The South Otago High School First XV includes two players who no longer attend school but dispensation has been granted to allow them to play in the side.
South Otago is on top of the table in the inaugural Highlanders First XV competition but there had been accusations it was fielding players who were no longer at school.
Coach Marty Hurring confirmed the team included two former pupils, but said they had just turned 17 and had left school at the end of last year.
There was no other competition in South Otago they could play in.
It was good that they were playing rugby and keeping involved in sport, he said.
Hurring said the side had abided by the Otago Rugby Football Union's rules.
He said the side had generated plenty of excitement throughout South Otago but it had a tough match this Saturday against Southland Boys High School.
Otago Rugby Football Union amateur rugby manager Justin Gardner said dispensation had been given to South Otago and other schools to field former pupils, as young country players who had left school had no other competitions in which to play.
He said some country school teams included players from nearby schools which did not have enough pupils to form a team.
Pupils from Roxburgh Area School played in the Dunstan team, he said.
Gardner said he had been thrilled with the success of the Highlanders Zero Fees-sponsored First XV competition.
