The Otago Secondary School’s Rugby Council (OSSRC) and the Otago Rugby Football Union (ORFU) have confirmed the structure for the Otago Premier Schools competition in 2020.

Following a review of the 2019 season and competition format proposals being sent to all 12 competing schools, the 2020 competition structure was agreed to at the October OSSRC General Meeting. All 12 teams that competed in 2019 are back in 2020, with the competition set to kick off on the weekend of May 2^nd. 

2020 will start with an initial Premiership/Championship double round-robin with six teams in each, based on 2019 rankings. At the conclusion of the first round-robin, teams ranked 5^th/6^th are relegated to the Championship and teams ranked 7^th/8^th are promoted to the Premiership for a second round-robin. Teams will then split into 3 groups of four (top, middle and bottom) to contest for the respective trophies. The ODT Cup will remain the pinnacle competition silverware.

Chairman of the OSSRC, Greg Heller, was happy with outlook for 2020. “Following our season review, we were given a strong mandate from our schools to progress forward with a clear majority option. This new format gives every team in the competition a chance to win the ODT Cup from the outset of the season, as well as placing importance on starting well from the outset of the competition”.

“It is great to welcome back Wakatipu 1^st XV, Combined Co-Ed 1^st XV and Southland BHS 1^st XV, who all added value to the competition in 2019. Southland Boys’ High School clearly added another dimension to the competition and it was pleasing for players of the same age to play against their peers. Wakatipu also improved immensely as the season progressed. The Combined Co-Ed team was more than competitive, which is important as this team gives our co-ed based players access to 1^st XV level rugby”.

“The relative strength of our competition was highlighted favourably by a number of positive interschool results with Canterbury schools, as well as the success enjoyed by our age-grade rep teams.”

“As a Council, we are hugely appreciative of the support from our loyal group of sponsors and grants providers, which ensures that all teams are able to regularly travel widely to compete”.

The Lion Foundation Shield, introduced in 2018, and defended by the holder in all home matches will be hotly contested again, with current holders OBHS 1^st XV looking to hold onto it for another season.

ORFU General Manager Richard Kinley said ”Central Otago is a rapidly growing area within our region in the Small Blacks and Secondary school grades so it is important for us to promote 1^st XV level rugby to players in that area. Having Mt Aspiring and Dunstan in the Premiership grade and welcoming back Wakatipu 1^st XV for a second season reflects the growth and success evident in the Central region. It was also pleasing to have four players achieve National honours in the NZ Schools/Barbarians programme in 2019, which is a reflection on the quality of rugby these young men were exposed to during the local Otago Schools competition”

The competition will culminate with a finals weekend on the 8^th of August. The OSSRC and the ORFU are working hard to have these games played at the best available ground in Otago. The Match Committee will sign off a draft version of the competition draw in the coming weeks and have this sent to schools before the term breaks for a well-earned summer holiday.  

The competition format that determines the lower South Island qualifier for National top four will be confirmed in the New Year. It will be separate to the Otago Premier Schools competition, and similar to the format used for the co-ed qualification.

Article added: Tuesday 26 November 2019