Following World Rugby's recommendation to postpone Rugby World Cup 2021, the New Zealand Schools’ Rugby Union (NZSRU) has confirmed that all three national 1^st XV championships will again be hosted at the Massey University Sport & Rugby Institute in Palmerston North 17^th – 19^th September .

The Barbarians National Secondary School Rugby Championships comprise

• the New Zealand National Girls 1^st XV Championships for the Hine Pounamu Trophy
• the New Zealand Barbarians National 1^st XV Championship for the Barbarian Cup
• the New Zealand National Invitational Co-educational Schools 1^st XV Championship for the Barbarian Trophy.

Prior to this decision it was being planned to hold the girls’ championship in the middle weekend of the Term Three school holidays to “wrap around” the Rugby World Cup semi-finals at Eden Park on 9 October. It was also being planned to stage a “Carnival” tournament for Girls’ teams at the same time.

The NZSRU felt that this would have been a great opportunity for the girls’ tournament to form part of a world rugby event and benefit from the national and global interest that the 2021 Rugby World Cup would bring.

NZSRU remains committed to aligning the girls’ tournament with the Rugby World Cup window in 2022.

In a departure from previous years, the 2021 National 1^st XV Rugby Championships will not be held during winter tournament week. NZSRU has always been concerned that the timing of the National 1^st XV Championships has dictated the timing of 1^st XV competitions throughout the country with local competitions needing to finish earlier than desirable. This was exacerbated by the earlier timing of Winter Tournament Week in 2021. Schools Sport New Zealand have sanctioned the later timing of 17^th – 19^th September.

The New Zealand Schools Rugby Union have also confirmed the itinerary for the NZ Schools international series with Australia U18 and Fiji U18 Schools.

Garry Chronican

Chairman

New Zealand Schools’ Rugby Union

If the Australian and Fijian teams can travel to New Zealand for the tournament without being affected by COVID-19 border restrictions, the format will be as follows:

If the Australian and Fijian teams are unable to travel to New Zealand for the tournament due to COVID-19 border restrictions, the format will be as follows:

Article added: Monday 08 March 2021