Sports reader's say: State of secondary school rugby | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

As a first time ... writer and parent of an unaffected "A" grade player (my son doesn't belong to any of the teams involved), I feel compelled to voice my concerns on the shambolic state of secondary schools' rugby.

Firstly, shame on the Lindisfarne principal - is this how you and your teachers promote competitive sport at your school? To think that your school uses a local competition for its own personal gain is a disgrace.

If your team had no intention of participating in a final of a competition and was not prepared to consider an alternative date, then your team should have pulled out before playing a semifinal. The fifth-placed team should have played the semifinal.

That your team chose to play the semifinal and default before the game or, as some have suggested, to simply gift the game after it had been played (who would know what the truth is here due to your school's loss of credibility) is, I believe, grounds for your team to be kicked out of next year's competition.

The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union and, in particular, competitions manager Ian MacRae's comments, are a source of dismay.

Mr MacRae, answer this question. If this situation occurred at a local premier competition level, would the actions you have sanctioned be allowed?

I would think not. I don't believe you appreciate the importance of individual competitions at any level outside the union's beloved National Provincial Competition (NPC) - that is, the effort that coaches, players and volunteers put in.

Your comments "that it's just a case of teachers tearing each other apart" is naive and arrogant.

I am bewildered that in this whole affair there appears to be many so-called "qualified decisions" made without the basis of some firm rules as to how the competition should be played.

There also appears to be a simple lack of communication - the lack of courtesy from Lindisfarne to advise the HBRU as to their intentions.

The lack of courtesy also from HBRU to then advise other affected teams of Lindisfarne's decision before engaging in a semifinal.

The buck lies with the HBRU and Mr MacRae - former All Black or not, your actions have been amateurish, with decisions and comments appearing to be made based on personal views rather than for the good of the competition.

Remember, Mr MacRae, no one is bigger than the game.

- Sherilyn Alexander

Hastings