By Stu Piddington

Former Timaru First XV rugby coach Don Garland is opposed to Roncalli College being allowed a combined team in the Crusaders Schools Championship.

Garland objection is not specifically against Roncalli, but any combined sides, and he taken his concerns to the Crusaders board.

"I am totally against combined schools sides being in an elite First XV competition, the UC Championship is just that, a First XV competition, not a representative under 18 competition.

"That is catered for in the South Island under 16 and under 18 tournaments."

READ MORE: Roncalli to merge to survive

Waimea College was allowed to enter a combined side last year, so Roncalli is hoping to follow suit with the support of Mackenzie, Opihi, Geraldine, Waimate and Mountainview schools.

Garland said in the case of Waimea College,they are a large co-ed school with 900 boys available to pick from and have beaten Nelson College in the past.

"In the case of Roncalli College there are smaller in numbers, but again they have beaten Timaru Boys' High School in the past.

"I have coached both the Roncalli College and TBHS First XVs ,thus I have an understanding of both schools."

Garland said if Waimea and Roncalli want to go the combined way, then they should compete in the Canterbury Metro under 18 competition.

"It should be remembered combined school sides can not compete in the UC Championship finals, national schools and co-ed First XV competitions."

There has to be some commonsense when it comes to the UC Championship being an elite First XV competition, he said.

Garland is a member South Island Secondary Schools rugby council, but they do not run the championship, which comes under the Crusaders board.

Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said the board will be considering the application from Roncalli at its next meeting in a couple of weeks.

"I will ensure that our directors are aware of the differing perspectives.

"While their decision is clearly yet to be made, historically the Crusaders board have relied heavily on the views of the local provincial union (in this case South Canterbury Rugby Union) to be best represent the overall best interests of the local rugby community."

Riach said the board will also be mindful of the need to give clear direction for the upcoming season to assist everyone's planning and understanding.

The South Canterbury Rugby Union is in favour of the combined Roncalli side.

SCRU chief executive Craig Calder said the union endorsed Roncalli's application.

"An Aoraki combined school team will provide player depth to make them competitive team in the championship.

"More importantly it gives all under 18 school players in South Canterbury an opportunity to play competitively at this top school rugby level."

Roncalli deputy principal Andrew Jones said despite having a development programme that looks to nurture younger players, Roncalli found itself being increasingly targeted by schools within the UC Championship and from around the country.

"It is our intention to support South Canterbury rugby first and foremost by providing another pathway for players to develop to their potential, in the top schoolboy grade in the region.

"This in turn will develop greater competition, depth and experience that will transfer to all senior club teams and South Canterbury representative rugby."

Jones said it also allowed students to stay at their school of choice but also have access to the elite rugby competition.

Roncalli entered the championship in 2010 and had there best ever finish, fifth, in 2011.

Over the past two seasons the school has failed to record a win and has had a number of their better players chased by other schools, making it difficult to build any depth with a roll of only 250 boys.

At a glance Roncalli finishes since debut:

2010 11th2011 5th2012 6th2013 8th2014 10th2015 15th2016 15th