means poaching good players from other schools, reducing their fees, giving them a place in sixth year and on the senior team, so be it.

This is happening frequently in a few colleges.

Parents are often told the school is booked up for years; there is a waiting list and then they make room for good rugby players in sixth year and give them a place on the senior team.

This is causing resentment with pupils who are playing rugby for their school for perhaps 10 years and then their place is taken by a new player from another school who was poached to win matches, particularly the Senior Cup. Parents cannot complain to the board of management because some members of the staff are on the board and they support the idea.

If we complain to the Leinster Branch of the IRFU we discover that someone from the particular college or colleges who are doing the poaching is on the selection committee. It is a no-win situation. Something must be done about it or we may have to name-and-shame the particular school or schools and the poachers. There seems to be no regard for the morality, the ethics or the injustice of the whole practice.

What about the school motto? Does that not mean anything now?

James Nugent

Glenageary Ave

Glenageary

Co Dublin.