Otago Boys High School says it has dealt appropriately and fairly with three first XV players who this week pleaded guilty in the Dunedin District Court to assaulting a Kings High School pupil.
They had been on a choir visit to Kings in March this year.
Wearing the Otago Boys High School uniform in the dock at the Dunedin District Court on Thursday, Reopoamo Aiiloilo (18), Salesi Wesley Fifita (18) and Siosaia M. A. Vaki Vahaakolo (17) pleaded guilty to a joint charge of assaulting with intent to injure Foma'i Vaitupu at Kings High School on March 24.
Aiiloilo also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of assault on the same victim by punching him in the head earlier the same day.
Otago Boys High School rector Clive Rennie said the three pupils were suspended for a short period following the incident, until a Board of Trustees hearing at which it was decided to reinstate them with conditions.
The main condition was that they were banned from playing for the school's first XV for half of the season.
It was felt it was in the boys' interest to deal with them while they were still in school, rather than have them thrown out, Mr Rennie said.
"I believe the board acted appropriately and fairly and that it was in the interest of the futures of those young men to have them reinstated."
The police summary of the incident was that Aiiloilo, Fifita and Vahaakolo went to Kings High School that day as part of the OBHS choir for a mayoral performance in which various schools were taking part.
About 1pm that day Aiiloilo punched Foma'i Vaitupu twice in the back of the head as Vahaakolo held him after the victim had nodded hello to them.
About 40 minutes later, the Kings pupil was standing outside the school's performing arts centre talking to a group of other pupils when Aiiloilo started hissing at him.
The three defendants were standing behind a teacher who was trying to move them on, but Aiiloilo removed his school vest and tie and challenged Foma'i Vaitupu to a fight.
Fifita then punched the victim in the face before Aiiloilo punched him in the body, knocking him over.
The three defendants then punched the victim in the head and upper body and stomped on him as he lay shielding his head.
The defendants' lawyer, Brian Kilkelly, told the court the defendants disputed they had stomped on the victim.
He had bruising, a cut cheek and a cut mouth, but did not need medical attention.
The defendants were remanded on continued bail to sentencing on October 23.
Mr Kilkelly told Judge Emma Smith the defendants had not appeared before the court previously and would seek a discharge without conviction.
They were also taking part in a restorative justice programme.
