Auckland College Sport is defending the decision not to allow a top female footballer to compete in the boys' division, despite being a New Zealand representative.
The player in question, Dayna Stevens - a New Zealand under 20 representative - wasn't awarded dispensation to represent her Glenfield College first XI in the boys' division.
Appearing on TVNZ 1's Breakfast this morning, College Sport CEO Jim Lonergan explained the decision to reject the 17-year-old's request.
"We try to promote boys sport as much as girls sport," Lonergan said.
"When this first came to our attention, there was one girls' team, and two boys' teams - the girls' team was going to die.
"We also considered that the girl was a top quality player. She played the very top league in New Zealand. We didn't think that she would actually be challenged in the boys' grade anyway."
Auckland-based female footballers have in the past been able to play with and againt men, with Football Ferns Jenny Bindon and Victoria Esson both having done so in the past.
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