Overage saga rocks SA schools
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The prestigious South African school Glenwood Preparatory School have issued an apology after fielding overage players to play in their 2018 and 2019 rugby squads.
According to School of Rugby, the two-star players of the Glenwood Preparatory School Under-13 boys team were actually 17 and 18-years old.
The two players were part of the Glenwood Preparatory U13 side that brushed all opposition aside in 2019, while one was named Player of the Tournament and the other as the Backline Player of the Tournament during Glenwood High School’s annual rugby festival.
The duo also played for the Sharks Under-13 Craven Week team who defeated Western Province in the unofficial final.
On Wednesday, Glenwood Preparatory School released a statement stating they were unaware that two of their players were overage.
The principal Noel Ingle, who is also the chairman of the South African Schools Rugby Association, stated the school was duped by false documentation that was provided which withstood all scrutiny.
“I extend my sincere apologies to all players, parents, officials and spectators from our school and our opposition schools
“We enrolled two pupils into the school in Grade 6 in 2018 who provided the school with false documentation. The documentation withstood all scrutiny as it was genuine. The two players concerned used documentation that belonged to two younger boys,”
As part of the investigating process, the school have informed the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union about the matter.
“They have necessitated their own investigation into our findings and all parties are working together to find a solution into the matter.”
School of Rugby reported that bone-density tests were conducted on the two boys after concerns were raised on the matter of their age.
The tests found that they were aged 17 in Grade 8 in 2020, so would have been 15 – and three years over age – when they enrolled at Glenwood Prep in 2018
Meanwhile, in a separate instance, Durban High school cancelled all sporting events against Glenwood High School over allegations of player and coach poaching.
