It was confirmed that the South African Schools Rugby Association will clarify the banning of schoolboys with a matriculation certificate (post matrics) to participate in any high school matches.
The current wording regarding post-matrics stipulates that any player with a matriculation certificate (boy at a tertiary institution or working), but still under 18, will not be allowed to participate in the u/18 Craven Week or u/18 Academy Week. It also stipulates that any player with a matriculation certificate (boy at a tertiary institution or working), but still under 18, will not be allowed to participate in any high school matches.
However, due to "misinterpretation" by schools it was decided to clarify the matter during the next AGM of the South African Schools Rugby Association
According to informed sources, the spirit of the 2018 communications was that no player with a matric certificate may play schoolboy rugby. This was to stop the post-matric issue. It has been pointed out that while this is the essence of the communications, the bracketed, (boy at a tertiary institution or working) has created the impression it only refers to only boys at a tertiary institution or working and not schoolboys.
Apparently, the new regulation will stipulate that any player with a matriculation certificate or a boy at a tertiary institution or working, but still under 18, will not be allowed to participate in any high school matches.
Hopefully the wording "matriculation certificate" can be changed to include boys that attended classes at a school in order to acquire a matriculation certificate. During the past week, I was made aware of several boys whose registration for the 2022 matric exams was cancelled before the exams in order to do "post-matric" in 2023.
And maybe also include under "19 to under 29" to ensure that no "misinterpretations" is possible in the future.
