Boys banned from school netball tournament because of ‘unfair competition’ Primary schools in Wales told tournament is a girls only event

Boys have been banned from playing netball in a schools tournament because it is feared it would make the “competition unfair”.

Organisers of the Urdd National Sports Festival in Wales have told primary schools it will be a girls only event from now on.

A statement from Urdd Sports Department read: “Single sex sports are permitted under the Equality Act when differences in strength and physique would otherwise make the competition unfair.

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Boys banned

“Following discussions with Sport Wales and Welsh Netball, the decision was made by the Urdd’s sports panel in September 2018 to offer an all-girls primary netball tournament in 2019.

“The main reason for this decision is to ensure that girls are able to take part in a competition where the circumstances are fair for all.”

The main reason for this decision is to ensure that girls are able to take part in a competition where the circumstances are fair for all Urdd Sports Department

The decision has come as a shock to some schools, which had been practising for the May tournament with mixed teams from Years Five and Six.

Teacher Lisa Jones, from Ysgol San Sior, in Llandudno, Conwy, said the school would still enter a team but including girls from younger years.

School shock

She told the BBC the ban was “a bit of a shock” adding: “As far back as I can remember, we’ve been allowed to take boys to the tournament.”

The Urdd, set up to provide children with opportunities in the medium of Welsh, said there was “a significant gender gap in terms of participation in sports between boys and girls” and offering an all-girls tournament was a way of “actively taking steps to close the gender gap in sports participation”.

But organisers have said the decision would be reviewed again before the 2020 tournament.