Rugby

Rugby is the major boys’ sport during the autumn term and the school fields at least two teams per age group from U12–U18.

Whereas the first team in each year contains the best players in that age group, the second and third sides are all about participation and we hope that any boy or girl who wants to play rugby will be able to get a game on a Saturday.

All year groups have a dedicated games lesson and after-school session(s) every week and each side play on Saturdays from September until December. After this time, each year group plays seven-a-side rugby with a full programme of tournaments leading up to the National Rosslyn Park competition in March.

The coaching programme, lead by Mr Doug Cooper (Old Reigatians 1st XV, London & SE Head Coach, Harlequins DPP)  is one which encourages all players throughout the school to develop a lifelong passion for rugby, represent the school badge, build a core set of values to be proud of and ultimately become the best version of themselves.

The U18 and U15 sides enter their respective national competitions with regular success and the school plays a regular season against local rivals including RGS Guildford, City of London Freemans, KCS Wimbledon and Christ’s Hospital to name but a few. The focus is on competitive, challenging fixtures which not only stretch the students’ abilities but also most importantly create a love for the game of rugby.

The school regularly produces players of county standard with a few progressing to Premiership Academy, Divisional and International Schools level. The school has invested in a strength and conditioning coach who supports all the players and offers bespoke training programmes for students. We have seven rugby pitches, kept to an outstanding level by our expert team of ground staff, and which are frequently used by both Surrey Rugby and the RFU when hosting county age group trials for U15-U18 levels for CPD events.

The school organizes tours with destinations including Ireland, Biarritz and San Sebastian. The senior rugby players have toured overseas since 1975. The early years saw the school blazing a trail to British Columbia and the west coast of America every three years, but recently the tour has been to South Africa with visits to Cape Town & Stellenbosch.