Rugby School at Rosslyn Park

What a week for Rugby School at this year’s annual Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens festival. This year, for the first time, the School took six teams, with both girls and boys represented in each age group – a fitting celebration of 50 Years of Girls at Rugby School and a testament to the depth and breadth of quality we possess at both student and staff level.

The week began with our U14 girls taking to the pitches for the first time as a team. After some tough opening matches, the girls progressed to the Bowl final following a 25-0 win over Grey Court School, ultimately finishing as runners-up to a strong side. Their confidence grew throughout the day, leading to this excellent result.

On Tuesday, the U14 boys joined the competition and made strong progress in their group, finishing second and narrowly missing out on securing a place in the elimination round. A highlight of the day was their 19-12 win against Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern.

On Wednesday, the U16 boys competed in the event, feeling confident after a highly successful rugby season. The team started strongly with a 28-7 win, followed by a 31-19 victory on the iconic RE1 pitch – the heart of the event.

Thursday is the festival’s biggest day, with four competitions taking place, alongside visiting primary and prep schools competing in their own event. The day saw the U16 girls, U18 girls, and U18 boys take to the pitch, all in highly competitive groups.

The U16 girls played exceptionally well, narrowly missing out on progressing to the elimination round by a single try. Highlights included their 19-10 win over Dame Allan’s, followed by a 19-19 draw with Clifton College.

The U18 girls demonstrated excellent commitment in a competitive group. Despite facing strong opposition, they produced passages of impressive rugby, showcasing teamwork and determination throughout. A standout moment saw the girls move the ball fluidly through multiple phases, patiently creating space before demonstrating their pace in attack.

The U18 boys similarly showed resilience and ambition across their matches. Competing against well-drilled sides, they continued to play with intent, creating scoring opportunities and demonstrating positive attacking rugby. Their effort and attitude across the day were a real credit to the group.

Beyond the results on the pitch, the festival once again delivered a fantastic atmosphere, with a real sense of occasion across the grounds, bringing together players, schools and supporters from across the country. Our Rugby School tent was located alongside RE1, where we were delighted to welcome visitors, parents, coaches and alumni to share more about the birthplace of the game.

Adding to a memorable week, current pupil Charlie saw his design selected as the official final ball after winning the Howden competition.