A Christchurch school is swimming against the tide and re-introducing bull rush back into its playground.

The game where opponents are tackled to the ground as they attempt to make it to the other side of the field has been outlawed in many schools because it is considered dangerous.

But the principal of Cobham Intermediate, Scott Thelning, says the game includes some valuable lessons young people need to learn.

Mr Thelning says children are too often bubble wrapped and kept from harm so that they never learn about risk taking and how far they can push themselves.

He says the games will be supervised by teachers to begin with and that tackling above the shoulders and tripping will be banned.