THERE’s only one realm of sport more intense, more emotional, and more cut-throat than international competition — and that’s school sport. Not a month goes by when there isn’t some wild social media spat, some drug allegation, a parental bust-up or the suspension of a long-standing traditional fixture.With rugby season around the corner, the unedifying annual prospect of almost everyone behaving badly is upon us once again.Matters reached new lows a couple of weeks ago when Parktown Boys’ High suspended all rugby fixtures against King Edward V11, accusing KES of poaching a set of 16-year-old rugby-playing twins Parktown had invested in for years.Not only was the boys’ move at odds with a moratorium on player-poaching signed by all schools, it was seen to be contrary to the spirit of the game. The boys were even represented by an agent.Representatives of many schools tacitly acknowledge that the situation is dangerously overwrought, but they find themselves powerless to do anything ...
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