SINGAPORE — The opportunity to play a schools sports final at the 55,000-capacity National Stadium does not arise very often. But that was the offer made to the organisers of the “A” Division National Schools rugby competition this year.

TODAY understands the Singapore Sports Hub and the Singapore Rugby Union (SRU) had proposed to hold this year’s final at the National Stadium on May 14 as the curtain raiser for the Super Rugby clash between Japan’s Sunwolves and the Stormers of South Africa. However, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the National School Sports rugby convenor have declined the offer as they cannot guarantee that the tournament will have progressed to the final by the proposed date.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, a MOE spokesperson said: “The lead time from the preliminary rounds, which will start on March 28, to the date for the finals offered by Sports Hub is too tight.

“Sufficient rest periods are planned into the whole competition season to allow student athletes appropriate rest and recovery time, and to cater to uncertain weather conditions. The final will be held at the Home Team Academy on May 19.”

One reason for the uncertainty is the recent change to the competition’s format. Only seven schools are involved this year after Pioneer Junior College withdrew.

Previous editions had featured eight schools divided into two groups of four for the preliminary stages, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals.

This year, the seven participating schools will play a round-robin league format instead. As such, there will be nine more games being played in the preliminary rounds this year.

There is also the possibility of games being postponed due to bad weather. As such, the MOE were uncertain if the “A” Division finalists could be decided before May 14.

While disappointed with the outcome, SRU general manager George Danapal said the national body understood the “constraints and limitations faced by the schools organising committee”. “There are many factors that come into play and our unpredictable weather does not really help as well,” he said. “Schools sports gets a lot of coverage in Singapore and having the “A” Division final at the stadium would have been a tremendous boost to schools and grassroots rugby, and an opportunity to accelerate the growth of our player base.”

St Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) alumnus Choo Chee Leong, who played rugby for his school from 2011 to 2012, said a National Stadium final would have been an event to remember for life for the players involved.

“As a curtain raiser for the Super Rugby game, it means they would have likely been playing in front of thousands of spectators,” said the 22-year-old undergraduate. “As a former school player, I know that this kind of experience ... is something that we dream of. It would also have inspired more kids to take up the sport. So it seems like a missed opportunity, but I’m sure the MOE had their own considerations.”

The 2014 “C” Division final remains the first and only schools rugby fixture to be played at the new National Stadium. However, the SRU can take comfort in the fact the schools Rugby Sevens final will be held there on April 17, on the final day of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

Meanwhile, the Sports Hub told TODAY that it will create more opportunities for school rugby matches to be held at the stadium.

A Sports Hub spokesperson said: “As part of our vision for Super Rugby over the next five years, we hope to entice all levels of school rugby to play or participate at the National Stadium to enhance match-day experience and inspire future generations.”