Phoebe Reflects on her time as a girls’ rugby scholar

Phoebe joined Rugby School in 2025 as a girls’ rugby scholar, officially playing on The Close — the birthplace of the world-famous game. We recently caught up with Phoebe to hear about her experience at Rugby and how the School has helped her develop both on and off the pitch.

“Starting at Rugby as a girls’ rugby scholar has been one of the best decisions I have made. Since joining in LXX (Year 12), I have been challenged and encouraged in equal measure, both academically and athletically. The opportunities I have been given — from training alongside the boys’ 1st XV and 2nd XV to helping develop the girls’ game within the School — have helped me grow enormously as both a player and a person.

My first sports option in the Advent Term was rugby union training with Bigside One (the boys’ 1st XV and 2nd XV). This meant training with them twice a week in non-contact sessions, as I was the only girl involved. Initially, the experience was quite daunting because I did not know anyone and I was in a very unique position compared with my teammates. However, I quickly found myself surrounded by encouragement from the boys, the rugby coaches, the strength and conditioning coaches, the physio team and my sports mentor, alongside the guidance already provided by house staff, my tutor and my teachers.

As the season progressed and I became more settled into school life, my confidence grew and I quickly felt comfortable with both my teammates and the sports staff. Although I am unable to play matches with the boys, I attended the 1st XV fixtures on Saturday afternoons, helping the team on match days with water and kicking tees. This really helped me feel part of the squad, and I am very grateful for the experience. Training throughout the Advent Term was challenging, but also incredible to be part of.

Alongside school rugby, I continued playing for my club, which I joined after arriving at Rugby, as well as for the PDG (Player Development Group). This meant I was still able to take part in contact training and gain plenty of game time. The School has also been extremely accommodating by providing transport to club training every Thursday, allowing me to train with the PDG on Saturdays, supporting my attendance at England camps when needed and enabling me to continue playing club fixtures on Sundays, provided my academic work remains on track.

Throughout the Advent and Lent Terms, we also have girls’ rugby club sessions once or twice a week. Although these sessions are less intensive, they are incredibly important in helping grow the sport within the School and building confidence amongst newer players. For me personally, they have provided a valuable opportunity to develop as a leader within the programme, helping to create the positive environment and standards we want for both current and future players.

I care deeply about the continued growth of girls’ rugby across all year groups at Rugby, both now and in the future, and these sessions play an important role in that development. During the Lent Term, my sports option changed to girls’ rugby sevens training, involving sessions twice a week alongside Saturday fixtures. This gave us the opportunity to compete together as a team against other schools, with a full focus on the girls’ squad. We had an excellent term of development and success, and I am certain the programme will continue to grow.

As a sports scholar, I also receive excellent strength and conditioning provision alongside access to the School’s physio team. I usually have two individual S&C sessions each week during my free periods, in addition to team sessions for both girls’ and boys’ rugby before training. Alongside this, I complete a weekly conditioning session and additional gym work with my PDG programme. Because of the volume of training, my programme is carefully adapted to avoid overtraining, and communication between the School and PDG is excellent.

Regular conversations with my S&C coach help me manage training load effectively, and I always feel comfortable asking questions or seeking advice. Since joining the School, I have made significant physical progress and I can already see the benefits translating onto the pitch. I also work with a sports mentor who helps me set goals relating to rugby, strength and conditioning, and balancing academic commitments, whilst also offering guidance whenever needed.

Overall, being a girls’ rugby scholar at Rugby School is a huge honour. I genuinely love the School and the experiences it has given me. The challenges I have faced and the opportunities I have been offered have had an incredibly positive impact on me, both personally and athletically. The experience has challenged me, developed me and given me confidence both on and off the pitch. I genuinely feel I am thriving at Rugby.”