After an eventful off-season, the focus will be back on the field today as the Otago premier schools competition begins.
The new competition, sponsored by Southern Wide Real Estate, with teams competing for the Otago Daily Times Cup, involves 10 teams from around Otago.
For the past six years, teams from Otago and Southland have played in the Highlanders First XV competition.
But issues including loss of sponsorship, lengthy travel times and players dropping out of the sport led to the competition falling over.
Otago Boys' High School, after winning the competition four years in a row, decided to play in the Dunedin metropolitan colts grade. With its departure, a behemoth has left the garden and others will now get their time in the sun.
The Otago Boys' Second XV is coming into the grade after having played the past few years in junior colts. It is bound to be a formidable opponent.
John McGlashan College finished third last year behind Otago Boys' and Southland Boys' and will be tough to beat.
South Otago High School only lost two games last year but through the vagaries of the draw missed out on the top eight. It has many of its top players back and has impressed in pre-season.
Another contender could be Dunstan High School, while King's High School should be among the contenders, although it has lost the bulk of its forward pack from last year.
Taieri College and Kavanagh College have come up from last year's under-18 grade and will be looking to test themselves at a higher level.
The two Oamaru schools, St Kevin's College and Waitaki Boys' High School, will have plenty to play for and start with a derby match today.
Mount Aspiring College is on its own this year, after being something of a combined team over the past couple of years with players coming into the team from Wakatipu High School and Cromwell College. Wakatipu has gone to play in the Southland competition while Cromwell College pupils are playing for the Cromwell club in the under-18 competition.
After a round robin, the top six teams go into a top section with the final due to be played in mid August.
Mount Aspiring College
Coach: Hamish Crosbie.
Key players: Openside flanker Bailey Nolet, No 8 Tegan Vink.
The oil: Eighth in the 14-team Highlanders competition last year and looking to be competitive again. A few injuries already and has a fair way to travel for many games.
South Otago High School
Coach: Adam Whaanga.
Key players: Halfback Nick Shaw, lock/No 8 Josh Hill, centre Matt Whaanga.
The oil: About a dozen back from last year and experience in key areas. Some promising youngsters coming through.
Dunstan High School
Coach: Tom Blaikie.
Key players: Lock Keegan O'Donnell, first five-eighth Logan Cornish.
The oil: Not the biggest but has some quality players. Decimated by injuries last year and will be looking to do better this season.
St Kevin's College
Coach: Justin Fowler.
Key players: Halfback Brady Kingan, front-rower William Sutherland.
The oil: Coming off a great year where it made the national top four for co-ed schools. Lost some quality players but will contend.
John McGlashan College
Coaches: John Kyle, Marti Schaaf.
Key players: Midfielder Josh Timu, lock Sam Moir-Grace, flanker Rory Ferguson.
The oil: Third last year and with the two above gone elsewhere, looks to be right in the mix, come the end of the season. A pre-season trip to Samoa was canned but the team has been working hard since before Christmas.
King's High School
Coaches: Mark Alderton, Johnny Simmons.
Key players: Fullback/first five-eighth Taylor Haugh, flanker Jerry Salu.
The oil: Lost most of the forward pack from last year. New coaching team in charge. Looking somewhat light up front. Some quick backs who could be dangerous.
Waitaki Boys' High School
Coaches: Wayne Kinzett, Hamish McKenzie.
Key players: Prop Kafa Katoa, inside back Llewellyn Johnson.
The oil: New coaching team with plenty of experience. Side has lost a few from last year but replacements come from a strong under-16 side.
Taieri College
Coach: David Hunter.
Key players: First five-eighth Callum Smeaton, second five-eighth Brad Tarleton.
The oil: Aiming to be competitive after moving up from metropolitan under-18 grade, where it finished second. About eight back from last year.
Otago Boys' Second XV
Coaches: John Faulks, Dave Callon.
Key players: Hooker Mitchell Pryde, first five-eighth James Holland.
The oil: Looking forward to playing against school sides. Will work hard at the breakdown and has plenty of size.
Kavanagh College
Coaches: Damon Sutherland, Marius Mostert.
Key players: Midfielder Sunia Makasini, flanker/prop Sione Pula.
The oil: With 13 back from last year, should be competitive, with reasonably big forward pack. Has to adjust quickly to the pace of the game at this level.
