bays. Yes you are quite correct. It is not the issue that the girls cannot play the boys. It is I think the fact that he will not let the girls play rugby fullstop. The girls playing in their own tournament should be acceptable at all age groups. Where is New Zealand going to get their future female rugby players from if all the High School principals had the same attitude as this one. Not all girls want to play netball, hockey, or basketball

Let the girls play, alot of us would like EQUALITY

What this doesn't say is that the Principal had previously refused to let the girls have their own tournament. They approached him after this article with the numbers to start one and he still refused.

I think this is the real issue not that they can't play boys but that they are expected to be happy with netball.

If the concern is seriously for safety because of the difference in physical strength, then organise your co-ed tournaments on weight grades.

These kids could look into joining community organised competitions - touch, tag, indoor soccer, indoor netball, etc which allow mixed teams and full participation, where the focus is on participation not risks, and the fees can go back to the community not the school.

Nonny Moose, #16 - " if women are to participate equally in this world, they should be allowed to be treated on equal terms, and equal playing fields." - So of Melissa Ruscoe (captain of the womens team) ran straight into Richie McCaw, you'd think thats fine? "AND the boys are willing to treat them with respect" - I think it would be more disrespectful if Richie didnt put in a big hit. It is after all a competitive sport and playing your best shows the opposition more respect than not. {pretty extreme example, I know, but it seems you need it because your not thinking.) #36 "protecting their little power niches from being interrupted. If they were truly intent on protecting the girls, they would let them play and instruct the BOYS on how they should behave in the game" Boy how to behave at a game? To me its always been play hard, but fair. Its the same game no matter what gender!!! There aren't table manners in rugby, you play to have fun and win (no one has fun losing). The only power niche here is your feministic one, wise up buddy and think about safety and balance.

a Nonny Moose, do you have anything else to do other than reading the same article over and over again to see how your comments are doing and then making more ignorant comments - get a life- just cause you want the world to be PC doesn't make it so

Now to all of you fools saying this is just about 13yr old girls getting hurt. Get a life you idiots it is not just 13yr olds. If the girls wish to play let them. I know many girls out there that would put boys to shame. I suppose you clowns wish to stop all mixed teams.

A Nonny Moose #36

Whats up with this girl or guy?

You clearly have missed the issue here, male created rules? equal playing fields? “They are protecting their little power niches from being interrupted” etc etc... you points are so poorly constructed and clearly full of a seething loathing for males perhaps you should crawl in to bed and try getting up on the other side tomorrow. If you still have venom to purge tomorrow, find an article on equal pay (which is a sexist issue here in NZ) and tear in to it, because there is not a sexism issue here in this article.

A Nonny Moose: I believe your point of view is far too idealistic. You constantly talk about how the world SHOULD be, but the school principal is unable to transform the school to an idealistic state instantaneously. If the girls play, they WILL get hurt (just like any other boys) and they PROBABLY WILL get sexually harrassed. If your response to that is "well then, we should teach the BOYS how to behave", my response to you would be "wake up, welcome to the real world." At the end of the day the school principal is the one that will be held responsible if anything happens to the girls, and NOT the girls themselves for making their own decisions.

I'm having the same issue with the Auckland and Canterbury Ice Hockey Association. The rules state that I cannot wear a half visor on my helmet, and have to wear a full cage. The only reason behind this, is because I am a female player. As the guys on my team can wear half visors, I don't see why I can't. My teeth, my choice!

A little different I know, as she is playing against guys 5 years older, and a heck of a lot heavier and stronger, with practically no padding. Where as I play in a mixed league, and am just as large as the guys I play against, wearing complete protective gear, but I can see why she is frustrated.....